domingo, 28 de marzo de 2010

TRANSITIVE- INTRANSITIVE- COPULATIVE VERBS

Verbs can be classified according to whether they are action verbs or linking verbs.

Action verbs
There are two types of action verbs: transitive and intransitive.

Transitive verbs
A transitive verb expresses an action and is followed by an object that receives the action of the verb.
In the following examples, transitive verbs are shown in color and direct objects of these verbs are underlined.


I washed (what?) the car yesterday.
I took (whom?) my sister to the movie.
John studies (what?) English.

Intransitive verbs An intransitive verb expresses an action but is not followed by an object. Applying (what?) or (whom?) test to an intransitive verb shows immediately that an object cannot follow.

Tom’s grades improved (what? whom?) with the help of a tutor.
The child cried (what? whom?) loudly.
The mother sang (what? whom?) to her children.


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Many verbs can be both transitive and intransitive.

In the following examples, transitive verbs are shown in color and direct objects of transitive verbs are underlined. Intransitive verbs are shown in color and underlined.


John studies (what?) English.
John studies hard.
The mother sang (what?) the song to her children.
The mother sang to her children.
Linking Verbs
Linking verbs do not show action.


A linking verb (also called copulative verb) links or establishes a relationship between the subject and its complement. It describes or renames the subject.

She is angry.
The word is (a form of the verb to be) links the subject she to the subject complement angry.

Linking Verb followed by predicate nouns:
My friend is a teacher.
Mike became the president of the company.

Linking Verb followed by predicate adjectives:
I feel nervous.
That pie tastes delicious.

List of common linking verbs
appear, become, feel, get, go, grow, look, prove, remain, seem, smell, sound, taste, turn and any form of the verb be. See The verb "To Be" below.

Only become and seem are always linking verbs. Other verbs from the list above sometimes can function as action verbs.
In the following examples, verbs feel and taste are functioning as action verbs.
I feel pain from the injury.
Taste the pie and tell me if you like it.

To determine whether a verb is a linking verb substitute am, is, or are for the verb. If it fits – the substituted verb is a linking verb.
In the following examples, verb feel is substituted with am.

I feel nervous.
I am nervous.
Makes sense so feel is linking verb.


I feel pain from the injury.
I am pain from the injury.
Does not make sense so feel is action verb.

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