classification of verbs

by Vijay Gupta

Classification of Verbs

Lexical Verb or Main Verb:

A main verb is also known as a lexical verb. The main verb in a verb phrase is the word that expresses the activity, event and feeling etc. that is being described in the sentence. All main verbs are either action verb or linking verbs.

He plays football.

Sumeet is reading a novel.

Action Verb:

A verb may describe an action or activity, or an event or happening. The word 'verb' comes from Latin word - 'verbum' means word. An action verb may equally describe a mental process such as thinking, knowing or wanting:

Remember, forget, fear, suspect, wonder, need.

An action verb may also describe something that happens to a person or thing: Get, receive and sustain etc.

To find out the action verb in a sentence, ask yourself which word describes what someone or something is doing or thinking or what is happening. There are two kinds of action verb:

i) Transitive Verb

ii) Intransitive Veb

Transitive Verb:

A lexical verb that has a direct object is a transitive verb. Some transitive verbs have both a direct object and an indirect object. Transitive comes from Latin word 'transire' meaning 'to go across'. The action of the verb 'goes across' from the subject of the verb to the direct object of the verb: e.g.

I like cows.

It is further divided into three classes.

Mono transitive verbs:

Mono transitive verbs have only one object, a direct object.

For example: I know the answer.

Di transitive verbs:

Di transitive verbs have two objects, a direct object and an indirect object.

I told him (indirect) the answer. (direct)

Complex Transitive Verbs:

Complex transitive verbs have a direct object and a complement (a word or phrase that says something about the direct object.)

They have painted their house purple. (complement)

I will prove you wrong