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Verb: Verb is a word that describes an action, state or occurrence.
e.g. Walk, Run, sleeping, etc.
There are mainly two types of Verbs.
1.Ordinary Verbs and 2. Auxiliary verbs.
We have already discussed Modals in details in chapter Modals: Grammar Rules.
In this lesson(VERB-1) we will focus on Infinitive, Gerund and Participles.and in the next lesson (VERB-2) we will learn about Auxiliary and helping verbs.
A finite verb has a subject and the subject can change its form according to subject and tense of the sentence.
Examples:
(a) He always watches TV.
(b) They are watching TV.
In First sentence verb Watches is used according to subject(He) and Tense of sentence, in second sentence verb Watching is used according to the subject(they) and Tense.
Five forms of Verbs:
Finite verbs are of two types.(See chart above)
A. Transitive Verbs. : They require an object to convey a full purpose of the sentence.
(a)She writes a letter(object).
(b)I am playing guitar(object).
B. Intransitive Verbs : They don’t require any object to convey the meaning of the sentence.
(a)Children are sleeping.
(b)I am swimming.
These verbs do not change their form according to subject and tense. They are of three kinds.
A. Infinitives : To + V1 is called infinitive. These Verbs can also act as a Noun.
Examples : To study, To write , To go, etc.
(a) To err is human.
(b) I want to study this book.
In first sentence To err is used as a Noun. and in second sentence to study is used as a verb for the object this book. Hence Infinitives can act both as a Noun or a Verb.
B. Gerunds : Verb + ing is called Gerund. These verbs have some properties of Nouns.
(a) Swimming is good for health.
(b) I love reading books.
In first sentence 'Swimming' is used as a Noun. and in second sentence verb ‘Reading’ is acting as a verb. Hence Gerunds (V1 + ing ) can act both as a Noun or a Verb.
C. Participles : Participles can act both as a verb or an adjective. They are of three kinds
Finite and Non-Finite Verbs
1. Finite Verb :
A finite verb has a subject and the subject can change its form according to subject and tense of the sentence.
Examples:
(a) He always watches TV.
(b) They are watching TV.
In First sentence verb Watches is used according to subject(He) and Tense of sentence, in second sentence verb Watching is used according to the subject(they) and Tense.
Five forms of Verbs:
| Verb Forms | Examples |
|---|---|
| V1 (Present or Basic Form) | Speak, Awake, etc. |
| V2 (Simple Past form) | Spoke, Awoke, etc. |
| V3 (Past Participle form) | Spoken, Awaken, etc. |
| V4 (Present Participle or Gerund form) | Speaking, Awaking, etc. |
| V5 (Simple Present or s/es form) | Speaks, Awakes etc |
Finite verbs are of two types.(See chart above)
A. Transitive Verbs. : They require an object to convey a full purpose of the sentence.
(a)She writes a letter(object).
(b)I am playing guitar(object).
B. Intransitive Verbs : They don’t require any object to convey the meaning of the sentence.
(a)Children are sleeping.
(b)I am swimming.
2. Non-Finite Verbs :
These verbs do not change their form according to subject and tense. They are of three kinds.
A. Infinitives : To + V1 is called infinitive. These Verbs can also act as a Noun.
Examples : To study, To write , To go, etc.
(a) To err is human.
(b) I want to study this book.
In first sentence To err is used as a Noun. and in second sentence to study is used as a verb for the object this book. Hence Infinitives can act both as a Noun or a Verb.
B. Gerunds : Verb + ing is called Gerund. These verbs have some properties of Nouns.
(a) Swimming is good for health.
(b) I love reading books.
In first sentence 'Swimming' is used as a Noun. and in second sentence verb ‘Reading’ is acting as a verb. Hence Gerunds (V1 + ing ) can act both as a Noun or a Verb.
C. Participles : Participles can act both as a verb or an adjective. They are of three kinds
| Present Pariciple (V4) | Past Participle (V3) | Perfect Participle (Having +V3) |
|---|---|---|
| They indicate an ongoing action or an incomplete action. e.g. Burning, Hearing, listening, | They indicate a complete action. e.g. Burnt, Driven, done. | They also indicate a complete action that has completed in the past before a second action. e.g. having done, having eaten. |
Grammar Rules of Infinitives, Gerunds and Participles
Infinitives
Rule 2 :
These verbs and adjective are used with infinitive.
Need, desire, Agree, happy, Dare, hope, expect, decade, want, wish, refuse, eager, fail, glad, hard, easy.
Examples:
(a) I need to know.
(b) She is happy to help.
(c) I am glad to announce.
Rule 2 :
Direct Infinitive is used after below verbs in active voice not in passive voice ( Except the verb Let)
Let, feel, hear, watch, did, make, know, help, see, etc.
Direct Infinitive : Is a Infinitive without To. This is the first form of verb (V1).
