VERBS, TENSES AND ADVERBIALS

INTRODUCTION TO BASIC GRAMMAR– LESSON 2

VERBS-CAN BE DIVIDED INTO THE FOLLOWING TYPES

• TRANSITIVE , INTRANSITIVE AND DITRANSITIVE VERBS

• V1-PRESENT FORM OF VERB

V2-PAST FORM OF VERB

V3-PAST PARTICIPLE FORM OF VERB

• FINITE AND INFINITE VERBS

• MODALS AND MAIN VERBS

TRANSITIVE , INTRANSITIVE, AND DITRANSITIVE VERBS

TRANSITIVE VERBS: verbs that takes an object after it.e.g. The player kicked the ball.

INTRANSITIVE VERBS: verbs that do not take an object after it.e.g. The child is sleeping.

DITRANSITIVE VERBS: verbs that take two objects.e.g. John gave a book to Mary.

DEFECTIVE VERBS: verbs( both transitive and intransitive) that suffer from a serious defect. They cannot be used in all tenses and moods as most other verbs can be.e.g. will– two tenses– present/ past, no future tense.

other defective verbs– shall, may, can, ought, must, need, dare, willINCOMPLETE VERBS: verbs that need some word/words to complete its predicate.

e.g. They elected him king. (transitive)The dog became mad. (intransitive)

CONJUGATION OF VERBS—V1,V2, V3 FORM OF VERBS

THE PRINCIPAL (CHIEF) PARTS OF A VERB, FROM WHICH ALL OTHER FORMS CAN BE OBTAINED ARE (1) THE PRESENT TENSE (2) THE PAST TENSE (3) THE PAST PARTICIPLE.

VERBS ARE DIVIDED INTO STRONG AND WEAK VERBS, ACCORDING TO THE WAY IN WHICH THEY FORM THEIR PAST TENSE AND PAST PARTCIPLE.

(1) STRONG VERBS: FORM THEIR PAST TENSE BY VOWEL CHANGES IN THE BODY OF THE WORD WITHOUT ADDING ANY SUFFIX.e.g. Go, went, gone; rise, rose, risen

(2) WEAK VERBS: FORM THEIR PAST TENSE AND PAST PARTICIPLE BY ADDING –D,-T, OR –ED TO THE PRESENT WITH/ WITHOUT VOWEL CHANGE IN THE BODY OF THE WORD.e.g. love, loved, love; speed, sped, sped; think, thought, thought.

VERB CONJUGATIONS

PRESENT (V1) PAST (V2) PAST PARTICIPLE (V3) STRONG/WEAK VERB

ABIDE ABODE ABODE STRONG

DRAW DREW DRAWN STRONG

GO WENT GONE STRONG

DRINK DRANK DRUNK/ DRUNKEN STRONG

BLEED BLED BLED WEAK

CATCH CAUGHT CAUGHT WEAK

SLEEP SLEPT SLEPT WEAK

KNEEL KNELT KNELT WEAK

HURT HURT HURT WEAK

COST COST COST WEAK

THRIVE THROVE THRIVEN STRONG

WIND WOUND WOUND STRONG

TREAD TROD TRODDEN STRONG

PARTICIPLE FORM OF VERB—VERB -- ADJECTIVE

• HEARING THE ROAR, THE SOLDIER RUSHED OUT.Verb acting as an adjective

• THE OLD FARMER LAY ON HIS DYING BED.

• THE FADED FLOWERS WERE THROWN AWAY.

A participle is so called because it is partly a verb and partly an adjective.

Present Participle– always used in active voice, ends in –ing

e.g. I can hear her singing a song.

Past Participle– denotes an action or state which is completed, and hence is no longer in progress. Used in passive voice, ends in –en, -n, -ed, -d,-t.

e.g. We saw the trees laden with apples.

Blinded by lightning, she fell senseless.

Finite and Infinite Verbs(a) They always speak the truth.(b) They always try to speak the truth.

