The Functions of Verbs and Verb Phrases in English

Verbs in English are traditionally defined as "words that indicate action or state of being." Verb phrases are formed by one or more verbs and any number of objects, modifiers, complements, particles, infinitive markers, and auxiliaries. Verbs and verb phrases perform eleven grammatical functions in the English language. The eleven functions are:

1. Verb phrase head
2. Predicate
3. Noun phrase modifier
4. Adjective phrase complement
5. Verb phrase complement
6. Subject
7. Subject complement
8. Direct object
9. Object complement
10. Indirect object
11. Prepositional complement

The following sections discuss the eleven functions and include examples to illustrate use.

Of the eleven possible functions, verbs and verb phrases perform five major functions, four verbal and one adjectival. The five major functions are:

1. Verb phrase head
2. Predicate
3. Noun phrase modifier
4. Adjective phrase complement
5. Verb phrase complement

The five major functions are prototypical functions of verbs and verb phrases.

Verbs first function as the heads of verb phrases. The following italicized verbs are examples of heads of verb phrases:

• read
• eat the cookies
• to study
• listen to the music
• wake up

Verbs always function as the heads of verb phrases.

Verbs and verb phrases secondly function as predicates. A predicate contains at least one verb and any objects, modifiers, and complements. All clauses contain both a subject and a predicate. The following italicized verb phrases are examples of predicates:

• Carnivores eat meat.
• The librarian is writing an article.
• The door was slammed shut by the child.
• All the guests have woken up.
• Your husband will install my new fence.
• He must have stolen at least three cars.

Only verbs and verb phrases can function as predicates.

Verbs and verb phrases thirdly function as noun phrase modifiers. A noun phrase modifier is a word, phrase, or clause that describes a noun or noun phrase. The following italicized verbs are examples of noun phrase modifiers:

• The books shelved on the sixth floor cover education, art, languages, and literature.
• My daughter is the little girl wearing the pink hat.
• Did you hear that child screaming at her mother?
• I placed the cupcakes to eat on the counter.

Other grammatical forms that can function as noun phrase modifiers include adjective phrases, noun phrases, and prepositional phrases.

Verbs and verb phrases fourthly function as adjective phrase complements. An adjective phrase complement is a word, phrase, or clause that completes the meaning of an adjective. The following italicized verbs are examples of adjective phrase complements:

• His wife is afraid to fly.
• My puppy is eager to learn new tricks.
• The students are curious to know more about verbs.
• She is happy to write another article.

Other grammatical forms that can function as adjective phrase complements include prepositional phrases and noun clauses.

Verbs and verb phrases fifthly function as verb phrase complements. A verb phrase complement is a word or phrase that completes the meaning of the verb phrase. The following italicized verbs are examples of verb phrase complements:

• We can afford to buy a new car.
• He offered to carry my suitcase.
• She always strives to succeed.
• The man has threatened to call the police.

The verbs following catenative verbs most often function as verb phrase complements.

Verbs and verb phrases also perform six nominal functions. Nominal functions are functions prototypically performed by nouns and noun phrases. The six nominal functions of verbs and verb phrases are:

1. Subject
2. Subject complement
3. Direct object
4. Object complement
5. Indirect object
6. Prepositional complement

For more information on the grammatical analyses of verb phrases performing nominal functions, please see the book Introduction to the Grammar of English by Rodney Huddleston from the Cambridge Textbooks in Linguistics series.

Verbs and verb phrases sixthly function as subjects. A subject is a word, phrase, or clause that performs the action of or acts upon the verb. The following italicized verbs are examples of subjects:

• Reading stimulates the mind.
• Drinking milk is healthy.
• Your throwing a tantrum disappoints me.
• To err is human.
• To forgive is divine.
• To lie about cheating is unforgivable.

Only verbs in the form of present participles and infinitives can perform the nominal function of subject. Traditional grammars generally refer to present participles performing nominal functions as gerunds.

For information on the other nominal functions of verbs and verb phrases, please continue to page two.