Verb Types

Verb Types

Written by:Rana M Arsalan

arsi036888@yahoo.comWaseem Shahzad MughalWaseem.gift.@gmail.com

Six Verb Types

• Intransitive verbs

• Linking verbs

• Transitive Verbs

• Vg Verbs

• Vc verbs

• BE verbs

Intransitive Verbs

• Intransitive verbs can either end a sentence or be followed by an adverb.

• NP+VI (Adverb)• Example: The ambassador spoke.

– Eagles fly.– The car window broke instantly.

• The adverb “instantly” follows the verb broke.

Linking Verbs

• Linking verbs must be followed by either a noun phrase or adjectives.

• Linking verbs cannot end a sentence.• Linking verbs include: seem, become, remain,

as well as verbs of sense (taste, smell, sound, look and feel)

• NP+VL+(NP:PredN, or Adj. PredAdj)• Examples: The mother looked weary.

– Gabe remained an honest man.

Transitive Verbs

• Transitive verbs are followed by noun phrases that function as direct objects.

• Usually, the transitive verb has “done something” by the subject.

• NP+VT+NP: DObj.

• Examples: Michael Jordan shot the ball. – Sarah washed the dishes.

Vg Verbs

• Vg verbs are followed by both direct and indirect objects.

• Think of the verb give.• NP+Vg+ (NP:Iobj or NP+Dobj, or NP+Dobj.

To/for NP+Iobj.)• Examples: The committee gave the secretary

a warning. – Jeff bought a car for his wife.– Jeff bought his wife a car.

Vc Verbs

• Vc verbs are followed by direct objects and object complements

• Think of the verb: consider. Some Vc verbs are more like “make” or “elect.” Also verbs like think, found, and believe act like “consider.”

• NP+Vc+NP:Dobj.+ (NP:Obj.Comp, Adj Ph:Obj.Comp, Inf Ph:ObjComp)

• Examples: Joseph considered Mississippi the best state.– Arthur found the royal title to be a prison.– Smoking in resturaunts makes some people disgusted.– The class elected Josh president.

BE Verbs

• BE verbs are followed by an adjective, a noun, or an adverb of place.

• Eight forms of BE: be, is, am, are, was, were, been, and being.

• NP+BE+(NP:PredN, or Adj:PredAdj, or Adv:PredAdv)

• Examples: Jennifer was happy.– The grocery store is down the road.– Six Days Seven Nights is a movie.

Review Exercise

• On your handout, decide what type of verbs are in each sentence. Choose and label each sentence either: VT,VI, Vg, Vc, VL, or BE.

• In pairs, compare answers. • Create your own list of ten sentences,

including at least one example of each verb type and label appropriately.

Sample of Exercise Questions

1. Seat belts save lives.

2. Bunji jumping is a dangerous sport.

3. Disney World offers visitors family entertainment.

4. Cancer frustrates microbiologists.

5. Roosevelt named Eisenhower Supreme Allied Commander.

6. Computer spreadsheets make business analysis easy.

7. The president’s dog scampered across the White House lawn.

8. Yellowstone is a national treasure.

9. Drug addiction shatters dreams.

10. University officials suspended the fraternity.

11. The city council bought Saturns for the police department.

12. Women’s colleges prepare students to be independent thinkers.

13. The cocaine supply seems limitless.

14. The audience remained absolutely silent.

15. Dad signed my report card.

16. The Internet makes everyone equal.

17. Toxic waste threatens our habitat.

18. The state of Florida executed Theodore Bundy.

19. Social problems make law enforcement difficult.

20. Narcotics imitate the body’s natural reward system.

Additional Resouces for Teaching Verbs

• The Wide World of Verbs: http://www.kyrene.k12.az.us/schools/brisas/sunda/verb/enter.htm

• SuperTeach: Printable verb tests: http://webnz.co.nz/checkers/verbtestPO.htm

• Verb Quest: http://www.bedfordk12tn.com/harris/verbquest.htm

Works Cited• All information for this presentation

came from Max Morenberg’s Doing Grammar, 3rd Edition.

• Morenberg, Max. Doing Grammar. 3rd Ed. Oxford University Press, New York. 2002.