All About the English Verb: A Guide to Verbs in the English Language

The English verb is traditionally defined as a word that indicates an action or a state of being. More accurately, however, the verb in English grammar may be described as a grammatical form that performs twelve grammatical functions. Of the twelve possible functions, the English verb performs four verbal, one adjectival, one adverbial, and six nominal functions: verb phrase head, predicate, noun phrase modifier, adjective phrase complement, verb phrase complement, adverbial, subject, subject complement, direct object, object complement, indirect object, and prepositional complement. For readers interested in the grammatical functions, this guide offers in-depth articles that answer even the most complex questions.

In addition to performing twelve grammatical functions, the English verb is also distinguishable from other parts of speech in the English language by its unique grammatical form. Prototypical verbs have four to six conjugations: infinitive, simple present, third person singular simple present, simple past, present participle, and past participle. Non-prototypical verbs, which include modal verbs and quasi-modal verbs, lack all but one conjugation and, thus, differ from prototypical verbs. The majority of English verbs may also be conjugated into seventeen conjugated forms. The English verb system contains two tenses, four aspects, three moods, and two voices. This guide provides comprehensive articles about the forms of prototypical English verbs including the seventeen conjugated forms.