Types of Verbs Classification

Classification of Verbs

• Verbs can be classified into two categories: lexical verbs and auxiliary verbs.
• Auxiliary verbs are a closed system and can be further divided into primary and modal auxiliaries.

Types of Auxiliary Verbs

• Primary auxiliary verbs: do, have, be
• Modal auxiliary verbs: can, may, shall, will, could, might, should, would, must, ought to, used to, need, dare

Semi-Auxiliary Expressions

• Had better and tend to are examples of semi-auxiliary expressions that have a similar semantic relation to modal auxiliaries in the verb phrase.

Verbal Forms

• Many English verbs have five forms: base, -s form, past, -ing participle, and -ed participle.
• Regular lexical verbs have the same -ed inflection for both the past tense and the -ed participle.
• Irregular lexical verbs have varying numbers of forms, ranging from three to eight.

Defectiveness of Modal Auxiliaries

• Modal auxiliary verbs are defective, meaning they lack certain forms, such as:
  • Infinitive form (e.g., *may)
  • -ing participle form (e.g., *maying)
  • -ed participle form (e.g., *mayed)
  • Imperative form (e.g., *may!)