In (a)– verb – speak, subject– theyHence, verb speak is limited by number and person. It is

therefore, a finite verb.In (b) – verb- try, subject– they‘to speak’ has no subject and hence it is not limited by number

and person. It simply names the action denoted by the verb. It is called the Infinitive.

It is known as a VERB-NOUN.

Infinite Verbs-some more examples

(a) Peacocks love to dance.(b) To err is human.(c) To respect our parents is our duty.(d) Many boys desire to win prizes.

In (a)– infinitive to dance like a noun is the object of the verb love.

In (b)– infinitive to err like a noun is the subject of the verb is.In (c)– infinitive to respect like a noun is the subject of the verb

is, but like a verb it also takes an object- our parents.In (d)– infinitive to win like a noun is the object of the verb

desire, but like a verb it also takes an object-prizes. AN INFINITIVE DOES THE WORK OF A NOUN FOR IT CAN BE THE

SUBJECT OF A VERB AND THE OBJECT OF A TRANSITIVE VERB.

MODALS

A Modal is an auxiliary verb used to express the mood of another verb, or the mode of action denoted by the main verb. Modals include the auxiliary verbs: shall, will, should, would, can could, may, might, must, ought, need, dare.

USE OF MODALSMODAL USES EXAMPLESSHALL

SHOULD

Simple future action (in 1st person)Denotes a promise, command, threat, determination, compulsion (in 2nd/3rd person)

Past from of shall, expresses suggestion

I shall send you an e-mail.You shall have a holiday tomorrow.(promise)Thou shalt not steal.(command)If you do this, you shall be dismissed.(threat)You shall come to school at ten.(compulsion)He said that you should come on time.

Will In 1st person– determination, promise, threat, wish, willingnessIn 2nd /3rd person– simple futurity without any reference to the wish of the agent.

We will not submit. (determination)I will behave better next time. (promise)I will dismiss you if you come late again. (threat)I will visit the Taj. ( wish)He will win the first prize. (2nd person)

Would(past form of will)

To express refusal, past habit, determination, willingness, in polite speeches, condition or uncertainty

She wouldn’t answer my question.(refusal)After lunch he would generally have a short nap. (past habit)He would not lie under any circumstance. ( determination)Would you please lend me your book? (polite speech)Had she met me, I would have told her everything.(condition)

USE OF MODALSMODALS USES EXAMPLES

May (present), might (past)

Express permission, possibility, in questions, request, wish, purpose.

May I borrow your pen? (permission)It may rain tomorrow. ( possibility)May I trouble you to pass the salt? (question)You might make a little less noise. (request)May you have a happy and long life.( wish)We eat that we may live. (purpose)

Can, could Express power or ability, permission I could complete the work.You can go now.

Must Compulsion/moral obligationFixed determinationDutyCertainty or strong likelihoodInevitably

You must complete the work by 22nd December.I must have my money back.A judge must be upright.He must be up by this time.We must all die.

Ought ObligationDesirability

You ought to join the duty tomorrow.Everybody ought to love his country.

Need Absence of obligationRequirement

You need not come tonight.I need to work harder.

Dare ChallengeVenture (have courage)

She dares to face the situation.He dare not take such a foolish step.

Used to Be accustomed toPast habit

He’s used to hard manual labour.He used to come to our office regularly.

TENSESPresent tense Use Example

Simple present tense

•Habitual action, •Likes, preferences, universal truths• a situation/fact that is permanent•future action, when the futurity is indicated by the context

He gets up early in the morning.I like to watch movies/ I prefer tea to coffee./ Rain falls from the cloudsDelhi stands on the Yamuna. (not is standing)

School starts again on January 2nd.

Present Continuous tense(be+ Pr participle) (V+ing)

•An action happening now•Planned future action

He is listening to the radio.I am working very hard to get a good grade.I am leaving for New Delhi tonight.

