2.1 What Are Verbs?

Lesson 2: Verbs

2.1  What are Verbs?

2.1.1 The verb is the most important part of a sentence. The shortest sentence contains a verb. For example: “Come!” (an imperative sentence, giving a command.) You cannot make a one-word sentence with any other part of speech. (Mok: what about interjections? Eg. You can say, “Ouch!” to express a complete thought of pain.)

2.1.2 A verb has 2 functions: it either describes “action” (bring, read, walk, run, kill—technically called the dynamic verbs動態動詞), or it describes “a state of being” (be, exist, like, hear, appear--the stative verbs狀態動詞).

2.1.3 A verb always has a subject. We can say that verbs are words that tell us what a subject does or is. Eg.

·  action (George plays basketball.)

·  state (Peter looks happy.)

2.1.4 Almost all verbs change in form (conjugate動詞的詞形變化) based on tense and person. Most other types of words (adjectives, adverbs, prepositions, etc.) do not change in form (although nouns can have singular and plural forms; or for some, with the first alphabet capitalized or not may refer to different things, like China and china).

2.2  Classification of Verbs

Verbs can be classified in many different ways. Here we first distinguish verbs into helping verbs and main verbs. Then in the category of the main verbs, we will further group them into dynamic verbs and stative verbs according to their functions; then into transitive verbs and intransitive verbs, depending on whether there should be an object after the verb or not; and finally, into regular verbs and irregular verbs, based on the structure of the verbs in simple past tense and past participle tense. Grammarians further introduce a category called the linking verbs, which are verbs that do not add much meaning but link a subject to a subject complement that identifies or describes the subject. Since linking verbs are always stative, so we have inserted the linking verbs after the stative verbs here.

2.2.1 Helping verbs and Main (lexical語彙的) verbs.

2.2.1.1 Helping verbs

Helping verbs have no meaning on their own. We usually use helping verbs with the main verbs to help specify the grammatical structure of the main verbs.

A helping verb is always the first word in the verb phrase. There are 13 helping verbs + 3 semi-helping verbs, and they are:

be, have, do, can, could, may, might, will, would, shall, should, must, ought to, need, dare, and used to.

2.2.1.1.1 3 Primary Helping Verbs

These 3 primary helping verbs (or auxiliary verbs) can be helping verbs
or main verbs.

·  be

- to make continuous tenses (He was watching TV.)

- to make passive voices (Smaller animals are eaten by bigger animals.)

·  have

- to make perfect tenses (She has gone.)

·  do

- to make negatives (Jason does not like apples.)

- to ask questions (Do you want some orange juice?)

- to show emphasis (Mary does want to go on the trip.)

- to stand for a main verb in some constructions (He speaks faster than she does.)

2.2.1.1.2 10 Modal Auxiliary Verbs

These 10 modal auxiliary verbs always have the same form, and after a

modal auxiliary verb we put a bare infinitive of the main verb.

The 10 modal auxiliary verbs are:

·  can, could (I can’t speak Japanese. She could come tomorrow.)

·  may, might (May I come? Fanny might do it.)

·  will, would (They will join the army next year. Would you like a drink?)

·  shall, should (I shall be there. Should you be driving so fast?)

·  must (Visitors must not smoke.)

·  ought to (They ought to come.)

2.2.1.1.2.1 Can, Could, Would: Requests

We often use can in a question to ask somebody to do something. This is not a real question—we do not really want to know if the person is able to do something, we want them to do it! The use of can in this way is informal (mainly between friends and family). Eg.

·  Can you be quiet!

·  Can you come here for a minute.

We often use could in a question to ask somebody to do something. The use of could in this way is fairly polite (formal). Eg.

·  Could you close the window, please?

Would is also used to make polite requests, sometimes exchangeable with could. Eg.

·  Would you close the window, please?

2.2.1.1.2.2 Can and Could: Permission and Offer

Can is sometimes used to ask or to give permission, or to offer, in an informal way. Eg.

·  Can I smoke here?

·  You can’t smoke here, but you can smoke in the garden.

