What is a Verb?

A verb can be considered as one of the most important parts of a sentence. You probably
already know that a sentence must be composed of a subject and a predicate, so what
makes a verb so important? Well, the verb is the main component of a predicate. Without it,
there won’t be a sentence, just a bunch of words with an incomplete thought. Simply
defined, the verb is a part of speech which is used to demonstrate an action or a state of
being.
What are the Different Kinds of Verbs?
Your primary school teachers must have defined verb as an “action word.” That is right,
however, verbs are more than just words that express an action done physically like:

run, jump, dance, write, kick, etc.

In reality, verbs may also refer to an action done mentally such as:

think, ponder, guess, imagine, wonder, etc.

1. Normal Verbs and Non-Continuous Verbs
The first type of verb used to express physical action is called a Normal Verb, while the
second one, which refers to an action you can’t see someone do, is called a Non-
Continuous Verb.
Sample Sentences:
 Jesse Pinkman laughed hysterically.
 The verb in this sentence is laughed and the subject who does the action is Jessie
Pinkman.
 Aegon Targaryen and his sisters conquered the Seven Kingdoms.
 The verb is conquered, while the subject in this sentence is Aegon Targaryen and his
sisters.
 Darth Vader thought of an evil plan to get rid of Darth Sidious.
 Thought is the mental action word done by the subject Darth Vader in the sentence
above.
 I wonder what will happen on the next episode.
 The pronoun, I, is the subject in the last sentence and the verb is wonder.
2. Linking Verb
Aside from the Normal Verbs and Non-Continuous Verbs, there is another type which is
called the Linking Verb.

As the name suggests, a linking verb is a kind of verb that links a subject to the
complement. A complement is the part of a sentence which modifies or provides more
information about the subject. Examples of linking verbs are:

am, is, was, are, were, has been, might have been, become, etc.
The words listed above are just some of the “true linking verbs.” They are called that way
because they have no other functions but to serve as linking verbs. However, just like some
people, certain verbs also have dual personalities. Take a look at the two sentences below:
  Irine tasted the exotic food.
 The exotic food tasted great!
In the first sentence, you can easily say that the italicized word is an action word done by
Irine. However, in the second sentence, the same word has a different function. It serves as
a linking verb that connects exotic food with the word, great.
What are Multi-Part Verbs?
Do not assume that verbs are limited to a single word. Sometimes, they come in two to four
words. The basic formula for verbs with multiple parts is:

The auxiliary verbs, also called “helping verbs,” allow you to write in various verb tenses
and voices when combined with a base or main verb.

Take a look at the examples below:

 I was given a two-week notice by the sales agent.

 The sentence above is written in the passive voice. Was is the auxiliary verb
and given is the main verb.
 It must have been raining very hard.
 The main verb is raining and the auxiliary verbs are must have been.
What are the Different Forms of Verbs?
In order to be able to construct a grammatically correct sentence, it is very important that
you know how to write in the proper verb tense. The three basic forms of verbs
are past, present, and future. The first one obviously refers to an action that was already
done, the second is for present action, and the third is for an action that will be done.
Examples:

Past Present Future

aimed aim/s will aim

counted count/s will count

marched march/es will march

 picked pick/s will pick

walked walk/s will walk

You will notice that:

1. The present form is just the basic form of the verb (add –s or –es for a singular subject)
 Example: He marches; Soldiers march
2. The past tense is the basic form plus –ed.
 *Note: The past tense of a verb pertaining to a singular subject and a plural subject is
the same.
 Example: She walked; They walked
3. The future tense is the word will plus the basic form of the verb.
 *Note: The future tense of a verb pertaining to a singular subject and a plural subject is
the same.
 Example: Andrea will count; The teachers will count
Although most verbs follow these rules, there are still some exceptions. Take a look at the
examples below:

Past Present Future

drove drive/s will drive

read read/s will read

felt feel/s will feel

taught teach/es will teach

thought think/s will think

The verbs presented in the table above are called irregular verbs. There are actually no
specific rules on how to form this kind of verb. But don’t worry because you can easily find a
complete list on the internet.

