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A _verb_ is a word which implies action or the doing of something, or it `
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may be defined as a word which affirms, commands or asks a question. `
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Thus, the words _John the table_, contain no assertion, but when the word `
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_strikes_ is introduced, something is affirmed, hence the word _strikes_ `
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is a verb and gives completeness and meaning to the group. `
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The simple form of the verb without inflection is called the _root_ of `
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the verb; _e. g. love_ is the root of the verb,--"To Love." `
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Verbs are _regular_ or _irregular_, _transitive_ or _intransitive_. `
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A verb is said to be _regular_ when it forms the past tense by adding `
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_ed_ to the present or _d_ if the verb ends in _e_. When its past tense `
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does not end in _ed_ it is said to be _irregular_. `
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A _transitive_ verb is one the action of which passes over to or affects `
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some object; as "I struck the table." Here the action of striking `
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affected the object table, hence struck is a transitive verb. `
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An _intransitive_ verb is one in which the action remains with the subject; `
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as _"I walk,"_ _"I sit,"_ _"I run."_ `
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Many intransitive verbs, however, can be used transitively; thus, "I _walk_ `
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the horse;" _walk_ is here transitive. `
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Verbs are inflected by _number_, _person_, _tense_ and _mood_. `
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_Number_ and _person_ as applied to the verb really belong to the `
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subject; they are used with the verb to denote whether the assertion is `
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made regarding one or more than one and whether it is made in reference `
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to the person speaking, the person spoken to or the person or thing `
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spoken about. `
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TENSE `
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In their tenses verbs follow the divisions of time. They have _present `
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tense_, _past tense_ and _future tense_ with their variations to express `
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the exact time of action as to an event happening, having happened or yet `
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to happen. `
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MOOD `
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There are four simple moods,--the _Infinitive_, the _Indicative_, the `
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_Imperative_ and the _Subjunctive_. `
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The Mood of a verb denotes the mode or manner in which it is used. Thus `
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if it is used in its widest sense without reference to person or number, `
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time or place, it is in the _Infinitive_ Mood; as "To run." Here we are `
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not told who does the running, when it is done, where it is done or `
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anything about it. `
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When a verb is used to indicate or declare or ask a simple question or `
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make any direct statement, it is in the _Indicative_ Mood. "The boy loves `
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his book." Here a direct statement is made concerning the boy. "Have you `
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a pin?" Here a simple question is asked which calls for an answer. `
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When the verb is used to express a command or entreaty it is in the `
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_Imperative_ Mood as, "Go away." "Give me a penny." `
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When the verb is used to express doubt, supposition or uncertainty or `
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when some future action depends upon a contingency, it is in the `
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subjunctive mood; as, "If I come, he shall remain." `
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Many grammarians include a fifth mood called the _potential_ to express `
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_power_, _possibility_, _liberty_, _necessity_, _will_ or _duty_. It is `
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formed by means of the auxiliaries _may_, _can_, _ought_ and _must_, but `
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in all cases it can be resolved into the indicative or subjunctive. Thus, `
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in "I may write if I choose," "may write" is by some classified as in the `
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potential mood, but in reality the phrase _I may write_ is an indicative `
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one while the second clause, _if I choose_, is the expression of a `
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condition upon which, not my liberty to write, depends, but my actual `
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writing. `
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Verbs have two participles, the present or imperfect, sometimes called `
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the _active_ ending in _ing_ and the past or perfect, often called the `
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_passive_, ending in _ed_ or _d_. `
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The _infinitive_ expresses the sense of the verb in a substantive form, `
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the participles in an adjective form; as "To rise early is healthful." `
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"An early rising man." "The newly risen sun." `
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The participle in _ing_ is frequently used as a substantive and `
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consequently is equivalent to an infinitive; thus, "To rise early is `
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healthful" and "Rising early is healthful" are the same. `
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The principal parts of a verb are the Present Indicative, Past Indicative `
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and Past Participle; as: `
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Love Loved Loved `
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Sometimes one or more of these parts are wanting, and then the verb is `
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said to be defective. `
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Present Past Passive Participle `
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Can Could (Wanting) `
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May Might " `
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Shall Should " `
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Will Would " `
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Ought Ought " `
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Verbs may also be divided into _principal_ and _auxiliary_. A _principal_ `
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verb is that without which a sentence or clause can contain no assertion `
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or affirmation. An _auxiliary_ is a verb joined to the root or participles `
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of a principal verb to express time and manner with greater precision `
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than can be done by the tenses and moods in their simple form. Thus, the `
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sentence, "I am writing an exercise; when I shall have finished it I `
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shall read it to the class." has no meaning without the principal verbs `
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_writing_, _finished read_; but the meaning is rendered more definite, `
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especially with regard to time, by the auxiliary verbs _am_, _have_, `
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_shall_. `
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There are nine auxiliary or helping verbs, viz., _Be_, _have_, _do_, `
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_shall_, _will_, _may_, _can_, _ought_, and _must_. They are called `
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helping verbs, because it is by their aid the compound tenses are formed. `
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TO BE `
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The verb _To Be_ is the most important of the auxiliary verbs. It has `
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eleven parts, viz., _am, art, is, are, was, wast, were, wert; be, being_ `
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and _been_. `
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VOICE `
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The _active voice_ is that form of the verb which shows the Subject not `
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being acted upon but acting; as, "The cat _catches_ mice." "Charity `
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_covers_ a multitude of sins." `
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The _passive voice_: When the action signified by a transitive verb is `
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thrown back upon the agent, that is to say, when the subject of the verb `
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denotes the recipient of the action, the verb is said to be in the `
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passive voice. "John was loved by his neighbors." Here John the subject `
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is also the object affected by the loving, the action of the verb is `
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thrown back on him, hence the compound verb _was loved_ is said to be in `
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the _passive voice_. The passive voice is formed by putting the perfect `
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participle of any _transitive_ verb with any of the eleven parts of the `
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verb _To Be_. `
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CONJUGATION `
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The _conjugation_ of a verb is its orderly arrangement in voices, moods, `
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tenses, persons and numbers. `
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Here is the complete conjugation of the verb "Love"--_Active Voice_. `
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PRINCIPAL PARTS `
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Present Past Past Participle `
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Love Loved Loved `
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Infinitive Mood `
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To Love `
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Indicative Mood `
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PRESENT TENSE `
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Sing. Plural `
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1st person I love We love `
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2nd person You love You love `
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3rd person He loves They love `
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PAST TENSE `
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Sing. Plural `
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1st person I loved We loved `
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2nd person You loved You loved `
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3rd person He loved They loved `
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FUTURE TENSE `
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Sing. Plural `
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1st person I shall love They will love `
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2nd person You will love You will love `
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3rd person He will love We shall love `
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PRESENT PERFECT TENSE `
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Sing. Plural `
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1st person I have loved We have loved `
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2nd person You have loved You have loved `
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3rd person He has loved They have loved `
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PAST PERFECT TENSE `
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