·  Can I get you something to drink?

Could is sometimes used to ask or to give permission, or to offer,

in a polite (formal) way. Eg.

·  Could I smoke here?

·  Could I get you something to drink?

2.2.1.1.2.3 Would

Would is a multi-function modal auxiliary verb. In addition to

being the past tense of will, would is served as a modal verb in

many other situations, often in present tense.

2.2.1.1.2.3.1 Past Tense of will or going to, eg:

·  I thought it would rain so I brought my umbrella.

·  Why didn’t you bring your umbrella? I told you it would rain! (It’s going to rain.)

·  She said that she would buy some eggs. (reported speech)

2.2.1.1.2.3.2 Talking about habitual or repeated action, eg:

·  Every summer we would go to the beach.

·  We would always argue. We could never agree.

·  Every New Year, throughout the Medieval and Renaissance periods, the great courts of Europe held huge banquets at which lords and ladies would gather. (Mok: Why does the verb “held” not written as “would hold,” to refer to habitual action?)

·  Wuthering Heights, chapter 4: “He would stand Hindley’s blows without winking.”

·  Of Human Bondage, chapter 23: “Occasionally she and Philip would go out and paint little pictures.”

·  He would get up early and prepare his own breakfast before he went to work.

·  The Elements of Style, chapter 4: “But when the idea of habit or repetition is expressed, in such phrases as once a year, every day, each Sunday, the past tense, without would, is usually sufficient, and, from its brevity, more emphatic.
Once a year he would visit the old mansion.
Once a year he visited the old mansion.
In narrative writing, always indicate the transition from the general to the particular—that is, from sentences that merely state a general habit to those that express the action of a specific day or period. Failure to indicate the change will cause confusion.

Townsend would get up early and prepare his own breakfast. If the day was cold, he filled the stove and had a warm fire burning before he left the house. On his way out to the garage, he noticed that there were footprints in the new-fallen snow on the porch.

The reader is lost, having received no signal that Townsend has changed from a mere man of habit to a man who has seen a particular thing on a particular day.

Townsend would get up early and prepare his own breakfast. If the day was cold he filled the stove and had a warm fire burning before he left the house. One morning in January, on his way out to the garage, he noticed footprints in the
new-fallen snow on the porch.

(Mok: Should the passage be changed to: “…If the day was cold he would fill the stove and (would) have a warm fire burning before he (would) leave the house…”? After all, the three verbs also refer to habitual actions in cold days.)

2.2.1.1.2.3.3 Future in past.

When talking about the past we can use would to express something that has not happened at the time of speech. Eg:

·  In London she met the man whom she would one day marry.

2.2.1.1.2.3.4 2nd and 3rd Conditionals:

·  If he lost his job he would have no money. (2nd conditional)

·  If Philip had arrived earlier, he would have seen you. (3rd conditional)

2.2.1.1.2.3.5 Giving advice in conditional structure (in the present):

·  I wouldn’t do that if I were you.

2.2.1.1.2.3.6 Expressing desire or inclination (in the present):

·  I would love to come. (vs: I love to come.)

·  What I would really like is some sweet potato. (vs: What I really like is some sweet potato.) Mok: give the speech some politeness?

2.2.1.1.2.3.7 Expressing opinion or hope (in the present):

·  I suppose some people would call it grace. (vs: I suppose some people call it grace.)

·  I would expect him to come. (vs: I expect him to come.)

2.2.1.1.2.3.8 Expressing presumption or expectation (in the present):

·  That would be Jojo calling. I’ll answer it. (vs: That should be Jojo calling.)

2.2.1.1.2.3.9 Used with Wish.

·  I wish you would stay. (vs: I hope you will stay. I want you to stay.)

(wish – would; hope – will)

2.2.1.1.2.3.10 Polite requests and questions (in the present):

·  Would you open the door, please?

·  Would you happen to know the answer?

2.2.1.1.2.3.11 Expressing uncertainty:

·  He would seem to be getting better. (less certain than: He seems to be getting better.)

