Questions tagged [verbs]
A verb is a word used to describe an action, state, or occurrence.
2,211
questions
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1answer
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Independent clause and main verb
What is the independent clause and main verb in this sentence?
Wall Street's glass ceiling cracked at last on March 1st,as Jane Fraser took charge of Citigroup, becoming the first woman to head a big ...
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1answer
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What does 'They while away their evenings with books and games.' mean?
I was asked to name the highlighted part of speech in the given sentence.
They while away the evenings with books and games.
the sentence, however didn't felt grammatically correct to me, and I didn'...
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2answers
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Verbs use in the sentence
Please help me clear away this doubt in following question regarding the use of verb "are".
"These recently upgraded branch offices have been fully computerised and are connected to ...
0
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1answer
16 views
The verb promise
I wanted to know if the following sentences are correct:
Promise me to hand in your paper on time.
Promise me you'll hand in your paper on time.
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0answers
19 views
How many gerunds are in this sentence?
"He made his own ink by burning charcoal and using cheap ordinary packing paper for sketching?
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30 views
Transitive verb like intransitive verb
For example,
I open door A like door B opens.
referring to I open door A in a slow way, and door B does in the same way
Even though ‘open’ and ‘opens’ function as transitive and intransitive ...
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2answers
33 views
arouse vs rouse (looks really same) could be any different usage?
ex) arouse sb's interest
arouse sb's curiosity
arouse sby's anger
The whole community was aroused by the crime.
ex) rouse sb from sleep. Nicky roused her with a gentle nudge. A lot of people were ...
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2answers
25 views
…and started (walking) down the corridor
The man stepped off the elevator and started down the corridor.
I have seen started used like this before without adding eg. walking after it. Is it perfectly natural use of started?
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1answer
28 views
Word for 'getting removed from Hot Network Question'
When a question becomes a Hot Network Question, it attracts so many views. I have noticed that after few days of becoming hot, the question loses its effect and slowly "......"es from Hot ...
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1answer
25 views
Not all is? or not all are?
Not all countries _________ to produce high quality product.
a) can
b) is able
c) are able
d) been
2
votes
1answer
28 views
Verb: Cover the cost or get a higher return?
I wonder if there exists a verb that indicates covering the costs or getting a higher return. It would be either a transitive verb preceding "investment" or "cost", or simply an ...
4
votes
1answer
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Thrive-throve-thriven vs thrive-thrived-thrived
thrived vs throve
Could they be different in their usage?
There are two forms of inflection: ed-ed (regular) vs. irregular (like drink-drank-drunk)
When native speakers use the verbs as past which ...
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0answers
38 views
“levied by supporters”
Currently reading this article, there is a line saying,
His is one of many unfounded claims against the company, tied to voting fraud conspiracy theories and levied by supporters of President Donald ...
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2answers
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“just receive” Vs “just received”?
Which is the correct English usage and why?
"I just receive my package"
I just received my package"?
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1answer
40 views
hearing the story vs. listening to the story
Are the following sentences both correct? If so, what's the difference?
Hearing the story, John started a bit.
Listening to the story, John started a bit.
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1answer
24 views
Can't figure out the usage of 'of'
dappled sunlight had danced in Soraya’s eyes, and of the delicate hollows above her collarbone.
Here why have we used the word 'of' before 'delicate hollows' instead of using 'on the delicate hollows'...
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1answer
6 views
What verbs should be used after “there is” and “there are”?
Somebody told me these are incorrect in grammar usage:
There are few people join
our party.
There are a few cookies to
share you.
Please anyone tell me which parts are incorrect and what kind of ...
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2answers
44 views
Is it appropriate to use another verb after the main verb (main verb + subject + verb) in a sentence? and why?
I don't quite understand why it is grammatically correct to use another verb after the main verb (main verb + subject + verb) in a sentence,
for example:
I can't believe you remembered that blue is ...
0
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2answers
29 views
Is “barreling” appropriate in this context?
Before anyone could stop him, the boy in the wheelchair was barreling toward the laughing bullies.
Hi. I would like to know if barreling seems a good choice in this context to mean he's riding really ...
1
vote
1answer
29 views
Modal verb 'May'
May flowers flourish in your garden!
What is wrong in this sentence? Grammarly says, that I have to change the verb form. It suggests that I write, 'May flower flourish in your garden' and not '...
0
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1answer
27 views
Type of verb English grammar
In examining the grammar of this sentence:
Also, paragraph frames could be used with graphic organizers as
appropriate.
is the verb 'used' transitive, or a linking verb?
2
votes
2answers
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Some murky usage of the verb “offer”?
Can you explain to me why:
1 He offered me a book to read. - correct grammar
2 He offered me a spanner to fix the pipe. - correct grammar
3 He offered me a book to buy. - wrong grammar (the meaning ...
0
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2answers
26 views
When can “to” be followed by the present perfect, not the simple verb?
What is this sentence's grammar?
He needed to have delivered across the country.
Please explain it
Because as far as I know after "to" we should use simple verb but her after "to" ...
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1answer
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Are any of these sentences grammatically correct and do they make sense? The usage of the verb ADVISE [closed]
Please tell me which of these are correct:
I advise this car.
I advise this car to you.
I advise this car for you.
I advise this car to you to buy.
I advise this car for you to buy.
I advise you this ...
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1answer
34 views
Are the sentences in quotations marks objects of verbs of the main sentences?
Harvold, who has not passed his driving test, said, 'I realized the bus was out of control when I was speaking to the students on the microphone.'
'We hit a barrier and swerved to the other side of ...
