Section outline

  • Action Verbs

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    Action Verbs describe an action done by the subject of a sentence. 

    Features:

    1. They are dynamic / active words.
    2. They bring a sense of energy, direction & clarity.
    3. They describe both physical & mental actions.

    Examples:

    1. Children played in the garden (physical action).
    2. We enjoyed the orchestra (mental action).
    3. She will announce the winners. (communication)
    4. The children painted the walls. (creative)

  • Types of Action Verbs

    Actions verbs are of two types:

    Action verb types

    Intransitive Verb also include verbs of incomplete prediction.

  • Transitive Verbs

    Transitive Verbs require a direct object to complete its meaning.

    Features:

    1. A noun or pronoun receives the actions.
    2. It is incomplete without a direct object.
    3. It can have an indirect object along with the direct object.

    Example:

    The girl opened the door.

    Here, transitive verb 'opened' requires the object 'door' to make complete sense.

    Transitive verbs also be used with two objects (direct & indirect).

    Example:

    She baked a cake for me.

    Here, 'baked' is a transitive verb, which has two objects; 'cake' (direct) & 'me' (indirect).

  • Intransitive Verbs

    Intransitive Verb do not require an object to complete its meaning.

    Features:

    1. Intransitive verb is the main verb in the sentence.
    2. It can stand alone without an object.
    3. It does not transfer any action to an object.
    4. It may be followed by adverbs or prepositional phrases.

    Example:

    She reads.

    Here, 'reads' is an intransitive verb as the sentence is complete by itself.

    A verb can have both transitive and intransitive uses.

    Example:

    She eats an apple.

    Here, ‘eats’ is a transitive verb as it has an object i.e. ‘apple’.

    She eats slowly.

    Here, ‘eats’ is intransitive because there is no object & ‘slowly’ is an adverb.

  • Verbs of Incomplete Predication

    Incomplete Verbs or Verbs of Incomplete Predication require a complement of the verb to make complete sense of the sentence.

    Examples:

    The soup tastes delicious.

    Here,

    1. 'Tastes' is the verb of incomplete predication.
    2. There is no action taking place.
    3. There is no object.
    4. But sentence is incomplete without the complement 'delicious' which is an adverb.

    Features:

    1. They as they don't require any direct objects.
    2. They are a type of Intransitive verbs.
    3. But they can't stand on their own like intransitive verbs.
    4. They require a complement to make complete sense.
    5. The complement usually is an adverb or noun or adjective or preposition.
    6. They don't describe any action.

    Examples:

    1. The sky is blue.
    2. He became an engineer.
    3. They felt happy.

  • Summary

    In this course, we learn't:

    1. All about action verbs.
    2. Types of actions verbs.
    3. Transitive verbs are those that require a direct object.
    4. Intransitive verbs are those which don't require any object.
    5. Incomplete verbs are a type of intransitive verb which require a verb complement to make complete sense.

    After exploring the world of action verbs, in the next course we will learn about auxiliary verbs.