Main verbs

Verbs are of two types: main verbs and auxiliary verbs.

Every clause must contain a main verb. Another name for main verbs is lexical verbs. That is because they are verbs with a meaning that you can look up in a dictionary. Main verbs can be divided into three groups:

• verbs that need an object
  Elephants eat grass.
• verbs that do not need an object
  Elephants exist.
• linking verbs
  Elephants are animals.

Verbs that need an object
In normal speech, Elephants eat ... is incomplete because it leaves us asking, 'Eat what?' Verbs like eat that need an object are called transitive.

Verbs that do not need an object
Exist on the other hand does not have to be followed by an object and is an intransitive verb. It is important to note that some verbs can be both transitive and intransitive. For example, work:

It's a formula that is obviously working.
He trains people to work the machine.

Linking verbs

These verbs are used to link a subject and its complement. They include be, seem, and appear.

©John Seely 2008