Present Perfect •An action that has just been completed.•A past action the result of which still continue

The train has just arrived.

I have lived in Mumbai for ten years.We have known each other for the past ten years.

Present Perfect Continuous

•An action that began in the past is continuing up to the present time

I have been working for two hours.I have been reading this book since January last.(N.B.-- for– period of time, since– point of time)

Past tense Use Example

Simple Past Tense •An action completed in the past at a definite time•An action that occupied a period of time.•Express a past habit(habitual action)

He submitted the report last week.

She lived in New Delhi for three years.She always kept a diary.The Hindu widows burnt(=used to burn) themselves with their husbands.

Past continuous An action going on in the past time referred to

What was she doing when you called on her?

Past Perfect(had+past participle)

An action which had been completed at some point in the past time before another action was commenced

The train had left before they reached the stationThe ship had sunk before help could reach her.The rain had stopped when she arrived.

Simple future An action that is about to take place

I shall do it now.

Future continuous

Denotes an action going on at some point in future time

She will be singing then.

Future Perfect Denotes that an action will be completed at some point of time in the future.

I shall have done my work before you come.You will have met your mother before I see you again.

SOME ERRORS IN THE USE OF TENSES

Incorrect: I did not write the letter yet.I did not hear from her for a month.I lived in Madras since 1962.

Correct: I have not written the letter yet.I have not heard from her for a month.I have lived in Madras since 1962.

Reason: The Simple Past is often wrongly used for the Present Perfect Tense

Incorrect: Columbus has discovered America.The Mughals have won the battle of Panipat.The servant has not come when called.

Correct: Columbus discovered America.The Mughals won the battle of Panipat.The servant did not come when called.

Reason: The Present Perfect is often wrongly used for the Simple Past.

Incorrect: I have written a letter to him yesterday.A new theatre has been started last Tuesday.I have finished my work last evening.A moment ago I have heard strange news.

Correct: I wrote a letter to him yesterday.A new theatre was started last Tuesday.I finished my work last evening.A moment ago I heard strange news.

Reason: the present perfect since it denotes present time, cannot be connected with an adverb or any word that expresses past time generally or a definite point of past time.

Incorrect: I had written a letter to her yesterday.He had gone to Mumbai last week.

Correct: I wrote a letter to her yesterday.He went to Mumbai last week.

Reason: The Past Perfect is often used wrongly for the Simple Past.

Incorrect: The train left before we reached the station.The patient died before the doctor arrived.

Correct: The train had left before we reached the station.the patient had died before the doctor arrived.

Reason: The simple past is often wrongly used for the past perfect.

Incorrect: He told me that she was ill for six days.she was fasting for six weeks when the doctor came.

Correct: He told me that she had been ill for six days.She had been fasting for six weeks when the doctor came.

Reason: the past perfect/perfect cont , and not the simple past/ past cont, is used to express something that continued up to a past time after beginning at a still earlier time.

Incorrect: He will reach home before the sun will set.I shall leave this place by the time she will come.

Correct: He will have reached home before the sun will set.I shall have left this place by the time she comes.

Reason: Simple future is often used wrongly for the future perfect.

ADVERBSit qualifies a verb, an adjective, or

other adverb

There are three different kinds of adverbs: Simple Adverbs

Interrogative AdverbsRelative Adverbs

Type of Adverb Sub-division Example

Simple Adverb Adverbs of Manner He fought bravely.

Adverbs of Place There is air everywhere.

Adverbs of time There is no sun today.

Adverbs of Number He is always late.

Adverbs of Degree/ Quantity The mango is almost ripe.

Adverbs of Reason He was therefore fined.

Adverbs of Affirmation/Negation

He is certainly alive.He did not come after all.

Interrogative Adverbs

How(manner), where(place), when(time), how many(number), how far (quantity/degree), why (reason)

How did he manage this?Where does he live?When will she come?How much did she pay?

Relative Adverb Adverbs which not only modify some word in the clause but also connect the clause in which they occur with the rest of the sentence.