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0answers
29 views
Use of the subjunctive in context
Twelve steeds unmatch’d in fleetness and in force,
And still victorious in the dusty course;
(Rich were the man whose ample stores exceed
The prizes purchased by their winged speed;)
Extract from ...
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2answers
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The sentence “I just have noticed now […]”, tense and adverbial constructions
The phrase
I just noticed now [...]
seems to be quite common, as a google query reveals. However, I am wondering why is simple past used here, and also why not "justly" instead of "...
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1answer
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Is 'I'm' a verb, noun, adjective, or adverb? [closed]
I am currently doing my online work, and I was sorting verbs, nouns, adjectives and adverbs. I was doing well, until 'I'm' came up. I would really appreciate it if someone could answer my question, is ...
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0answers
31 views
Can gut be used transitively? [duplicate]
It gutted him to see her suffer like that.
Can gut be used transitively like this?
Or should I rephrase my sentence like this?
It left him gutted to see her suffer like that.
I looked up the word ...
1
vote
1answer
17 views
which definition of “suggest” is intended?
The Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English has the following sentence:
It has been suggested that the manager will resign if any more players are sold.
I'd like to know which of the following ...
2
votes
1answer
33 views
Should it be WAS or DID here?
The lyrics to Black by Pearl Jam go like:
Sheets of empty canvas, untouched sheets of clay
Were laid spread out before me, as her body once did...
I thought was was more appropriate than did above ...
0
votes
2answers
20 views
A verb for getting in pose of stubborn confrontation
What verb could I use when a person is getting in the pose of stubborn confrontation? Kind of aggressive, but restrained, the same way when a bull is frozen, waiting for an attack to start?
For a man, ...
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0answers
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How can I say that I have used a piece of cloth a lot?
What is the best way to say that you have used a piece of cloth a lot?
Does it sound OK to say:
I have worn this dress a lot.
2
votes
1answer
33 views
hear someone cry vs hear someone crying
Last night I heard a lady cry/crying.
My book says the correct answer is cry.
.
Last night I heard a man scream/screaming.
My book says the correct answer is screaming.
.
I couldn't get it.
How do we ...
0
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1answer
26 views
is or will be required to do something [closed]
You are required to take care of my cat after I go out of town tomorrow.
You'll be required to take care of my cat after I go out of town tomorrow.
He was advised that he was required to sometimes ...
1
vote
1answer
22 views
Stronger word for “trashing”?
He was in the midst of a rampage, trashing the office.
What could a stronger word for "trashing" be that could fit in the above sentence?
Or could I just add "completely" before &...
1
vote
1answer
18 views
When is a complement of verb gerund?
I am confused about when a complement of a verb is a gerund.
For instance
He is going to school.
here "going" is the complement of verb "is" yet not a gerund
He is playing for ...
0
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1answer
32 views
“I saw him be upset/to be upset/ being upset”
I'll use seeing and upset to create an example that might help me:
Out of these, which is correct, or which are best? Do some work in some circumstances and not others?
I saw him upset.
I saw him to ...
0
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1answer
13 views
Gerund or Compound verb
In the sentence "He is playing for Australia".
"is playing" seems to be the verb
But isn't "playing" a gerund here as it is the complement of the verb "is"?
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0answers
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“…were discovered floating…” <—-Why ING?
In March 2013, more than 16,000 dead pigs were discovered floating in tributaries...
I don’t understand why -ING is added for “floating”? What grammatical term does it related to?
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1answer
22 views
Do we need to conjugate the verb or to use the infinitive in descriptions of actions?
I often struggle in technical articles with whether I should conjugate the verb in incomplete sentences like:
Some options are available:
Answering: Result in opening all gates.
Ignoring: Switch ...
0
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1answer
32 views
“Google up” meaning
Can I use the preposition up with the verb google? I found it only on Urban Dictionary which isn't a very reliable dictionary.
Urban Dictionary:
Google up Informal phrase used to describe performing ...
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0answers
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One of usages of the verb “know”: know object to V or know object V
They know the designs to work. vs 2. They know the designs work.
(quoted and varied from "previous designs that they know work")
Is there any difference between 1 and 2?
PS. I found this ...
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1answer
37 views
Verbs to use about someone who walks after someone they're chasing
Seeing the man, Kevin turns and runs. The man walks after him.
(The man starts chasing Kevin)
What could be some good verbs to use instead of walks in this context to imply walking quickly but not ...
1
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1answer
60 views
“Relax! = be careful!”?
I watched a movie last night and one of the scene was about a man pulling out the other man through the car window forcibly.
Then, the man that was being pulled out started screaming,
Hey, relax. ow, ...
0
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1answer
15 views
employed 20 workers last week
I am not sure if "to employ" means "to have someone on the payroll" or "to put someone on the payroll." Is it ambiguous? Consider the following sentence:
The company ...
0
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1answer
26 views
How Gerund affects subject verb agreement?
Eating sweets __________ (is/ are ) tough.
Contesting elections ______ ( is / are ) tough .
[ Which one is the subject Eating/ Contesting or sweets / elections ?]
According to Cambridge Grammar of ...
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0answers
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General get, put, take to more specific obtain, understand, become etc
I am imagining a hierarchy of verbs, get, put, take etc.. which are more general and can be used in a lot of different contexts.
Then, in these different contexts, to make it more specific, different ...
1
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1answer
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What’s the meaning of the verb ”does” in this sentence?
I came across the following sentence
”My family does think I’m a little bit addicted to fast food.”
What’s the meaning of the verb ”does” in that sentence? Does it have the same meaning as the ...
0
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1answer
22 views
What is the word could be used instead of “have”?
What does the verb "have" mean in the following sentences? What does each use imply or what is the synonym of "have" in each instance?
Have mercy on me.
Have fun.
Let's have a ...
