VERBS.
Definition and caution.
199. A verb is a
word used as a predicate, to say something to or about some person or thing. In
giving a definition, we consider a verb as one word.
In the sentence, "Put money in thy purse,"
put is the predicate, with some word understood; as, "Put thou
money in thy purse."
Verb,—the word of the
sentence.
200. The term verb
is from the Latin verbum meaning word: hence it is the
word of a sentence. A thought cannot be expressed without a verb. When the
child cries, "Apple!" it means, See the apple! or I have an
apple! In the mariner's shout, "A sail!" the meaning is, "Yonder is a
sail!"
Sentences are in the form of declarations, questions, or
commands; and none of these can be put before the mind without the use of a
verb.
One group or a group of
words.
201. The verb may not
always be a single word. On account of the lack of inflections, verb
phrases are very frequent. Hence the verb may consist of:
(1) One word;
as, "The young man obeyed."
(2) Several words of verbal nature, making one
expression; as, (a) "Some day it may be considered
reasonable," (b) "Fearing lest he might have been
anticipated."
(3) One or more verbal words united with other words to
compose one verb phrase: as in the sentences, (a) "They knew well
that this woman ruled over thirty millions of subjects;" (b) "If
all the flummery and extravagance of an army were done away with, the
money could be made to go much further;" (c) "It is idle cant to pretend
anxiety for the better distribution of wealth until we can devise means by
which this preying upon people of small incomes can be put a stop
to."
In (a), a verb and a preposition are used as one
verb; in (b), a verb, an adverb, and a preposition unite as a verb; in
(c), an article, a noun, a preposition, are united with verbs as one
verb phrase. |
