Structure: Functions of Verbs

What is a Verb?

Verbs are referred to as action words. They are words that are used to describe what people or things do.

Verbs are also used to show a state of being, that is, the condition in which a person or thing is.

Functions of Verbs:

A verb may:

a. Tell us what a person or thing does
b. Tell us what is done to a person or thing
c. Tell us what a person or thing is or does
d. Express the condition in which a person or a thing is (state of being)
e. Be a single or double word

a. What a person or thing does:

Examples:

• They sing.
• Birds fly.
• My sister drinks a lot of water.
• Tola jumps.

b. What is done to a person or thing: 

Examples:

• The principal punished him.
• The bulb got burnt.

c. What a person or thing is or does:

Examples:

• The room is dirty. 
• My father is a lawyer.
• She felt unhappy.  
• He has written his composition. 

d. Verbs can also express the condition in which a person or a thing is (state of being):

Examples:

• The boys are hungry. 
• Our teacher is angry because we are making noise. 
• He was sick, but he is better now.
• Her daughters are beautiful.

e. A verb may be a single or double word:

Examples:

• The boy kicks the ball. 
• Alero works hard.
• The girls are dancing.
• The students are eating.

What are Auxiliary Verbs?

Auxiliary verbs are helping verbs because they cannot stand on their own. They are used together with a main verb to show the verb tense.

Examples:

1. The children are playing. 
2. We are working on the school farm. 
3. Uche is washing the plates. 
4. Our guests have arrived. 
5. He has bought some tropical fruits. 

What are Modal Auxiliary Verbs?

Modal Auxiliary verbs never change form the way other verbs do but it indicates ideas such as capability, necessity, willingness, possibility, certainty, ability, permission, compulsion, and obligation.

Examples:

1. He can find any street in London (ability)
2. It may be quicker to travel by train (possibility)
3. You need to study a lot (obligation)
4. She can use my card (permission) 
5. Tade must count the money now (compulsion)
6. They will sing well (certainty)
7. I would like some tea.