Verbs: Definition, Transitive and Intransitive Verbs

• A verb describes an action, state, or occurence.
• Verbs form the central part of the predicate of a sentence.
• The predicate contains the verb and describes something about the subject.

Main Verbs

• The main verb, also known as the lexical or principal verb, is the primary verb in a sentence.
• It signifies the action or state of being of the subject.
• Main verbs can stand alone or pair with a helping verb (auxiliary verb).
• They are essential because they describe the subject's action.

Transitive Verbs

• Transitive verbs transfer their action to at least one object.
• Transitive verbs transfer their action onto direct objects.
• Examples: 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 a transitive verb with "The Lord of the Flies" as the direct object.

Intransitive Verbs

• Intransitive verbs do not take a direct object.
• Sentences with intransitive verbs may include prepositional phrases or adverbs.
• Examples: arrive, deteriorate, fluctuate, increase, laugh, originate, sit, trend, vote
• Example: Molly and Megan sat on the picnic blanket.
• "Sat" is the intransitive verb; "on the picnic blanket" is a prepositional phrase modifying "sat".

Main Verb Examples

• Common examples of main verbs, which can be transitive or intransitive, includes: study, run, walk, talk, listen, eat, dance, skate, sleep, call, write, cook, watch, drink.

Transitive and Intransitive Verbs

• Certain verbs can function as either transitive or intransitive depending on their use in a sentence.
• Examples: continue, play, grow, return
• The panel discussion will continue after the break. (transitive)
• The panel discussion continued after the break. (intransitive)
• My youngest sister, Cecilia, plays the cello. (transitive)
• The elementary students play outside every day at recess. (intransitive)
• Dictionaries indicate whether a verb is transitive or intransitive based on its usage.

Dynamic and Stative Verbs

• Dynamic verbs, also known as action verbs, describe actions taken by a person, place, or thing.
• Dynamic verbs describe actions, activities, or events with a definite beginning and ending.
• Examples: dance, play, melt, hit, run, walk
• Dynamic verbs can be used in simple, perfect, continuous, or progressive forms.
• Stative verbs refer to a static state or condition.
• Stative verbs are categorized as verbs of perception/cognition or verbs of relation.
• Examples: love, hate, like, see, hear, sound, think, mind, recognize, seem, prefer, doubt, mean, believe, contain, own

Helping Verbs

• Helping verbs (auxiliary verbs) assist main verbs in expressing mood, tense, or voice.
• Three English helping verbs include: to be, to do, and to have
• Forms of "to be": am, are, is, was, were, being, been, will be
• Forms of "to do": do, does, did, will do
• Forms of "to have": have, has, had, having, will have

Modal Auxiliary Verbs

• Modal auxiliary verbs (modal verbs) are a type of helping verb that never change form.
• Examples: can, could, may, might, must, ought to, shall, should, will, would

Examples of Helping Verbs

• We will go see the musical Hamilton.
• Ella's parents were proud that she won a trophy in the competition.
• The girls have had so much fun at summer camp this year.
• I am happy that the weather is getting cooler.

Identifying Verbs

• A complete sentence includes a subject, main verb, and potentially a helping verb.
• It may also contain clauses that further describe or modify the verb.
• To find the verb, identify the subject by asking "Who or what is performing the action?"
• Then, determine the action, state of being, or occurrence being performed or described
• Example: Olivia plays soccer for Lonestar Soccer Club.
• "Olivia" is the subject; "plays" is the verb; "soccer" is the direct object.
• "For Lonestar Soccer Club" is a prepositional phrase.

Learn about verbs, the main component of a sentence's predicate. Understand how verbs indicate actions, states or occurences. Explore the differences between transitive and intransitive verbs with examples.