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== Types == Verbs vary by type, and each type is determined by the kinds of words that accompany it and the relationship those words have with the verb itself. Classified by the number of their valency arguments, usually four basic types are distinguished: intransitives, transitives, ditransitives and double transitive verbs. Some verbs have special grammatical uses and hence complements, such as copular verbs (i.e., ''be''); the verb ''do'' used for ''do''-support in questioning and negation; and tense or aspect auxiliaries, e.g., ''be'', ''have'' or ''can''. In addition, verbs can be non-finite (not inflected for person, number, tense, etc.), such special forms as [[Infinitive|infinitives]], [[Participle|participles]] or [[Gerund|gerunds]].<ref name="Morenberg">{{harvnb|Morenberg|2010|pp=6β14}}</ref> === Intransitive verbs === An [[intransitive verb]] is one that does not have a direct object. Intransitive verbs may be followed by an [[adverb]] (a word that addresses how, where, when, and how often) or end a sentence. For example: "The woman ''spoke'' softly." "The athlete ''ran'' faster than the official." "The boy ''wept''." === Transitive verbs === A [[transitive verb]] is followed by a noun or [[noun phrase]]. These noun phrases are not called predicate nouns, but are instead called direct objects because they refer to the object that is being acted upon. For example: "My friend ''read'' the newspaper." "The teenager ''earned'' a speeding ticket." A way to identify a transitive verb is to invert the sentence, making it passive. For example: "The newspaper ''was read'' by my friend." "A speeding ticket ''was earned'' by the teenager." === Ditransitive verbs === [[Ditransitive verb|Ditransitive verbs]] (sometimes called Vg verbs after the verb ''give'') precede either two noun phrases or a noun phrase and then a prepositional phrase often led by ''to'' or ''for''. For example: "The players ''gave'' their teammates high fives." "The players ''gave'' high fives to their teammates." When two noun phrases follow a transitive verb, the first is an indirect object, that which is receiving something, and the second is a direct object, that being acted upon. Indirect objects can be noun phrases or prepositional phrases.<ref>{{harvnb|Morenberg|2010|pp=9β10}}</ref> === Double transitive verbs === Double transitive verbs (sometimes called Vc verbs after the verb ''consider'') are followed by a noun phrase that serves as a direct object and then a second noun phrase, adjective, or [[infinitive]] phrase. The second element (noun phrase, adjective, or infinitive) is called a complement, which completes a [[clause]] that would not otherwise have the same meaning. For example: "The young couple ''considers'' the neighbors wealthy people." "Some students ''perceive'' adults quite inaccurately." "Sarah ''deemed'' her project to be the hardest she has ever completed." === Copular verbs === [[Copula (linguistics)|Copular verbs]] ({{aka}} linking verbs) include ''be'', ''seem'', ''become'', ''appear'', ''look'', and ''remain''. For example: "Her daughter ''was'' a writing tutor." "The singers ''were'' very nervous." "His mother ''looked'' worried." "Josh ''remained'' a reliable friend." These verbs precede nouns or adjectives in a sentence, which become predicate nouns and predicate adjectives.<ref>{{harvnb|Morenberg|2010|p=7}}</ref> Copulae are thought to 'link' the predicate adjective or noun to the subject. They can also be followed by an adverb of place, which is sometimes referred to as a predicate adverb. For example: "My house ''is'' down the street." The main copular verb ''be'' is manifested in eight forms ''be'', ''is'', ''am'', ''are'', ''was'', ''were'', ''been'', and ''being'' in English.
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