Examples:
(a) I made students write a letter.(Active Voice)
(b) Students were made to write a letter.(Passive Voice)
(c) I let him go.(Active Voice)
(d) He was let go by me.(Passive Voice)
Note: After the verb Let, direct infinitive is used both in active and passive voice.
Rule 3 :
These following phrases are used with direct infinitives.
had better, had rather, would rather, would better, as soon as, sooner than, Why not , Why, etc
Examples:
(a) I would rather stay here than to leave now.(X)
(b) She would better leave you.(✓)
(c) They had sooner stay than leave.(✓)
(d) I would as soon stay at home as go.(✓)
(e) Why not stay here?(✓)
(f) Why rest now?(✓)
Rule 4 :
Direct infinitive is used with but, than, and , except, as, or
Examples:
(a) He did nothing but sleep. (✓)
(b) She has nothing to eat except to drink water.(X)
👉She had nothing to eat except drink water. (✓)
(c) Do you want to study or to go to bed early? (X)
👉Do you want to study or go to bed early? (✓)
Rule 5 :
Have + object is used with direct infinitive. It is used in sense of wish.
Examples:
(a) I will have him do this work.(✓)
Means – I wish him to do this work.
(b) She will have me believe it.(✓)
Means - She wish me to believe it.
Rule 6 :
Using Infinitive with adjective and noun.
we should be careful while using infinitive after Adjective and Noun.
Adjective : Enough and very is used when infinitive expresses affirmative meaning. Too is used when infinitive expresses negative meaning.
(a) She is young enough to drive.(✓)
(b) She is very weak to walk.(✓)
(c) she is too ill to go out.(✓)
Means - She is very ill so she cannot go out.
Noun : When an infinitive qualifies a noun. preposition is used if applicable.
(a) Domestic airlines are not safe to travel.(X)
👉Domestic airlines are not safe to travel by.(✓)
(b) I have no house to live in.(✓)
(c) I gave him pen to write .(X)
👉I gave him pen to write with.(✓)
(d) I have no book to read.(✓)
Rule 7 :
To should not be separated form its verb by inserting any adverb between them. It is grammatically wrong.
Examples:
(a) I requested him to carefully carry the bags.(X)
👉I requested him to carry the bags carefully.(✓)
(b) You are requested to kindly stay here.(X)
👉You are requested kindly to stay here .(✓)
Rule 8 :
Continuous Infinitive is used with below verbs and modals if required.
Verbs : Seem, appear, believe, consider, think, report, happen, arrange, hope, say, pretend, etc.
Modals :May be, might be, should be, could be, must be, etc.
Continuous Infinitive : It is used to express continuous action.
Continuous Infinitive = To be + V4 (Present Participle )
Continuous Infinitive = To be + V4 (Present Participle )
Examples :
(a) She appears to be running late.(✓)
(b) It is reported to be working fine.(✓)
(c) I hope to be studding in this university.(✓)
(d) I may be coming tomorrow.(✓)
(e) You must be waiting for me.(✓)
Gerunds
Rule 9 :
These are some verbs / phrases in which Gerund (V3) is used after to. Phrasal verbs are also followed by Gerund.
look forward to, object to, owing to, given to, taken to, prone to, used to, accustomed to, averse to, with a view to, addicted to, devoted to,in addition to, set about, etc.
Examples:
(a) I am looking forward to meeting you.(✓)
(b) He is used to smoking.(✓)
(c) He is prone to making mistake.(✓)
(d) He is given to drinking.(✓)
Given to Means inclined to.
Note : V1 is used after Modals (When Used to acts as modals, V1 is used after to )
He used to study late at night.
For more clarity go to Modals : Grammar Rules
For more clarity go to Modals : Grammar Rules
Difference between For and to (Rule 10 to Rule 12)
Rule 10 :
For + Gerund is used for an action showing cause that happened in past.
Examples:
(a) The officer will punish you for breaking the law.
(b) He got angry at you for coming late.
Rule 11 :
For + Gerund is used to show the purpose for which subject is used.
Examples:
(a) I want a pen for writing.(✓)
(b) This machine is for manufacturing.(✓)
(c) This house is to let.(✓)
Note : For letting will be wrong in last sentence.
Rule 12 :
For + Noun is used to show purpose when the Verb is made to serve as a Noun
Examples:
(a) I am going for a walk.(✓)
(a) We will go for a drive.(✓)
Rule 13 :
Won’t + have + object + Gerund is used in sense of won’t allow.
