Karl J Sherlock
Associate Professor, English
Email: karl.sherlock@gcccd.edu
Phone: 619-644-7871
Verbs are categorized as one of the eight main parts of speech. In fact, they are one of the two most important and basic parts of a sentence. Every sentence, no matter how brief or long, how simple or complicated, must have two components: a subject and a predicate verb. In certain sentence moods like imperative and exclamatory ones, these may be implied, but in principle a verb is at the heart of every sentence.
It shouldn't surprise you, though, that any major part of speech brings with it its major issues, topics, and potential errors. This entire chapter of this handbook will present an overview of these, including the follow:
Because verbs are a basic unit of speech, their placement on a diagram receives more attention and importance than other parts of speech, excepting nouns. All verbs, regardless of type, are placed on horizontal lines. Verbals, words and phrases that form from verbs but are actually other parts of speech, also go onto horizontal lines, but each type of verbal has its own special circumstances. Find out more in "Verbals."
The sentence written below is deceptively simple in what it says. In the diagram illustration beneath it, all the highlighted words are verb-related, but only one, the Main Verb, answers the central question, "What action is causing or happening?" and is placed on the main horizontal line in the predicate position of the diagram. Look at the placement of all the other verb-related words, though.
Karl J Sherlock
Associate Professor, English
Email: karl.sherlock@gcccd.edu
Phone: 619-644-7871
8800 Grossmont College Drive
El Cajon, California 92020
619-644-7000
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