Download word class 2: verbs in english for biotechnology

Faculty of Veterinary Medicine / Bioscience and Agro-Food and Environmental Technology
March 29, 2015
WORD CLASS 2:
VERBS IN ENGLISH FOR BIOTECHNOLOGY
English has three kinds of verbs:
1. full verbs (also called main verbs or lexical verbs)
tell you “what happened” or “what the situation
is”;
regular and/or irregular forms verbal paradigms;
transitive and or intransitive use;
active and passive form.
2. auxiliaries
to be (was, been), to have (had, had), to do (did,
done);
are used to make complex verbal structures.
3. modals (also called auxiliary modals)
can, could; may, might; will, would; shall, should;
have to, must, need, ought to … and so on see
the chart of modal verbs: handout 5, unit 3;
add subjective extra meaning.
© 2015 Rosati F. and F. Vaccarelli
1
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine / Bioscience and Agro-Food and Environmental Technology
March 29, 2015
Glances at transitive and intransitive uses
Some verbs can be used either transitively
intransitively [I]. Look at the following examples:
He grows roses.
[T]
They grow a lot of wheat in this region.
[T]
The Guinea pigs grow well.
[I]
The small puppy quickly grew into a
very large dog.
[I]
Tomatoes grow best in direct sunlight.
[I]
[T]
or
Warning: pay attention to the differences between English
and Italian! Please reflect on the following sentences and
the transitive/intransitive use of the verbs highlighted:
“[…] As new companies enter the US microchip marketplace, this
percentage will change. […]” (source: Microchipping in Animals, AVMA,
2013);
“[…] I manage a kennel/veterinary clinic/animal shelter/dog day care
center. How do I keep canine influenza out of my facility, and if it does
enter my facility, what should I do? […]” (source: Canine Influenza FAQ,
AVMA, 2013);
“[…] It has been suggested that dogs with cropped ears are less likely to
suffer from infections of the ear canal. […]” (source: Welfare Implications
of Ear-Cropping Dogs, AVMA, 2013);
“[…] About 20 percent of adult dogs and 45 percent of cats suffer pain
from arthritis, […]” (source: AVMA in the news, 2013);
Thus, a transitive verb is any verb accompanied by a direct
object and from which a passive can be formed; while an
intransitive verb is any verb that indicates a complete action
without being accompanied by a direct object and that does
not form a passive.
© 2015 Rosati F. and F. Vaccarelli
2
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine / Bioscience and Agro-Food and Environmental Technology
March 29, 2015
Compound verbs
Two or more verbs having the same subject are called “compound
verbs” and they are not separated by commas, such as in:
“[…] You should research fish you want to purchase before setting up the
tank and getting the fish, since you want to try to use the correct
“furniture” in the tank and know what the temperature and space
requirements are. […]” (source: Selecting a Fish, AVMA)
[…] Funding of prevention, surveillance, and eradication efforts in the
countries where outbreaks are occurring or in at-risk countries will
provide tools needed to facilitate the eradication process of this virus
where it is detected and will prevent further spread and subsequent
economic loss. […] (source: reading 2, Avian Influenza: Human
Pandemic Concerns, CAST Commentary)
Environmentalists oppose development which produces pollution and
endangers the health of local people and depletes resources.
… to be continued!
© 2015 Rosati F. and F. Vaccarelli
3