Transitive vs. Intransitive Verbs
Transitive verbs require at least a direct object to complete their meaning, while intransitive verbs do not require any objects. Some verbs are bi-transitive, meaning that they are followed by both a direct and indirect object. Transitive verbs followed by an indirect object usually require a preposition. Make sure to always learn such verbs together with the correct preposition. If you are not sure about the preposition, consult your dictionary.
| intransitive verb | transitive verb | bi-transitive | transitive verb+preposition | intransitive verb |
| The children slept. | The children ate the cake. | The children gave the cake to their friends. | The children looked at the picture for hours. | The children slept. The children surprisingly agreed with their parents. |
Auxiliary Verbs
Most verbs are main verbs, i.e. content words that contribute meaning to the sentence they are in (go, run, eat, prefer, ascertain). In addition, there is a closed class sub-group of auxiliary verbs that merely assist in the technical construction of other verb forms. The auxiliary verbs in English are: to be, to do, and to have. The modal verbs (can, could, shall, should, may. might, must, will, and would) can also be considered auxiliaries as they modify the meaning of the main verb they accompany.
Dan is studying for a test at the moment.
[is, form of be, auxiliary verb of progressive verbs, here of the main verb studying]
French has been studied at this school for the past 10 years.
[has, form of have, auxiliary verb of perfect verbs, been, form of be, auxiliary verb of passive verbs, both are here of the main verb studied]
The weather forecaster will announce that it may rain tomorrow.
[ will, modal auxiliary verb of the main verb announce to form the “future simple tense”, may, modal auxiliary verb of the main verb rain, modifying it to denote the probability of the action]
The verb forms used as auxiliary verbs in English are:
1. to be
am, is, are was, were be, been, being
2. to do
do, does did
3. to have
have, has had having
4. The modal verbs
can, could shall, should must
may, might will, would
Keep these verbs in mind, as you encounter their uses in our English grammar articles.
Finite Verbs vs. Non-Finite Verbs
Finite verb forms are namely, conjugated verbs that show person, number, tense, aspect, and voice. Finite verbs, as opposed to non-finite verbs, can function as the main verb of an independent clause. Non-finite verb forms, or verbals (infinitive, past participle, present participle, and gerunds by themselves) are not limited by the subject and serve as other parts of speech in the sentence (nouns, adjectives).
The children were talking to each other when the teacher came in.
[the present participle talking is part of the finite verb were talking, the main verb of the independent clause The children were talking]
The talking children made the teacher angry.
[the present participle talking is a non-finite verbal modifying the noun children and cannot be the main verb of this independent clause]
Talking is the children’s favorite pastime.
[talking is here a gerund, a verbal noun functioning as the subject of the independent clause]
