Verbs

Longman Student Grammar of Spoken and

Written English
Biber; Conrad; Leech (2009, p.102-147)

Verbs provide the focal point of the clause. The main

verb in a clause determines the other clause
elements that can occur and specifies a meaning
relation among those elements. However, there are
many different kinds of verbs, including lexical v.
auxiliary verbs, different semantic classes, and
single-word v. multi-word verbs.

Grammar Bite A:
Verb functions and classes
Verbs perform two major functions in clauses: main verbs v.
auxiliary verbs
Main verbs are the central element in a clause
Auxiliary verbs qualify the meaning of the main verb

Verb forms can be grouped into three major classes

according to their ability to function as main verbs or
auxiliary verbs
Lexical verbs (e.g. run, eat, think) function only as main verbs
Primary verbs (be, have, do) can function as both auxiliary and
main verbs
Modal verbs (e.g. can, could) function only as auxiliary verbs

Lexical verbs are much more common than primary verbs

or modal verbs
Lexical verbs are most common in conversation and fiction

Grammar Bite B: Single-word lexical verbs

Lexical verbs fall into seven major semantic
categories: activity verbs (work), communication
verbs (write), mental verbs (wonder), causative verbs
(require), verbs of occurrence (die) , verbs of existence
or relationship (stay), and verbs of aspect (stop).
Many lexical verbs have more than one meaning.
Twelve verbs are especially common in English.
Their main uses fall into three types:
Activity verbs: get, go, make, come, take, give
Mental verbs: know, think, see, want, mean
Communication verb: say

In conversation, these twelve verbs are extremely

common. Written registers like academic prose tend
to use a wider range of different verbs.

Grammar Bite C:
Lexical verbs: structures and patterns
Two areas are important in the structure of lexical verbs:
Their inflectional morphology, which marks person, tense, aspect and
voice.
Their derivational morphology, which shows how verbs have been
created.

In their inflectional morphology, most verbs occur with regular

suffixes
Many of the most common verbs have irregular morphology.
Some verbs allow both regular and irregular morphology.

New verbs can be formed with derivational morphology

The prefix re- is frequently used for forming new words.
The suffix ize is also frequently used for forming new words.
4 derivational suffixes are common/ used with similar meanings. (ize)

The main verb determines the other elements that are

necessary for the clause i.e. the valency pattern
There are 5 major valency patterns: intransitive, monotransitive...
Many verbs can occur with more than one valency pattern, and they
often have different meanings with each pattern... different frequencies

Grammar Bite D: Multi-word lexical verbs

There are three major types of multi-word verb: phrasal verbs, prepositional
verbs and phrasal-prepositional verbs.
Multi-word combinations can also be free combinations.

Phrasal verbs consist of a verb + adverbial particle; they can be intransitive

or transitive
Phrasal verbs are especially frequent in conversation and fiction. The most
common verbs express physical activities (e.g. come on)
A few phrasal verbs are especially common in academic prose (e.g. carry out)

Prepositional verbs consist of a verb + preposition. They can have one or

two objects.
Prepositional verbs are common in all registers.
Prepositional verbs with activity and communication meanings are especially
common in conversation (e.g. look at)
Passive voice prepositional verbs are especially common in academic prose.
They have causative or existence meanings.

Phrasal-prepositional verbs consist of a verb + particle + preposition

Like phrasal verbs, phrasal-prepositional verbs are especially frequent in
conversation and fiction. The most common verbs express physical activity (e.g.
get on with)

There are also other kinds of multi-word verb constructions that occur with
idiomatic meanings (e.g. bear in mind, make do, and take time)

Grammar Bite E: Primary verbs

The three primary verbs be, have, and do can serve as
both main verbs and auxiliary verbs. They differ, however, in
their specific functions.
As copula (a main verb), be is the most common copular verb in
English
As an auxiliary verb, be marks progressive aspect and passive voice
As a main verb, have is one of the most common lexical verbs in
English
It has a particularly wide range of meanings
As an auxiliary, have marks perfect aspect
As a main verb, do is a general transitive verb of action (do work)
It often combines with a noun phrase to form idiomatic expressions
(e.g. do the dishes)
As a main verb, do can also function as a transitive pro-verb (do it) or
an intransitive pro-verb (e.g. I must have done)
As an auxiliary verb, do is used in the do-support construction for
forming negation and questions (e.g. Didnt you know?)
Auxiliary do is also used for emphatic meaning (e.g. Oh do shut up!)

Grammar Bite F: Copular verbs

Copular verbs are used to express a relationship between
the subject of the clause and an attribute. (Youre very stupid)
Copular verbs usually take an obligatory subject predicative.
Some copular verbs can also occur with an obligatory
adverbial. (I was in the kitchen)
Many different verbs can function as copulas. These verbs
can be grouped into two major categories: current copular
verbs and result copular verbs.
Current copular verbs express states of existence or sensory
perceptions (e.g. be, fell)
Result copular verbs express the result of a process of change (e.g.
become, turn out)

The copular verbs differ in their meanings and in the

complements that they can take. (BE- characterizing Tomorrow could be sunny
BE identifying Thats our house.)

There are highly systematic patterns of use associated with

copular verbs + complements (come alive, come clear recurring adjectives)

Time for a gag and some analysis!

Teacher Alec, what is a synonym ?
Its a word I cant spell that means the same as one I can.
Teacher Today we are going to discuss the heart, kidneys,
liver and lungs.
Alec Oh no. I hate organ recitals.
Principal All the teachers complain about you, boy. Can
you imagine why?
Alec No sir! I havent done anything!
Principal Youve got it exactly right, boy.
Drama teacher I told you last week you were too young to
join the drama club.
Alec Yes sir. But Im a week older now.