2.2.1.1.2.3.12 Expressing derogatory貶義的 (in the present or the past):

·  Sure, they would say that, wouldn’t they?

·  Jackson said he didn’t steal the money. / Well, he would (say it), wouldn’t he?

2.2.1.1.2.4 Shall vs Will^

There are people who say that there is no difference between shall and will, and some even claim that today nobody uses shall (except in offers such as “Shall I call a taxi?”). This is not really true. The difference between shall and will is often hidden by the fact that we usually contract them in speaking with ‘ll. But the difference does exist.

The truth is that there are two conjugations for the verbs shall and will:

1st Conjugation (objective, simple statement of fact)
Person / Verb / Example / Contraction
Singular / I / shall / I shall be in London tomorrow. / I'll
you / will / You will see a large building on the left. / You'll
he, she, it / will / He will be wearing blue. / He'll
Plural / we / shall / We shall not be there when you arrive. / We shan't
you / will / You will find his office on the 7th floor. / You'll
they / will / They will arrive late. / They'll
2nd Conjugation (subjective, strong assertion, promise or command)
Person / Verb / Example / Contraction
Singular / I / will / I will do everything possible to help. / I'll
you / shall / You shall be sorry for this. / You'll
he, she, it / shall / It shall be done. / It'll
Plural / we / will / We will not interfere. / We won't
you / shall / You shall do as you're told. / You'll
they / shall / They shall give one month's notice. / They'll

It is true that this difference is not universally recognized. However, many a good English dictionary or legal document has often contained phrases such as:

·  “Each party shall give one month’s notice in writing in the event of termination.”

Note that exactly the same rule applies in the case of should and would. It is perfectly normal, and somewhat more elegant, to write, for example:

·  “I should be grateful if you would kindly send me your latest catalogue.”

^Adapted from http://www.englishclub.com/grammar/verbs-modals_shall-will.htm.

留意假如不說If you have any questions，可說If you should have any questions，只是兩句含義有點不同。不用should的寫法，表示對方可能有疑問；用should的寫法，則表示對方未必會有疑問。If there are any questions和if there should be any questions的分別也是如此。

2.2.1.1.2.5 Should

2.2.1.1.2.5.1 The past tense of shall (將，會)

·  We hoped that we should be able to do that.

·  I told her I should go to see her.

2.2.1.1.2.5.2 In a stronger tone or manner of speaking, expressing “if by any (remote) chance, by any possibility, in case of (contingency)” (萬一), “to one's surprise, unexpectedly” (竟然)

·  If the car should break down on the way, you would have to walk back.

·  Should you have any queries, please feel free to write and call our office.

2.2.1.1.2.5.3 Expressing obligation應該, propriety適當, 正當, or expediency適宜

·  You should do as she says. 你應當照她說的去做。

·  You should help your mother with the housework. 你應該幫你母親做家務。

2.2.1.1.2.5.4 Expressing probability (可能性), conjecture, speculation (推測, 推論) or expectation (期待)

·  With an early start, they should be here by noon.

·  Dinner should be ready by now.

2.2.1.1.2.5.5 Expressing conditions

·  If he should leave his father, his father would die. — Genesis 44:22 (Revised Standard Version)

·  If they should have been hardy but didn't come up or bloom, there could be several reasons.

2.2.1.1.2.5.6 Expressing a request in a polite manner or to soften direct statement

·  Who should I see about my schedule?

·  I should suggest that you consider the service finished.

2.2.1.1.2.5.7 Expressing sorry (惋惜), surprise (驚訝，竟然會)

·  Alas, that Spring should vanish with the Rose! That Youth's sweet-scented manuscript should close. -- Edward FitzGerald. (唉，奈何明媚陽春，和玫瑰同逝；奈何美好的少年篇章，竟會結束。)

·  It is strange that the authorities should have agreed to the change in use of the hospital site for residential development. (政府竟然會把醫院用地改作住宅發展，不合情理。)

·  I'm sorry it should be this way. (很遺憾，事情竟會是這個樣子。)