Classification Of Verbs As Part Of Speech

1. Finite and Non- Finite Verbs

Finite Verb - A finite verb is the main verb of a sentence and has a direct relationship to the subject of a sentence or clause. A sentence with a finite verb does not require another verb in the sentence in order to be grammatically correct.

Examples:

1. I play every day.
2. She skips many classes.

 All the verbs mentioned above are finite verbs as they express actions directly related to the subject of the sentence.

Infinite Verb - Verb forms that are never considered finite and are known as nonfinite verbs are gerunds, infinitives, and participles (both past and present).

 Example:

1. The teacher is teaching the French Revolution.

 Here, the present continuous verb ‘is teaching’ has been used. Note that ‘teaching’ is present participle form and is considered as a non- finite verb. The finite verb in the sentence is the auxiliary verb ‘is’.

2. Transitive and Intransitive Verbs

Transitive Verb - This describes an action that is happening to someone or something. This person or thing is known as the direct object of the verb.

Examples:

• He is holding a pen.

Here the action of holding is happening to a pen. 

Moreover, transitive verbs can also take indirect objects, which are the people or things receiving the direct object.

 Example:

I mailed the draft to my boss. Here my boss receives the draft through the action of mailing.

Intransitive Verbs - These verbs do not have objects, i.e., no one/nothing is receiving their action.

 Examples:

• Meera runs.

 Here there is no object receiving the action of running.

3. Regular and Irregular Verbs

As each verb is either transitive or intransitive, each one is either regular or irregular.

Regular verbs - They are those to whose base form “-d” or “-ed” can be added to form both the past simple tense and past participle forms.

Examples:

Irregular verbs - They are those verbs whose past tense and past participle forms are usually completely different from one another. And since they do not follow any predictable pattern, one has no other option but to learn each one separately.