Examples:
(a) I won’t have you talk like that.(X)
👉I won’t have you talking like that.(✓)
(b) She won’t have you staying there.(✓)
Rule 14 :
Gerund is used after certain verbs/phrases or phrasal verbs that end in a preposition. A few of them are as follows
Desirous of, prevent from, prohibit from, debar from, deter from, insist on, Persist in, refrain from, disqualify from, bent on , intent on , keen on, aim at, confidence of , confidence in , succeed in , interested in, assist in, a chance of , fond of, take/feel pleasure in , justified in , a hope of
[Note : give pleasure to ( infinitive ), hope to (infinitive)]
Examples :
(a) I prevented him from going there.(✓)
(b) She is interested in eating pizza.(✓)
(c) I am confident to get success.(X)
👉I am confident of getting success.(✓)
(d) I feel pleasure in announcing this great news.(✓)
(e) It gives me pleasure to announce this great news.(✓)
(f) He is bent to harming his friends.(X)
👉He is bent on harming his friends.(✓)
Rule 15 :
These verbs/ phrases are followed by Gerund.
Avoid, mind, detest, can’t help, resist, love, stop, start, postponed, worth, prefer, practice, finish, it is no good/use, like, hate, risk, pardon, defer, miss, regret, means, enjoy, etc.
Example :
(a) I enjoy to ride on hilly roads.(X)
👉I enjoy riding on hilly roads.(✓)
(b) She can’t help telling a lie.(✓)
(c) She can’t help but tell a lie.(✓)
(d) Avoid doing this dangerous job.(✓)
(e) I don’t mind helping you.(✓)
(f) It is no good/use waiting for her.(✓)
Use of Participles.
Rule 16 :
A. Examples of Present Participles. (V1 + ing)
(a) We found a candle burning.
👉Burning is used as a verb .
(b) We found a burning candle.
👉Burning is used as an adjective.
(c) I saw him smoking in the classroom.
👉Smoking is acting as a verb here.
B. Examples of Past Participle: (V3)
(a) Driven by the poverty, he committed suicide.
(b) A burnt candle was discovered.
In first sentence Driven is used as a Verb While in second sentence Burnt is used as an adjective for candle.
C. Examples of Perfect Participle: (Having + V3)
(a) Having taken breakfast, he left for the office.
(b) Having rested, they started their journey again.
In both sentences It is clear that the first action is already completed in the past before the second action.
(a) Walking along the road a car knocked him down (X)
(b) Being a sunny day, I could not go out.(X)
(c) Being unwell, I missed the meeting.(✓)
(b) We found a burning candle.
👉Burning is used as an adjective.
(c) I saw him smoking in the classroom.
👉Smoking is acting as a verb here.
B. Examples of Past Participle: (V3)
(a) Driven by the poverty, he committed suicide.
(b) A burnt candle was discovered.
In first sentence Driven is used as a Verb While in second sentence Burnt is used as an adjective for candle.
C. Examples of Perfect Participle: (Having + V3)
(a) Having taken breakfast, he left for the office.
(b) Having rested, they started their journey again.
In both sentences It is clear that the first action is already completed in the past before the second action.
Rule 17 :
Observe following sentences.
(a) Walking along the road a car knocked him down (X)
(b) Being a sunny day, I could not go out.(X)
(c) Being unwell, I missed the meeting.(✓)
Explanation :
In first two sentences subject should be used in the first part, when subject is missing in the first part of the sentence, the subject of second part is assumed to be the subject of the first part.
(a) In First sentence ‘a car’ is assumed to be subject of the first part which will make sentence incorrect. Correct sentence should be.
👉While he was walking along the road, a car knocked him down.(✓)
👉Walking along the road, he was knocked down by a car.(✓)
(b) In second sentence, as subject is missing in the first part so subject of the second part will become the subject of the first part, which will make this sentence wrong.
I being a sunny day , I could not go out.(X)
Correct sentence should be.
👉It being a sunny day, I could not go out.(✓)
👉As it was a sunny day, I could not go out.(✓)
(c) Third sentence is correct. It can also be written as
I being unwell, I missed the meeting.
Examples:
(a) Considering this problem, he was advised to leave the village.(✓)
(b) Speaking about the incident, It happened near railway station.(✓)
In first two sentences subject should be used in the first part, when subject is missing in the first part of the sentence, the subject of second part is assumed to be the subject of the first part.
(a) In First sentence ‘a car’ is assumed to be subject of the first part which will make sentence incorrect. Correct sentence should be.
👉While he was walking along the road, a car knocked him down.(✓)
👉Walking along the road, he was knocked down by a car.(✓)
(b) In second sentence, as subject is missing in the first part so subject of the second part will become the subject of the first part, which will make this sentence wrong.
I being a sunny day , I could not go out.(X)
Correct sentence should be.
👉It being a sunny day, I could not go out.(✓)
👉As it was a sunny day, I could not go out.(✓)
(c) Third sentence is correct. It can also be written as
I being unwell, I missed the meeting.
Rule 18 :
These participles do not refer to any particular subjects.
Considering, speaking, regarding, concerning
Examples:
(a) Considering this problem, he was advised to leave the village.(✓)
(b) Speaking about the incident, It happened near railway station.(✓)
For remaining concepts, grammar rules and use of Auxiliary verbs go to VERB-2 section by clicking below link.