CHAPTER XII THE VERB 252. The Function of the Verb.-The verb is a word or group of words the function of which is to state, or predicate, action or state of being with respect to something. The power that verbs have in asserting varies greatly. Some simply express action as taking place. The verb went, for example, simply states that an action took place. Rushed, on the other hand, not only asserts the act of moving from one place to another, but it also describes the manner of the action. Therefore, we see that some verbs assert much more than others. In our composition work we should select the verbs that assert most completely what we wish to express. 253. Classes of Verbs.-Verbs are classified according to the kind of assertion they make, as transitive or intransitive. A transitive verb is a verb that takes a direct object to complete its meaning. It is called transitive, because the action passes over to the object. The subject of a transitive verb acts upon the object, or, in the passive voice, is acted upon by somebody or something. An intransitive verb is a verb that denotes action or state of being which is concerned only with the subject. The action of the subject is not expressed as passing over to or as affecting anything else. Transitive: EXAMPLES 1. Mary bought a basket. 2. Birds have built their nests in the tree. Intransitive: 1. Mary grows. 2. Birds fly. 254. Verbs Transitive or Intransitive.-Some verbs have both the transitive and intransitive uses. Sometimes they express action as complete without affecting anything else; and sometimes they denote the action as affecting some object. EXAMPLES Transitive: All wore garlands in their hair. Intransitive: They wore well. Transitive: Helen has passed the others. 255. Verbs Often Confused.-There are a few verbs similar in spelling, and somewhat alike in meaning, which should be carefully distinguished. One of each of these pairs of words is transitive and the other is intransitive. Transitive 1. lay, laid, laid. 2. raise, raised, raised. 3. set, set, set. Intransitive 1. lie, lay, lain. 3. sit, sat, sat. EXERCISE 256. Insert the proper words in the blank spaces in the following sentences, and explain why you select the word you do: 5. Do your daughter's talents- -in that direction (lie, lay)? 6. They 7. He is 8. She has 9. The sun 10. He II. She is 12. The vase 13. The dog him from the floor (raised, rose). the jar down (set, sat). out of the sea (rose, raised). his arm (raised, rose). by the window (sitting, setting). on the desk (lying, laying)? 14. Do you care to 15. Who left his books 16. So all night long he waters rippling on the shore (lay, laid). 17. He had down; his arm the chair (sat, set; lay, laid). 18. She limp upon the arm of up until very late (sat, set). 19. The carpenter is lying). 20. The aeroplane rose). the stones for the wall (laying, slowly from the ground (raised, 257. Copulative Verbs.-There is a small class of intransitive verbs that do not express action on the part of the subject. Their service in the sentence is almost like that of a conjunction. They serve to couple two ideas, and are therefore called copulative verbs. EXAMPLES 1. Harrison was President. 2. Harrison became President. 3. Harrison remained President four years. 4. Harrison seemed (or appeared) to be a good President. 258. The Complement of Copulative Verbs.-All copulative verbs must be followed by a subjective complement. The complement may be a noun or pronoun, an adjective, a phrase, a clause, an infinitive, or a participle. But whatever it is, it refers to the subject. EXAMPLES 1. He was of Scotch descent. 2. He feels ill. 3. He became what he wished. 4. He appeared to tremble. 5. He seemed trembling. 6. He became a carpenter. 7. This is he. 259. Inflection of the Verb.-The verb undergoes a number of changes to indicate person, number, tense, and mood. These changes are not so numerous as they were in the early development of the language. It is important, however, that we know what these changes in the verb are, so that we may write and speak correctly. 260. Person and Number.-Any given tense of the verb is inflected to agree with the person and number of the subject. An examination of the foregoing, will show that the only changes in the form of the verb in this tense are in the second and third persons singular in regular verbs. But examine the present tense of be: 261. Agreement of Subject and Verb.-There are certain rules about the agreement of subject and verb that should be borne in mind. 1. A compound subject which contains a double idea takes a plural verb. Example: Rich and poor fare alike. 2. A compound subject which contains only a single idea takes a singular subject. Example: Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings. 3. When the parts of a compound subject, connected by or or nor differ in number, the verb agrees with the nearer one. Example: He or they are correct. 4. If such subjects differ also in person, it is better to repeat the verb. Example: They or I am in the wrong (poor). They are in the wrong or I am. 5. An intervening noun of different number should not disturb the agreement of subject and predicate. Example: The consumption of such beverages as tea and coffee has (not have) wonderfully increased. EXERCISE 262. Tell which of the words in parentheses in the following sentences is the correct one to use, and explain why: I. not the Danube and the Rhine noted for their scenery (is, are)? 2. The chirping of the sparrows (announces, announce). the early dawn |