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Classification of Verbs

This document provides an overview of the morphological, syntactic, and semantic classification of verbs in English. Morphologically, verbs are classified based on their form - either single-word or multi-word verbs. Syntactically, verbs are classified based on the clause elements that complete their meaning - either as intransitive, transitive, copular/linking, etc. Semantically, verbs are classified as either stative or dynamic based on whether they express a state or an action/process. Examples of each classification are provided.

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62 views4 pages

Classification of Verbs

This document provides an overview of the morphological, syntactic, and semantic classification of verbs in English. Morphologically, verbs are classified based on their form - either single-word or multi-word verbs. Syntactically, verbs are classified based on the clause elements that complete their meaning - either as intransitive, transitive, copular/linking, etc. Semantically, verbs are classified as either stative or dynamic based on whether they express a state or an action/process. Examples of each classification are provided.

Uploaded by

María Fernanda Sánchez Araiza
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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BMFA2 Classification of Verbs (1)

(I) MORPHOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION OF VERBS: OVERVIEW

(1) Complete the chart.


(a) (b) (c)
• ________: open word class, full • one-word: the meaning of the • ________: express all
verbs that govern (are verb is included in a single form grammatical categories, have a
superordinate to) other clause predicative function, show
elements and encode the verbal agreement with a subject
meaning
plan, take, choose, receive plan, take, choose, receive the king died, I left, it might
seem, she hesitates, I had been
doing
• ________: closed word class, • multi-word: the meaning is • ________: they express only
“helping” verbs with grammatical expressed by more free some grammatical categories
functions morphemes—in combinations of (not a mood, tense, etc.); these
lexical verbs with closed word verbs are not independent, they
classes (prepositions and function as various clause
adverbs); can have idiomatic elements
reading
they include modals (can, must, phrasal and prepositional verbs: Making a living is not easy. I
may, etc.) and primary carry out, work out, scrape want to see you tonight. I have
auxiliaries (do, be, have) through, give up been thinking.

 What is the difference between a word and a phrase?


1.1 Complete these definitions:
The verbs in I took a shower, Choose a seat! and they travel a lot constitute ______ verb phrases.
The highlighted items in I was__ taking__ a shower, I couldn’t__ choose__ a seat,
she has__ been__ receiving__ many letters and he might__ have__ known__ the secret
are examples of ______ VPs.
In each VP, find (a) lexical and modal/auxiliary verbs, (b) finite and non-finite verbs.

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BMFA2 Classification of Verbs (1)
(II) SYNTACTIC CLASSIFICATION OF VERBS
Remember a syntactic criterion for identifying verbs: a verb is a grammatical centre of a clause, the verb
phrase governs other clause elements which are dependent on it (except for the subject).

[An old woman]NP was washing VP [her clothes] [relentlessly] [in the backyard].

syntactic classification of verbs = what completes the meaning of the verb?

(2) Which of the clause elements below are the complements of the verb? Are they obligatory, or
optional (in other words, are they necessary to keep the meaning of a lexical verb and to make a
sentence acceptable)?
Clause elements in English: subject (S), direct object (Od), indirect object (Oi), adverbial (A), adverbial complement
(Ca), subject complement (Cs), object complement (Co)

2.1 I agree completely.


The protestors were shouting in front the Parliament.
2.2 (a) I found a solution to the problem.
(b) A doctor should look at your swollen ankle.
(c) I sent a letter to Sue.
(d) Book me a ticket, please.
(e) I put a book on the highest shelf.
(f) His jokes made the audience uneasy.
(g) The president declared the meeting open.
2.3 (h) The upstairs tenant is a reliable person.
(i) The city lies 225 miles north of Dallas.
(j) Mary looked very bad.

intransitive transitive copular/linking


→ monotransitive → with Cs
→ ditransitive → with Ca
→ complex
transitive → with Ca
→ with Co

2
BMFA2 Classification of Verbs (1)
(III) SEMANTIC CLASSIFICATION OF VERBS
Greenbaum and Quirk (1990) distinguish 2 major groups of verbs regarding their semantics: stative and
dynamic.

STATIVE DYNAMIC
durative punctual
a) states of being and = period of time = little or no duration
having: be, contain, depend, a) activities by inanimate a) momentary events: jump,
have, resemble agents: blow, rain, work knock, nod, tap (repetition)
b) intellectual states: b) activities by animate b) transitional events:
believe, know, understand agents: drink, eat, listen, arrive, land, leave, stop
c) states of emotion or play (change of state)
attitude: dislike, want, wish c) processes (change of
d) states of perception: feel, state): change, grow
hear, smell, taste d) accomplishments (a goal):
e) states of bodily finish, read, write
sensations: ache, hurt, itch
• long duration, no • processes that last • also “momentary” verbs:
boundaries through time little or no appreciable time
Jane is their eldest daughter. • no end point The dog snapped at me.
(unbounded): He walked
slowly.
• a sharp end point
(bounded
accomplishments): The sun
went down.
 Homework: Compare this classification with the one proposed in Longman Student’s Grammar (see
Moodle) and discuss differences/similarities.

(3) What verb meanings are associated with the terms stative and dynamic? Give examples. Indicate
whether the verb phrases in bold are stative or dynamic in the context given.

a) This tank holds precisely 10 litres. g) We have only two tickets, I’m afraid.
b) Hold the handle very firmly. h) I was having my coffee quietly.
c) Answer the question more precisely. i) Smell this meat. Does it smell bad?
d) He’s a fool. Don’t listen to him. j) I think I hear someone coming.
e) I was a fool. I was driving too fast. k) I consider you acted very wisely.
f) I’d like three tickets immediately. l) We shall consider your application.

(4) What meaning do the following dynamic uses of verbs express?


a) He’s resembling his father more and more each year.
b) I can’t understand why he’s being so selfish.
c) She’s understanding her own problems better these days.
3
BMFA2 Classification of Verbs (1)
d) Are you wanting any coffee?
e) Is Kathy always asking you for money, too?
f) You said there are 150 applications. I’m just wondering if you counted them all . . . ?

Where to learn more (and works cited)


 syntactic classification
Greenbaum, Sidney and Gerald Nelson. 2002. An Introduction to English Grammar. 2nd ed. London: Longman. CHAPTERS 3.9–
3.13
Greenbaum, Sidney and Randolph Quirk. 1990. A Student’s Grammar of the English Language. Harlow: Longman. CHAPTERS
16.11–16.37

• semantic classification
Biber, Douglas, Susan Conrad and Geoffrey Leech. 2002. Longman Student’s Grammar of Spoken and Written English. London:
Longman. CHAPTER 5.3
Leech, Geoffrey. 2004. Meaning and the English Verb. 3rd ed. Abingdon/New York: Routledge.

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