Download Verbs - Professor Flavia Cunha

VERB PHRASE
What are verbs?
Verbs provide the focal point of the clause.
The main verb in a clause determines the
other clause elements that can occur and
specifies a meaning relation among those
elements.
However,
there
are
many
different kinds of verbs, including lexical x
auxiliary verbs, different semantic classes,
and single-word x multiword verbs.
Verb Classes
There are various ways in which it will be
necessary to classify verbs. We begin with a
classification relating to the function of
items in the verb phrase. This distinguishes
lexical verbs from auxiliary verbs, and
subdivides the latter into primary and
modal auxiliaries.
Lexical Verbs
(also
called
"main
verbs")
These are verbs that really mean
something, they tell us something.
e.g. walk, write, play, go, etc.
Auxiliary Verbs
(also
called
"helping
verbs")
These are verbs that have no real meaning.
They are necessary for the grammatical
structure of the sentence, but they do not
tell us very much alone. We usually use
helping verbs with main verbs. They "help"
the main verb.
Verbs
Dynamic versus Stative Verbs
Verbs are sometimes described as
"action words". This is partly true.
When verbs express actions or events
they admit the progressive aspect. For
example, words like run, fight, do and
work all convey action.
Dynamic versus Stative Verbs
Verbs in dynamic sense refer to:
a) activity verbs: ask, call, drink, eat,
help, listen, go, look at, play, work,
write, etc;
b) process verbs: change, deteriorate,
grow, mature, slow down, widen, etc;
c) bodily sensation: ache, feel, hurt, itch,
etc;
d) momentary verbs: hit, jump, kick,
knock, nod, tap, etc.
Dynamic versus Stative Verbs
But some verbs do not give the idea of
action; they give the idea of existence,
of state, of "being", which disallow the
use of the progressive. For example,
verbs like be, exist, seem and belong
all convey state.
Dynamic versus Stative Verbs
Verbs in stative use refer to:
a)mental state: know, think, believe, understand,
realize, recognize, suppose, doubt, remember,
forget, imagine, mean, intend, etc;
b)emotional state: love, like, appreciate, please,
prefer, hate, dislike, fear, mind, wish, care, want,
etc;
c)sense perceptions: taste, smell, hear, see, feel;
d)possession: possess, have, own, belong;
e)other existing states: seem , look, appear, sound,
resemble, look like, cost, owe, weigh, be, consist of,
contain, hold, include, etc.
Dynamic versus Stative Verbs
As it was said before, "stative” verbs
cannot
normally
be
used
with
continuous tenses; however, some of
them can be used with continuous
tenses with a change in meaning.
Dynamic versus Stative Verbs
STATIVE SENSE
DYNAMIC SENSE
1.I think you are right.
1. What are you thinking about?
2. I feel this is not true.
2. I am feeling fine.
3. That meat smells bad.
3. Why are you smelling the meat? Is it bad?
4.The cake tastes wonderful.
4. What are doing with my tea? I’m just tasting it.
5. I weighed 68 kilos this month.
5. The scales broke when I was weighing myself this
morning.
6. I measure 75 centimeters.
6. Why is that man measuring the street?
7. I can see someone through the window./
you mean.
I see what 7. I am seeing Philip tonight.
8. They have a spacious car.
8. They are having a party.
9. She loves her baby more than anything.
9. She is loving having John stay with us.
10. I consider him a fool.
10. I am considering taking early retirement.
11. He is a fool.
11. He is being a fool.
12. This tank holds 20 liters.
12. He is holding my hand.
13. This picture looks nice.
13. I am looking at this picture.
14.She appears very nervous.
14. She is appearing in a film.
Linking Verbs
A linking verb does not have much
meaning in itself. It "links" the subject
to what is said about the subject.
Usually, a linking verb shows equality
(=) or a change to a different state or
place.
Linking Verbs
o Mary is a teacher. (Mary = teacher)
o That
sounds
interesting.
(that
=
interesting)
o The sky became dark. (the sky =
dark)
o The bread has gone bad. (bread =
bad)
Transitive and
Intransitive Verbs
Intransitive verbs do not permit any
object
or
subject
complements.
e.g. The train arrived.
/
object
Transitive and
Intransitive Verbs
Transitive verbs take a direct object (subject
+ verb + object). Some verbs, like give
permit an indirect object, and these will be
distinguished as ditransitive. A few verbs,
like make take an object complement and
these are among the verbs referred to as
complex transitive.
Transitive and
Intransitive Verbs
a) Monotransitive:
e.g. He speaks English.
b) Ditransitive:
e.g. She gave him the money.
c) Complex transitive:
e.g. They make him the chairman every
year.