Understanding The Basics.
English Grammar Engli Gramm Eng Gram En Understanding The Basics.
Evelyn p. Altenberg Robert M. Vago
Lesson 7 Identifying Verbs
2
Understanding The Basics.
Lesson 7
Identifying V e r What’s b s a verb? Verbs are words that usually express an action. Here are two easy ways to identify a verb; you can use either one.
English Grammar
3
Lesson 7 Identifying Verbs
Should T o
Go. Tell. Disagree. Spell.
Quick tip 7.1 If a word can have should in front of it and the phrase sounds complete, the word is a verb. Examples: should leave, should sail, should discover, should complain. Leave, sail, discover, and complain are all verbs.
4
Here are some examples of verbs. You can see that they all meet the test with should and the test with to.
In contrast, the following words do not pass the should or to test:
Understanding The Basics.
Should T o
Coffee. Beautiful. Hardly. Under.
Quick tip 7.2 If a word can have to in front of it and the phrase sounds complete, it’s a verb. Examples: to leave, to sail, to discover, to complain. Leave, sail, discover,
and complain are all verbs. (Note that we’re not talking here about two, too, or the to that indicates direction, as in Let’s go to the park.)
Thus, coffee, beautiful, hardly, and under are not verbs.
English Grammar
5
Lesson 7 Identifying Verbs
6
Understanding The Basics.
7.1
T e s t yourself
Which of the following words are verbs? See if they sound like a complete unit when you put the word here: should_____ or to_____. Check the appropriate column.
English Grammar
7
Lesson 7 Identifying Verbs
Not a verb is verb
Characteristic.
Defend. Include.
Largest. How. Learn.
(answers on p. 41)
8
Understanding The Basics.
Not a verb is verb
Sightsee. Unbelievaby.
Look. Grow.
Ambitious.
(answers on the website)
English Grammar
9
Lesson 7 Identifying Verbs
10
Understanding The Basics.
7.2
T e s t yourself
Underline the verbs in these phrases. Test each word to see if it sounds like a complete unit when you put the word here: should_____ or to_____.
English Grammar
11
Lesson 7 Identifying Verbs
u n d e r Should really think Must not worry
t
Might keep Wish for peace
h
May sometimes cook
v (answers on p. 41)
12
Will travel
e
r
h
Understanding The Basics.
r l i n e Can usually sleep late Won’t go home Would like guidance Could never build
e
Shall do
r
b
s
(answers on the website)
English Grammar
13
Lesson 8 The Verbs Base
14
Understanding The Basics.
Lesson 8
t v b
e a
h
r s
Sometimes a verb changes its form. Let’s look at the following sentences. The verb is underlined in each one.
e b e
English Grammar
15
Lesson 8 The Verbs Base
John
should study. studied. is studying. studies.
You certainly can’t say, *John should studied, or John to studied, so how do we know that studied is a verb? To test the word, you have to see if it can follow should or to in a different form, not necessarily in the form that you see in a 16
particular sentence. For example, if you see John studied, ask yourself if there’s a different form of studied that can follow should or to. In this case there is: John should study or John decided to study. So study and all its forms are verbs.
Believed Written Wore Throws
study), or to the to + base form (for example, to study). Let’s put each of theseverbs into its base form. The base form is underlined by orange text.
Should To
Working
Understanding The Basics.
The form of the verb that follows should or to is called the base form or infinitive form. The term infinitive is used to refer either to the base form alone (for example,
work believe write wear throw
English Grammar
17
Lesson 8 The Verbs Base
18
Understanding The Basics.
8.1
T e s t yourself
Put each of the verbs below into its base form. Simply find the form that follows should or to.
English Grammar
19
Lesson 8 The Verbs Base
Grew Wrote Talking Thought Considered Learn
(answers on p. 41)
20
Grow
Understanding The Basics.
Investigates Spoken Married Decides Found
(answers on the website)
English Grammar
21
Lesson 8 The Verbs Base
22
Understanding The Basics.
8.3
T e s t yourself
Which of the following words are verbs? You may have to put some into their base form in order to be sure. Remember also that a verb usually indicates an action.
English Grammar
23
Lesson 8 The Verbs Base
Not a verb is verb
Flew. Danced.
Sofa.
Large. Gave.
Stares.
(answers on p. 41)
24
Understanding The Basics.
Not a verb is verb
Pushed.
Goodness. At.
Carries. Them.
(answers on the website)
English Grammar
25
Lesson 8 The Verbs Base
26
Understanding The Basics.
8.4
T e s t yourself
Underline the verbs in each of the sentences below, using the should or to tests to help you. You may have to put some verbs into their base forms in order to be sure. Remember also that a verb usually indicates an action.
English Grammar
27
Lesson 8 The Verbs Base
u n d e r She grabbed his arm.
The host greeted us cordially.
t
She should say that again.
Jonathan walked over to the car. He washes dishes every evening.
h
You can’t speak Vietnamese.
v (answers on p. 41)
28
e
r
h
Understanding The Basics.
r l i n e My neighbor few to Chicago.
The children wanted some candy. Tomorrow we might go to the museum.
e
The censor usually objects to the same seven words. In the afternoon I bought a present for my son.
r
b
s
(answers on the website)
English Grammar
29
h E r G sh mar glish mmar nglish rammar Understanding The Basics.
Understanding The Basics.
English Grammar Engli Gramm Eng Gram En Understanding The Basics.
Evelyn p. Altenberg Robert M. Vago