Subscribe (RSS)Definitions and Distinctions
A verb is a word that expresses being, action, or state. The following words are verbs:
- be
- read
- sleep
- loved
The characteristic property of the verb is that it affirms what it expresses. The being, action, or state may be affirmed, assumed, used abstractly, or its negative can be affirmed.
For Example
George runs.
George running
to run
George does not run.
When an affirmation is made, the verb is said to be finite. When the action of the verb is assumed, it takes the construction of the adjective and is called a participle.
When a verb is used abstractly, it is separated from its subject. Being separated from its subject, it is unlimited by person or number. It is said to be in its infinitive and, thus, its unlimited form.
To affirm, as here used, includes:
- an absolute declaration
For example
Mary learns.
- a conditional statement
For example
if Mary learns
- a question or interrogation
For example
Does Mary learn?
- a petition or request
For example
May Mary learn?
- a command
For example
Mary, learn.
If a word is a verb only when it affirms being, action, or state, neither the participle nor the infinitive are verbs. Participles and infinitives can only be included as verbs by defining a verb as a word that expresses and action. They are both, however, derived from verbs and partaking of their meaning.
The verb to be is the abstract or substantive verb. All forms of the verb to be are called the linking verb or the copula. A linking verb asserts some attribute of a noun. When the attribute expresses a quality or class, the verb to be or an equivalent must always be used.
For example
Lead is heavy.
With verb phrase combined forms, the whole phrase undergoes inflections. Inflections are changes in one more elements of the verb phrase that indicate voice, mode, tense, number, and person. When used alone, the verb to be, itself, undergoes these inflection variations.
A verb is called attributive when it joins an attribute to the pure verb, to be. The verb to be is attributive whenever it is used to assert existence.
For example
Consider the following sentence:
There was a man sent from God.
When a form of the verb to be is used this way, the verb is commonly followed by its subject and preceded by the expletive there. In this case, the word there serves no other purpose than to introduce the sentence and indicate this peculiarity of the verb.
Every finite verb represents some person or thing as acting or existing in a certain state. The word or phrase that represents the person or thing acting or existing is a certain state is called the subject of the verb.
For example
Frank plays.
She sleeps.