Final Thoughts
Verbs are very easy to spot. What can be challenging is deciding which correct verb tense
to use. However, this can be easily solved by reading a lot and practicing your writing skills.
Other people might find grammar a trivial thing, but the truth is that a considerable amount
of knowledge in proper grammar can take you a long way.

Adjective
What is an Adjective and its Functions?
An adjective is a part of speech which describes, identifies, or quantifies a noun or a
pronoun. So basically, the main function of an adjective is to modify a noun or a pronoun so
that it will become more specific and interesting. Instead of just one word, a group of words
with a subject and a verb, can also function as an adjective. When this happens, the group
of words is called an adjective clause.
For example:

 For example: My brother, who is much older than I am, is an astronaut.

In the example above, the underlined clause modifies the noun ”brother.” But what if the
group of words doesn’t have a subject and a verb? What do you think the resulting group of
words will be called?

If you think it’s called an adjective phrase, you are right. As you might recall, phrases and
clauses are both groups of words and the main difference is that clauses
have subjects and verbs, while phrases don’t.
 For example: She is prettier than you.
What are the Different Kinds of Adjectives?

Now that you already know the answer to the question, “What is an adjective?” you should
know that not all adjectives are the same. They modify nouns and pronouns differently, and
just like the other parts of speech, there are different kinds of adjectives. These are:
1. Descriptive Adjectives
Among the different kinds of adjectives, descriptive adjectives are probably the most
common ones. They simply say something about the quality or the kind of the noun or
pronoun they’re referring to.

Examples:
 Erika is witty.
 She is tired.
 Adrian’s reflexes are amazing.
2. Adjectives of Number or Adjectives of Quantity
As the name suggests, this kind of adjective answers the question, “How many?” or “How
much?”

Examples:
 Twenty-one students failed the exam.
 The plants need more water.
3. Demonstrative Adjectives
Demonstrative adjectives point out pronouns and nouns, and always come before the words
they are referring to.

Examples:
 I used to buy this kind of shirts.
 When the old man tripped over that wire, he dropped a whole bag of groceries.
4. Possessive Adjectives
Obviously, this kind of adjectives shows ownership or possession. Aside from that,
possessive adjectives always come before the noun.

Examples:
 I can’t answer my seatwork because I don’t have a calculator.
 Trisha sold his dog.
5. Interrogative Adjectives
Interrogative adjectives ask questions and are always followed by a noun.

Examples:
 What movie are you watching?
 Which plants should be placed over here?
What are the Degrees of Adjectives?
There are only three degrees or levels of adjectives (also known as degrees of comparison)
namely, positive, comparative, and superlative. When you talk about or describe only a
single person, place, or thing, you should use the positive degree.
Examples:

 She is a beautiful lady.

 It was a memorable trip.
If on the other hand, you are comparing two persons, places, or things, it is appropriate to
use the comparative degree of the word. Normally, you will need to add “-er” to transform
the word into its comparative form or add the word “more.” Also, the word “than” should be
added after the adjective in the comparative degree.
Examples:

 This swimming pool is bigger than that one.

 Ashley is more intelligent than Aldrin.
*Note: For words ending in “y,” you should first change the “y” into “i,” and then add “-er”
(e.g., lovely-lovelier; pretty- prettier; tasty- tastier)
Lastly, if you are comparing more than two things, the superlative form of the adjectives
should be used and the word “the” should be added before the adjective. In order to
transform the adjective into its superlative form, you just have to add the suffix “-est” or the
word “most.”
Examples:

 That is by far, the tallest tree I have ever seen in my entire life.
 This is the most crucial match of the season.
*Note: For words ending in “y,” you should first change the “y” into “i,” and then add “-est”
(e.g., lovely-loveliest; pretty- prettiest; tasty- tastiest)
Final Thoughts
This article entitled “Basic Grammar: What is an Adjective?” can be very helpful for
beginners who want to improve their grammar skills and ace the English subject. If you
really have a deep understanding of what is an adjective, you will surely be able to apply
this concept to your compositions properly. Just remember that although adjectives seem a
little trivial, an effective use of this part of speech can actually strengthen your writing.