Passive Voice
the passive voice is a verb construction that is used to describe an action in which the subject of the sentence is the recipient of the action, rather than the performer of the action. In the passive voice, the subject of the sentence is typically preceded by the verb to be and followed by the past participle of the main verb. "The cake was baked by the chef." (In this sentence, the subject "cake" is the recipient of the action of being baked, and the performer of the action, the chef, is mentioned in the prepositional phrase "by the chef.") [...]
Voices of the Verbs
Voice is the category of the verb which indicates relation of the predicate to the subject and the object. There are three voices in English: the active voice, the passive voice, and the neuter-reflexive voice. Active Voice The active voice shows that the person or thing denoted by the subject is the doer of the action expressed by the predicate. Passive Voice The passive voice shows that the person or thing denoted by the subject is acted upon. Neuter-Reflexive Voice The neuter-reflexive voice shows that the action expressed by the predicate passes on [...]
Person and Number of the Verbs
In modern english there are but few forms indicating person and number in the synthetic forms of the verb. These are: #1. The third person singular Present Indefinite Indicative He speaks. #2. The Future Indefinite tense. I shall speak - We shall speak He will speak - They will speak Verb To Be The verb to be has suppletive forms for different persons (singular and plural). Singular Plural Present Past Present Past I am am was We are were He is is was You are were They are were
Transitive and Intransitive Verbs
Verb can be transitive and intransitive. Transitive Verbs Transitive verbs can take a direct object, i. e. they express an action which passes on to a person or thing directly. Here belong such verbs as to take, to give, to send, to make, to see, to show, to bring, to love etc. Jon had never loved her so much as in that minute which seemed to falsify Fleur’s fears and to release his soul. (Galsworthy) Youth only recognizes Age by fits and starts. Jon, for one, had never really seen his father’s age till he came back [...]
Syntactic Functions of Verbs
According to the syntactic function of verbs, which depends on the extent to which they retain, weaken or lose their meaning, they are divided into notional verbs, auxiliary verbs and link verbs. Notional Verbs Notional verbs are those which have a full meaning of their own and can be used without any additional words as a simple predicate. Here belong such verbs as to write, to read, to speak, to know, to ask. Ricky surrounded her with great care and luxury. (Stern) She knew what he was thinking. (Galsworthy) Auxiliary Verbs Auxiliary verbs are those which [...]
Forms of the Verbs
The basic forms of the verb in Modern English are: the Infinitive, the Past Indefinite, and Participle II. According to the way in which the Past Indefinite and Participle II are formed, verbs are divided into three groups: regular verbs, irregular verbs, and mixed verbs. Regular Verbs Regular verbs form the Past Indefinite and Participle II by adding - ed to the stem of the verb, or only - d if the stem of the verb ends in - e. to want — wanted to open — opened to unite — united to live — [...]
Link Verbs and their Meaning
According to their meaning link verbs can be divided into two large groups: link verbs of being and remaining; link verbs of becoming. #1. link verbs of being and remaining The first group comprises such verbs as to be, to remain, to keep, to continue, to look, to smell, to stand, to sit, to lie, to shine, to seem, to prove, to appear, etc. The latter three verbs have some modal colouring. Cotman was a nice-looking fellow, of thirty perhaps... (Maugham) Do not delay, there is no time. Teacher Williams lies dead, already. (Buck) The Western powers stood aloof. [...]