English Grammar: The Parts of Speech

Parts of Speech — Verbs

The verb is the most important part of speech. It is the only part of speech that can make a statement about the subject. The subject is the part of a sentence that names the person, place, or thing that is talked about. If you wanted to write or say something about a hunter, you could not complete your statement without the use of a verb. You must have a verb in every sentence. The following illustration will make this clear.

The hunter shot the deer. (The verb is the word shot.)

If you take the verb shot out of the sentence, you have left the words, the hunter, the deer, but you do not have a complete thought. You need a verb to state what the hunter did to the deer. When you supply a verb, you have a complete statement.

Most of the verbs in common use express action. The action is not always physical action like the action expressed in the sentence, The hunter shot the deer. In the sentence, I solved the problem, the meaning of the verb solved implies both mental and physical activity.

In the sentence, The engineer built a bridge, all the types of activity that went on until the bridge was completed are implied in the verb built. The same would be true of the verb made in the sentence, The chef made a cake. All the verbs in the following sentences express action of some kind:

The painter decorated the hall.

I broke my finger.

The secretary wrote a letter.

The president called a meeting.

The officer handed a ticket to the driver.

A small, but very important group of verbs, do not express action. The verb to be is the most important verb in this group. This verb has many forms which you will learn later in your course. The most common forms of the verb to be include is, are, was and were. Since the verb to be does not express action, it must have another function in the sentence. With the help of some other word or words, it makes a statement about the condition of the subject, or the person, place, or thing that is talked about.

In the sentence, Henry is ill, the verb is does not express action of any kind, but it serves two purposes in the sentence. With the help of the word ill it makes a statement about the subject, Henry. It also serves to connect the word ill with Henry. The sentence really means ill Henry, but you need the verb is to make the statement a complete sentence. Because the verb has this connecting function, it is called a linking verb.

From the following illustrations, you will see that the verb to be with the help of some other word describes or explains the condition of the subject in some way. The verb is is a form of the verb to be.

My uncle is a famous surgeon. (classifies uncle as surgeon)

Mother is very happy. (describes the condition of mother)

This cabinet is an antique. (identifies the cabinet)

Her dress is beautiful. (describes dress)

A number of other verbs are often used in the same way as the verb to be is used in the preceding illustrations. You will study these verbs in a later unit. The point to remember is that all verbs do not express action. Some verbs have a linking function. In defining a verb you must include both functions.

REMINDER: A verb is a word which expresses action, condition, or state of being.