Main verbs
Main verbs have meanings related to actions, events and states. Most verbs in English are main verbs:
Wewenthome straight after the show.
Itsnoweda lot that winter.
Several different types of volcanoexist.
Linking verbs
Some main verbs are called linking verbs (or copular verbs). These verbs are not followed by objects. Instead, they are followed by phrases which give extra information about the subject (e.g. noun phrases, adjective phrases, adverb phrases or prepositional phrases). Linking verbs include:
appear | feel | look | seem | sound |
be | get | remain | smell | taste |
become |
A faceappearedat the window. It was Pauline.(prepositional phrase)
He’sa cousin of mine.(noun phrase)
This coatfeelsgood.(adjective phrase)
Sheremainedoutsidewhile her sister went into the hospital.(adverb phrase)
See also:
Linking verbs
Adjective phrases
Nouns
Auxiliary verbs
There are threeauxiliary verbs in English:be, doandhave. Auxiliary verbs come before main verbs.
Auxiliarybe
Auxiliarybeis used to indicate the continuous and the passive voice:
I’m waitingfor Sally to come home.(continuous)
Her carwasstolenfrom outside her house.(passive)
See also:
Future continuous (I will be working)
Passive
Auxiliarydo
Auxiliarydois used in interrogative, negative and emphatic structures:
Doesshe live locally?(interrogative)
Theydidn’tknow which house it was.(negative)
Idolike your new laptop!(emphatic, with spoken stress ondo)
See also:
Interrogative clauses
Negation
Doas an auxiliary verb
Auxiliaryhave
Auxiliaryhaveis used to indicate the perfect:
I’velostmy memory stick.Haveyouseenit anywhere?(present perfect)
Shehadseenmy car outside the shop.(past perfect)
See also:
Present perfect simple (I have worked)
Past perfect simple (I had worked)
Auxiliary verb with no main verb
An auxiliary verb can only appear alone when a main verb (or a clause containing a main verb) is understood in the context:
A:Does she play the clarinet?
B:Yes, Shedoes. (Yes, she plays the clarinet.)
A:It hasn’t snowed at all this year, has it?
B:No, ithasn’t. (No, it hasn’t snowed.)
Be, doandhaveas main verbs
Be,doandhavecan be used as auxiliary verbs or as main verbs.
as a main verb | as an auxiliary verb | |
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Remember, whendoandhaveare main verbs, we must use auxiliarydoto make questions and negatives:
A:WhatdoesJanetdo?
B:She’s a teacher.
Not:What does Janet?
Idon’thavea car. I only have a bike.
See also:
Verbs: basic forms
Modal verbs
The main modal verbs are:
can | may | must | should | would |
could | might | shall | will |
Modal verbs have meanings connected with degrees of certainty and necessity:
We’llbe there around 7.30.(speaker is quite certain)
A new windowcouldcost around £500.(speaker is less certain)
Imustring the tax office.(speaker considers this very necessary)
Semi-modal verbs have some meanings related to the main modal verbs. The semi-modal verbs aredare, need, ought to, used to.
See also:
Modality: introduction
Dare
Need
Ought to
Used to
State and action verbs
A verb refers to an action, event or state.
Action
We can use the simple or continuous form of action verbs:
Icleanedthe room as quickly as possible.
She’s watchingtelevision at the moment.
Event
We can use the simple or continuous form of event verbs:
Four peoplediedin the crash.
It’s rainingagain.
State
We usually use the simple form rather than the continuous form of state verbs:
Idon’t knowthe name of the street.
Whoownsthis house?
Some verbs can be used to talk about both states and actions, but with different meanings:
state (usually simple form) | action (simple or continuous) |
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In very informal speaking you will sometimes hear state verbs used as action verbs when they refer to actions over short periods. These uses are not usually found in traditional grammar books.
| Likeused as a state verb describing a permanent fact about me. |
| Likeused as an action verb referring to the book I am reading but not enjoying at the moment. |
| Loveused as a state verb to refer to a permanent fact about her. |
| Loveused as an action verb referring to the CD which she is listening to and liking very much at the moment. |