10 Questions
What is the term used to describe the primary or most important verb in a sentence?
Lexical verb
Which type of verb does not take a direct object?
Intransitive verb
What is the function of a transitive verb?
To transfer its action to at least one object
Which type of verb is 'could' or 'should'?
Modal auxiliary verb
What is the main function of a verb in a sentence?
Describing the subject
What is another term for the main verb of a sentence?
Lexical verb
What type of verb transfers its action to at least one object?
Transitive verb
Which of the following verbs is transitive?
discuss
Which type of verb does not take a direct object?
love
Which category of verbs can be both transitive and intransitive depending on context?
play
Study Notes
- Transitive verbs transfer their action onto a direct object, while intransitive verbs don't.
- Transitive verbs: address, borrow, bring, discuss, give, offer, pay, promise, raise, read, take, write.
- Example: Jake read "The Lord of the Flies" in English class. "Read" is the transitive verb, the book is the direct object.
- Intransitive verbs do not take a direct object.
- Examples: arrive, deteriorate, fluctuate, increase, laugh, originate, sit, trend, vote.
- Example: Molly and Megan sat on the picnic blanket. "Sat" is the intransitive verb, the prepositional phrase "on the picnic blanket" modifies the verb.
- Main verbs describe the action taken by the subject.
- Main verbs may be transitive or intransitive.
- Some verbs can be both transitive and intransitive (depending on context): continue, play, grow, return.
- Verbs can be classified as static or dynamic.
- Stative verbs: love, hate, like, see, hear, sound, think, mind, recognize, seem, prefer, doubt, mean, believe, contain, own.
- Helping verbs: to be, to do, to have. They help express the main verb's mood, tense, or voice.
- Modal auxiliary verbs (modal verbs): can, could, may, might, must, ought to, shall, should, will, would. They never change their forms.
- To identify the verb in a sentence: find the subject and ask "what action, state of being, or occurrence is being performed/described in this sentence?" The main verb and helping verb will state the action.
Test your knowledge about verbs with this quiz that explores the definition and function of verbs within sentences. Learn about main verbs, action verbs, and state verbs.
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