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A '''verb''' is a word or words that express actions, events, or states of being. The verb or compound verb is often a critical element of the [[Subject and predicate|predicate]] of a sentence. In each of the following sentences, the verb or compound verb is italicized:

A '''verb''' is a word or words that express actions, events, or states of being. The verb or compound verb is often a critical element of the [[Subject and predicate|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 ''died'' on the cross for your sins."

The verb "died" describes the action of Jesus.

The verb "died" describes the action of Jesus.

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 in the present tense.

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 in the present tense.

Many languages inflect verbs to indicate such categories as person, number, tense, [[aspect (grammar)|aspect]], [[mood (grammar)|mood]], and [[voice]]. The set of all forms of a verb is called its ''conjugation''.  English inflects for tense and to a limited extent for person and number.  God ''loves'' us; but we ''love'' God. God  ''created'' the Heavens and the Earth; but He creates things daily.  English also inflects for mood; compare ''If I were a rich man'' (subjunctive) with ''I was a rich man'' (indicative).

Many languages inflect verbs to indicate such categories as [[person (grammar)|person]], [[number (grammar)|number]], [[tense]], [[aspect (grammar)|aspect]], [[mood (grammar)|mood]], and [[voice (grammar)|voice]]. Languages differ in the extent to which such categories are separately encoded into a verb or the extent to which they are encoded into the verb at all. The set of all forms of a verb is called its ''conjugation''.  English inflects for tense and to a limited extent for person and number.  God ''loves'' us; but we ''love'' God. God  ''created'' the Heavens and the Earth; but He creates things daily.  English also inflects for mood; compare ''If I were a rich man'' (subjunctive) with ''I was a rich man'' (indicative). Other ways in which various languages express such things are [[particle (grammar)|particles]], [[periphrasis]], and context.

Verbs can also be divided into [[regular verb|regular verbs]], where the tense is conjugated by adding "-d", "-ed" or occasionally "-t" to the [[base form]], and [[irregular verb|irregular verbs]] where the base form's spelling is altered during conjugation.

 

Verbs can also be divided into [[regular verb]]s, where the tense is conjugated by adding "-d", "-ed" or occasionally "-t" to the [[base form]], and [[irregular verb]]s where the base form's spelling is altered during conjugation.

For example, a regular verb would be "listen" (past tense = "listen'''ed''') and an irregular verb would be "sit" (past tense = "s'''a'''t").

For example, a regular verb would be "listen" (past tense = "listen'''ed''') and an irregular verb would be "sit" (past tense = "s'''a'''t").

==Compound verbs==

==Compound verbs==

The most simple compound verb are verbs with the "helper" verb of "has" and "to be".

The most simple compound verb are verbs with the "[[auxiliary verb|helper]]" verb of "has" and "to be," combined with a non-finite verb form such as an [[infinitive]] or a [[participle]].

I ''am going''.  He ''had been going''.

I ''am going''.  He ''had been going''.

In English, compound verbs generally mark aspect, that is, 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.

In English, compound verbs generally mark aspect, that is, 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==

*[http://www.grammarbook.com/grammar/subjectVerb.asp Finding Subjects and Verbs] and [http://www.grammarbook.com/grammar_quiz/finding_subjects_verbs_1.asp Finding Subjects and Verbs Quiz]  

*[http://www.grammarbook.com/grammar/subjectVerb.asp Finding Subjects and Verbs] and [http://www.grammarbook.com/grammar_quiz/finding_subjects_verbs_1.asp Finding Subjects and Verbs Quiz]  

*[http://www.grammarbook.com/grammar/subjectVerbAgree.asp Subject and Verb Agreement] and [http://www.grammarbook.com/grammar_quiz/subject_verb_agreement_1.asp Subject and Verb Agreement Quiz]

*[http://www.grammarbook.com/grammar/subjectVerbAgree.asp Subject and Verb Agreement] and [http://www.grammarbook.com/grammar_quiz/subject_verb_agreement_1.asp Subject and Verb Agreement Quiz]