119
edits
Changes
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
Line 1:
Line 1: − The '''verb''' is the most important part of the [[sentence]]. A verb or compound verb asserts something about the subject of the sentence and express actions, events, or states of being. The verb or compound verb is the critical element of the [[predicate]] of a sentence. In each of the following sentences, the verb or compound verb is italicized:+ − + − + − + + + + + +
added more detail
A '''verb''' is a word or words that express actions, events, or states of being. The verb or compound verb is the critical element of the [[predicate]] of a sentence. In each of the following sentences, the verb or compound verb is italicized:
"Jesus <i>died</i> on the cross for your sins."
"Jesus <i>died</i> on the cross for your sins."
The verb "died" describes the action Jesus took.
The verb "died" describes the action of Jesus.
"God ''gave'' us memories that we might have roses in
"God ''gave'' us memories that we might have roses in
December."
December."
Forms of "to be", such as "is", "are", etc. are also verbs.
Forms of "to be", such as "is", "are", etc. are also verbs of a particular type, called copulas, which define states of being (Jesus is the perfect teacher. Mary is Jesus' mother.) Some languages, such as Russian, do not use copulas.
Many languages inflect verbs to indicate such categories as person, number, tense, [[aspect (grammar)|aspect]], mood, and [[voice]]. In those languages, the set of all forms of a verb is called its ''conjugation''.
Many languages inflect verbs to indicate such categories as person, number, tense, [[aspect (grammar)|aspect]], mood, and [[voice]]. The set of all forms of a verb is called its ''conjugation''. English inflects for number and tense. God ''loves'' us; but we ''love'' God. God ''created'' the Heavens and the Earth; but He creates things daily.
==Compound verbs==
The most simple compound verb are verbs with the "helper" verb of "has" and "to be".
I ''am going''. He ''had been going''.
In English, compound verbs generally mark space in time, telling us what actions in a sentence happen in relation to other actions. "I had been reading the Bible, when I decided to change my life". "had been" tells us what the subject (I) was doing, when I acted "decided" to change.
==External Links==
==External Links==