This is the place where the prince lived (antecedent expressed).This is where(= the place in which) the prince lived. (antecedent omitted)

Adverbs Wrongly Placed

Adverbs most likely to be put at the wrong place are : only, even, rarely, almost, nearly, scarcely, hardly.

• Shifting of ONLY

Only Hari has been granted leave for two days.

Hari has been granted leave for only two days.

• Shifting of Even

Hari did not answer even my letter.

Even Hari did not answer my letter.

• Rarely– avoid using ever after rarely .

I rarely ever see you these days. (X)

I rarely see you these days.(v)

• Almost, Nearly– convey the same meaning and can replace each other except when almost occurs with no, none, nothing or never in a sentence.

He slipped and almost fell.He slipped and nearly fell.

But in the following sentences almost cannot be replaced by nearly.The speaker said almost nothing worth listening to.(correct)The speaker said scarcely anything worth listening to.(correct)

• Scarcely, Hardly– both these adverbs are negative. Hence, to avoid a double negative we should not use another negative in sentences in which they occur.

Salim is illiterate, he scarcely cannot write his name.Salim is illiterate, he can scarcely write his name.

His handwriting is so bad that I hardly cannot read it. His handwriting is so bad that I can hardly read it.

FORMATION OF ADVERBS

1. By adding –ly to adjectives: active- actively

2. By prefixing a to nouns: a+ back= aback, a+ blaze= ablaze

3. By prefixing a to adjectives: a+ broad= abroad, a+ fresh= afresh

4. By prefixing a to verbs: a+do= ado, a+cross= across

5. By prefixing be or ab to certain words: be+ fore=before, ab+out= about

6. By adding wards to certain words: back+wards= backwards

7. Miscellaneous: bad– ill, badly

SPECIAL USE OF SOME ADVERBSToo- Very–

excess of some kindmuch

It is too hot to go outsideIt is very hot today.

Fairly

rather

means moderately, but fairlyis chiefly used with favourableadjectives and adverbs

means moderately, but rather ischiefly used with unfavourable adjectives and adverbs.

Ashoka is fairly clever, but his brother is rather stupid.This book is rather heavy, but that one is fairly light.

Much

very

qualifies adjectives/ adverbs in the comparative degree; before past participle

qualifies adjectives/ adverbs in the positive degree;Before present participle

He is much better today.I was much surprised to learn this.

He came very slowly.This news is very annoying.

BeforeAgo

means formerlyfrom the present time dating backwards

He did that once before.My father died three years ago(=from now)

DOUBLE ADVERBS— Some adverbs have two forms and both of them are

used in different senses

1. Free– without any cost freely– independently

2. Hard– very much hardly– rarely

3. Late– after the fixed time lately– recently

4. Near– close by nearly– approximately

5. Very– in a big degree verily– really

6. Direct– straight directly– at once

COMMON ADVERB PHRASES1. Again and again– repeatedly2. Before long– soon3. By and by– in due course.4. Now and then– occasionally5. In the long run– at long last6. Far and near– from all directions7. Far and wide– to far-off places8. Far and away– beyond all comparison9. First and foremost– the very first.10. Here and now– on this very spot11. There and then– on that very spot12. Off and on– at times13. Out and out– at times14. Through and through– thoroughly15. To and fro- backwards and forwards16. Over and above– in addition to17. Without fail-- surely

Common errors in the use of Adverbs1. He is working hardly these days.

He is working hard these days.2. I am too pleased to see you here.

I am very pleased to see you here.3. She comes to see me seldom.

She seldom comes to see me.4. It is nothing else than a folly.

It is nothing else but a folly.5. He was lying senselessly.

He was lying senseless.6. He is very clever to be taken in by you.

He is too clever to be taken in by you.7. I shall be very obliged to you.

I shall be much obliged to you.8. He is somewhat tall for his age.

He is rather tall for his age.