Discovering Grammar - Verbs

10 important questions on Discovering Grammar - Verbs

What is a verb?

A doing or being word.

What is the 1st, 2nd, 3rd person present and past tenses of the verb to be?

1st I am      I was
      we are       we were
2nd You are    You were
3rd He/she/it is    He/ she/ it was
They are               They were

What is a transitive verb?

A verb that takes an object. Example- He trimmed the hedge.
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What is an intransitive verb?

A verb that doesn't take an object. She dances beautifully.

What is the infinitive form of a verb? If the infinitive is the only verb in a collection of words is this a sentence? Should the to be next to the verb or can it be split from it?

The form of the verb that has to before it. If the infinitive is used in a sentence there must be a finite verb as well.

"many people consider it incorrect to split the infinitive"

What is the present participle? How do you make it into a finite verb with it? What is it called when you the past or present part of the verb to be to the present participle?

It always ends in ing.

To form a finite verb you introduce it using the auxiliary verb to be.

The past or present tense of this verb is used and becomes the present progressive or the past progressive.  

Remember a finite verb can be made up of more than one word.

The present participle can also be made into a noun. What is the name of this type of noun? Give two examples.

Gerund.

Shopping is fun.

The wailing was continuous.

What is the past participle? Give the past tense and past participle for to be, to break, to cook

The past participle is sometimes the same as the ordinary past tense of a verb and some times different.

Some examples of irregular ones

infinitive         past tense         past participle
to be                was/ were          been
to break          broke                   broken
to cook           cooked                 cooked

What is a continuous action indicated by the use of what? How is this formed?

Perfect progressive tenses

The past participle of the verb to be follows the verb to have and is followed

The verb to have +   The past participle of the verb to be  + present participle of the required verb. The finite verb will be made up of three words.

Give an example of the present perfect progressive? Dog barking

That dog has been barking all night

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