English Grammar For Dummies. Woods Geraldine

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out the italicized verbs in these example sentences. Notice what the verb tells the reader or listener about time:

      Mark spilled ink on the quilt. (spilled — past)

      Mark’s mom is upset. (is — present)

      Mark will wash the quilt, or his mom will murder him. (will wash and will murder – future)

      These are just three simple examples, but you get the point. The verb puts the action or state of being on a time line. (Don’t tense up about tense. You can find everything you need to know about this topic in Chapter 6.)

      One more important thing you should know about verbs: In a sentence, the verb must match the subject, the person or thing performing the action or existing in the state of being. (See Chapter 3 for the lowdown on subjects.) If the subject is singular (just one), the verb is singular. If the subject is plural (more than one), the verb is plural. In these example sentences, the subject is in bold type and the verb is italicized:

      The poster is on the wall of Sam’s bedroom. (poster and is — singular)

      Sam’s pets hate the poster. (pets and hate — plural)

      Sam’s cat has chewed one corner of the poster. (cat and has chewed — singular)

      My well-behaved dogs do not chew posters. (dogs and do chew – plural)

      

In the last example sentence, did you notice that the word not isn’t italicized? Not changes the meaning of the verb from positive to negative, but it isn’t an official part of the verb. It’s an adverb, if you really want to know. (Turn to Chapter 10 for more about adverbs.)

      For help with matching singular subjects to singular verbs and plural subjects to plural verbs, read Chapter 7.

      Meeting the Families: Linking and Action Verbs

      As everyone in a romantic relationship knows, when things turn serious, it’s time to meet the family – the cousins, grandparents, and other relatives you’ll be eating Thanksgiving dinner with for the rest of your life. Your relationship with verbs may not be romantic, but it is serious, because you can’t make a sentence without a verb. In this section, you meet the two verb “families” – linking and action. You don’t have to share holidays, but you do have to recognize and deal with them.

Linking verbs: The Giant Equal Sign

      Linking verbs are also called being verbs because they express states of being – what is, will be, or was. Here’s where math intersects with English. Linking verbs are like giant equal signs plopped into the middle of your sentence. For example, you can think of the sentence

      Ralph’s uncle is a cannibal with a taste for finger food.

      as

      Ralph's uncle = a cannibal with a taste for finger food.

      Or, in shortened form,

      Ralph’s uncle = a cannibal

      Just as in an algebra equation, the word is links two ideas and says that they are the same. Thus, is is a linking verb. Read on to find out about all sorts of linking verbs.

Forms of “to be”

      Most linking verbs are forms of the verb to be, an essential but annoying verb that changes form frequently, depending on the subject of the sentence. Have a look at these example sentences:

      Lulu will be angry when she hears about the missing sculpture.

      Lulu = angry (will be is a linking verb)

      I am unhappy about the theft also!

      I = unhappy (am is the linking verb)

      Stan was the last surfer to leave the water when the tidal wave approached.

      Stan = last surfer (was is a linking verb)

      Edgar has been depressed ever since the fall of the House of Usher.

      Edgar = depressed (has been is a linking verb)

      

Unlike Hamlet, the Shakespearean character who worries whether “to be or not to be,” you have no choice. You need a form of “to be” almost every time you speak or write. Try writing a paragraph or so without this verb. Tough, right? The most common forms of to be are the following: am, are, is, was, were, will be, shall be, has been, have been, had been, could be, should be, would be, might have been, could have been, should have been, shall have been, will have been, must have been, must be. (In Chapter 6, you can find all the forms of this irregular but essential verb.)

Synonyms of “to be”

      “To be” is not the only linking verb – just the most popular. In fact, some people call linking verbs “being verbs.” I prefer the term linking because some equal-sign verbs are not forms of the verb to be. Check out these examples:

      With his sharp toenails and sneaky smile, Big Foot seemed threatening.

      Big Foot = threatening (seemed is a linking verb)

      A jail sentence for a misplaced comma appears harsh.

      jail sentence = harsh (appears is a linking verb in this sentence)

      The penalty for making a grammar error remains severe.

      penalty = severe (remains is a linking verb in this sentence)

      Loch Ness stays silent whenever monsters are mentioned.

      Loch Ness = silent (stays is a linking verb in this sentence)

      Seemed, appears, remains, and stays are similar to forms of the verb to be in that they express states of being. They also add shades of meaning to the basic concept. You may, for example, say that

      With his sharp toenails and sneaky smile, Big Foot was threatening.

      but now the statement is more definite. Seemed leaves room for doubt. Similarly, remains (in the third example sentence) adds a time dimension to the basic expression of being. The sentence implies that the penalty was and still is severe.

      

The most common words that express shades of meaning in reference to a state of being are appear, seem, grow, remain, and stay.

Savoring sensory verbs

      Sensory verbs – verbs that express information you receive through the senses of sight, hearing, smell, taste, and so forth – may also be linking verbs:

      Two minutes

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