SURIGAO DEL SUR STATE UNIVERSITY
BISLIG CITY CAMPUS
Classification of Verbs
Objectives:
At the end of the lesson, you should be able to:
1. Identify the different classification of verb
2. Explain the difference between transitive and intransitive verb, finite and non-
finite verb.
3. Develop a motivational activity focusing the different classification of the verbs.
Introduction:
What is a verb?
Verb is a word used to describe an action, state, or occurrence, and forming the main
part of the predicate of a sentence, such as hear, become, happen. Verbs are the action
words in a sentence that describe what the subject is doing. Along with nouns, verbs
are the main part of a sentence or phrase, telling a story about what is taking place. In
fact, without a verb, full thoughts can’t be properly conveyed, and even the simplest
sentences. When learning the rules of grammar, schoolchildren are often taught that
verbs are ‘doing’ words, meaning they signify the part of the sentence which explains
the action taking place.
ACTIVITY:
State whether the verbs used in the following sentences are transitive or intransitive,
finite or non-finite, linking verb or passive verb.
Let’s invite Bob and Sally
I usually sleep well.
We spend a great amount of time together and we want to do it forever.
We got up in the morning and prepared ourselves for the tour.
You have baffled me.
It is dangerous to drive on this slippery road.
I have completed the given task.
William is excited about the promotion.
ANALYSIS
How did you classify the given sentences?
Were you able to differentiate each one of them?
Classification of verbs
ABSTRACTION
The Different Classification of Verbs
Verbs can be classified in many ways, here are some of its types;
Transitive and intransitive verbs
A transitive verb has two characteristics. First, it is an action verb, expressing a
doable activity like kick, want, paint, write, eat, clean, etc. Second, it must have
a direct object, something or someone who receives the action of the verb.
This is the rule/pattern:
S UBJECT + A CTION V ERB + D IRECT O BJECT
Here’s an example:
Sylvia kicked Juan under the table.
Sylvia is the subject; kicked is the action verb; and Juan is the
direct object.
An intransitive verb is defined as a verb that does not take a direct object. That
means there's no word in the sentence that tells who or what received the action of the
verb. While there may be a word or phrase following an intransitive verb, such words
and phrases typically answer the question "how?"
This is the rule/pattern:
S UBJECT + A CTION VERB
Here’s an example:
They jumped.
They is subject; and jumped is the action verb.
Remember that if it has no direct object, then it is a
transitive verb.
Finite and non-finite verbs
There are mainly two types of verbs in English – finite and non-finite. Finite verbs
change their forms when there is a change in the number or person of the subject.
Finite verbs also have different forms in different tenses. This means that verbs with
tense are finite.
Remember that a finite verb is a form of a verb that (a) shows agreement with a
subject and (b) is marked for tense.
This is the rule/ pattern:
S UBJECT and TENSE
Here’s an example.
David plays the piano.
The subject is David and it uses the present tense which is the
word plays.
Non-finite verbs do not change their form when the number or person of the
subject changes. There are mainly three types of non-finite verbs: infinitives, gerunds
and participles.
Verbs in any other form (infinitive, -ing, or -ed) are called NONFINITE verbs. This
means that verbs without tense are non-finite
Remember this rule, a non-finite verb is not controlled by the number, person and
tense of the subject.
Here’s an example.
It took courage to continue after the accident.
It has no tense -- the verb has the infinitive form.
Linking Verbs
A linking verb is used to re-identify or to describe its subject. A linking verb is
called a linking verb because it links the subject to a subject complement
A linking verb connects the subject of a sentence with a word that gives
information about the subject, such as a condition or relationship. They do not
show any action; they simply link the subject with the rest of the sentence.
This is the pattern:
S UBJECT + LINKING VERB + S UBJECT COMPLEMENT
Here’s an example.
He is a monster.
Where he is the subject;the word is is the linking verb and a
monster is the subject complement
Passive Verb
Passive voice means that a subject is a recipient of a verb’s action. You may
have learned that the passive voice is weak and incorrect, but it isn’t that
simple. When used correctly and in moderation, the passive voice is fine. A
sentence is in the passive voice, on the other hand, when the subject is acted
on by the verb. The passive voice is always constructed with a conjugated
form of to be plus the verb’s past participle. Doing this usually generates a
preposition as well. That sounds much more complicated than it is—passive
voice is actually quite easy to detect.
This is the rule/pattern:
OBJECT + V ERB + SUBJECT
Here’s an example:
Banana’s are adored by monkeys .
W h e r e t he passive sentence consists of bananas (object) + are adored (a
form of to be plus the past participle adored) + by (preposition)
+ monkeys (subject).
APPLICATION
TASK I
She is doing well.
Transitive
Intransitive
Cite ten examples of the different classification of the
verbs, and identify where it belongs.
TASK II
What is the difference of transitive and intransitive verb,
finite and non-finite verb. Give its pattern.
TASK III
