Verbs
Types of Verbs
Gerunds
Definition: Gerunds are present participle verb constructions used as nouns or within noun phrases.
Example:
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Used as nouns: “Singing is her talent.”
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Used within noun phrases: “I loathe drinking spinach smoothies.”
Infinitives
Definition: Infinitives are verb constructions of the form “to verb.” They can be used as nouns, adjectives, adverbs, infinitive phrases, adjectival constructions, or adverbial constructions.
Example:
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Used as nouns: "Hammoud loves to sprint.”
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Used as adjectives: "Give him a banana to eat.”
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Used as adverbs: "I am willing to try."
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Used as infinitive phrases: "Hammoud loves to sprint around the track."
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Used as adjectival constructions: "Give me an errand to complete for him."
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Used as adverbial constructions: "I am pleased to meet you."
Nominalizations
Definition: Nominalizations are verbs or adjectives that have become nouns.
Example:
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Incorrect: “The committee made a determination about the next action.”
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Correct: “The committee determined the next action.”
Participles
Definition: Participles are verb forms that act as adjectives, as parts of participle phrases, or as parts of verb tenses.
Examples:
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Act as adjectives: “the leaping gazelle”
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Act as parts of participle phrases: “the gazelle, leaping into the air”
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Act as parts of verb tenses: “I am enjoying this weather.”
Transitives and Instransitives
Definition: Transitive verbs convey action to an object, and intransitive verbs do not convey action to an object
Examples:
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Transitive: “Tyrone prepared the presentation.”
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Intransitive: “Kai laughed.”
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Verb Conjugation
Definition: Verb conjugation refers to how verbs are manipulated in sentences to fit the appropriate constructions of the person (1st , 2nd , or 3rd person), number (singular or plural), tense (past, present, or future), or voice (active or passive).