Summary English Grammar

Grammar 2




1.
Verbs as a part of speech in
English
(p.1-5)
Verbs are an open class. = New elements can come into that group.

 new verbs can come into the language.

Overview :

1. Parts of speech in present-day English
2. Verbs as part of speech
3. verb types
4. Verbs and their links with other parts of speech


1. Parts of speech in present-day English




- parts of speech in English = ‘anatomy’ of English
-Dutch: woordsoort
-focus: VERBS

,Grammar 2


-open vs closed parts of speech




2. Verbs as a part of speech
Verbs are an open part of speech. This means that new verbs can be added to the English language

- newly added words to the English language:

 to google
 to tweet
 to facetime
 to mansplain
 to sext
 to text
 to twerk

 he can ask for a few examples with definition.



3. Verb types

1. (in)dependent use
 Most verbs can be used on their own.
 Some verbs (with specific functions) have to be used with other verbs (i.e. dependently) because they
‘help’ other verbs. > auxiliary verbs (aka auxiliaries)
 Some verbs can be used independently and dependently

,Grammar 2


When dependent= always uses auxiliary verb




1.1. Main/Lexical & Copular verbs
1. I like you.

2. I talked to her every day.

3. She has three children.

4. He seems extremely intelligent.

 all used independently

1.2. Auxiliary verbs
1. Shh, don’t talk to me now! (=negation)

2. I am talking to a friend of mine. (=continuous aspect)

3. She has borne three children. (=

4. We do do the dishes every day (=emphasis)

 all used dependently

1.3. All verbs
1. The girl was found in the end.

2. He has been a good father.

3. They have had a wonderful time.

4. I need money and I need to get it to her fast.

Playing with (in)dependent uses of verbs
Sean where Siobhan had had had had had had had had had had had the teacher’s approval. (11 hads)

, Grammar 2


With punctuation it is correct:

Sean, where Siobhad had had ‘had’, had had ‘had had’; ‘had had’ had had the teacher’s approval.

2. (ir)regularity (usually used to refer to past forms)
 Most verbs are regular, which means that they form their (past) forms in regular ways.
 A minority of verbs in English (approx.. 300) are irregular, which means that they form their (past)
forms in irregular ways.
 Context can play an important role when you need to decide on (ir)regular forms.

2.1. (Ir)regular verbs
1. I texted you at 2pm. (=regular)

2. I was there at the time. (=irregular)

3. She rang me immediately. (=irregular)

4. The police ringed the house. (=regular)

5. She learnt Dutch very quickly. (=irregular)

6. She learned Dutch very quickly. (=regular)

7. melted chocolate. (=regular)

8. molten lava. (=irregular)

 What’s the difference?
= Temperature difference.
= When something melts at low temperatures, we go with the regular form.

--there’s a list of irregular verbs and explanations in introductory notes--

3. Object vs no object
 There are verbs that have no objects.
o “Go away!”
o “I am in class.”
 There are verbs that have one object.
 There are verbs that have two objects.
 There are verbs that have one object and an object complement.
 Context can play an important role when you need to decide on whether verbs have objects or not.

3.1.No objects
= intransitive verbs

 He can run very fast.
! Can is intransitive because Auxiliary verbs DO NOT HAVE OBJECTS !
 He is extremely dumb
! verb used as copular verbs are ALWAYS INTRANSITIVE.

3.2. One object