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Types of verbs LINKING VERBS

Linking verbs express a state of
being or becoming. They link a
Verbs can be described as main verbs or auxiliary verbs. See also: subject to a complement, which
Main verbs describe actions, occurrences, or states of being. Present perfect simple 11 renames or describes the subject. Subject Complement
Auxiliary verbs modify the meaning of main verbs. Modal verbs 56

MAIN VERBS FURTHER EXAMPLES
Main verbs are the most “Play” is the main verb
that describes an action.
important verbs in a sentence.
They can describe actions or
states, or they can be used to
link a subject to a description.

AUXILIARY VERBS TRANSITIVE AND INTRANSITIVE VERBS
PRESENT PERFECT
Auxiliary verbs are used with Some verbs take an object,
main verbs to modify their which is a noun or phrase SUBJECT VERB OBJECT
meaning. Auxiliary verbs are that receives the action of
used very frequently to form SUBJECT AUXILIARY VERB PARTICIPLE OBJECT the verb. Verbs which take
different tenses. an object are known as
transitive verbs.
“Has” is an auxiliary verb here. It’s being Some verbs never SUBJECT VERB
used to form the present perfect.
take an object. These
verbs are known as
SUBJECT AUXILIARY VERB MAIN VERB OBJECT intransitive verbs.
“Read” can be used with
The auxiliary verb “do” is or without an object.
used to make questions and SUBJECT VERB
negatives of statements that Some verbs can OBJECT
don’t already have an AUXILIARY VERB SUBJECT MAIN VERB OBJECT be either transitive
auxiliary verb. or intransitive.

Some verbs can take two SUBJECT VERB INDIRECT OBJECT DIRECT OBJECT
Modal verbs are also objects, a direct object
auxiliary verbs. They modify SUBJECT MODAL VERB MAIN VERB OBJECT and an indirect object.
the meaning of the main
verb, expressing various The indirect object The direct object is what
notions such as possibility benefits from the action. the verb “gave” refers to.
or obligation.

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