A knowledge of verbs is important for answering the following types of standardized test questions:

• errors in subject/verb agreement
• errors in verb tense sequence
• modifier confusion with linking verbs
• dangling participles
• errors in parallelism

A verb expresses an action or a state of being.

A verb is transitive if it has a receiver of its action (an object). If the subject performs the action, the verb is in the active voice. When the subject is the receiver of the action, the verb is in the passive voice.

Bob ate the cookie.

The verb "ate" is in the active voice because the subject ("Bob") performed the action on the object ("cookie").

The cookie was eaten by Bob.

The verb "was eaten" is in the passive voice because the action was performed on the subject ("cookie"). "Bob" is the object of the preposition "by" and the prepositional phrase modifies the verb "was eaten." The prepositional phrase acts as an adverb to describe by whom the cookie was eaten.

Answering some grammar questions may entail changing the syntax of a sentence from the passive voice to the active voice. Some sentences written in the passive voice sound wordy and awkward, and standardized examinations test the ability to form concise sentences that conform to the rules of standard written English. If a sentence in a question is grammatically correct but is written in the passive voice, look for an answer that has a grammatically correct sentence in the active voice. Many writing style guides urge writers to use the active voice to strengthen their writing. Consider using the active voice whenever possible when writing your essays.

A verb is intransitive if it does not have a receiver of its action.

Bob ate in the kitchen.

The verb "ate" is intransitive in this sentence because it does not have a receiver of its action. What Bob ate is not specified; there is no direct object. The prepositional phrase "in the kitchen" is not an object; it acts as an adverb to describe where the action happened. If the sentence contained an object that Bob ate, the verb would be transitive. Without the object, it is intransitive.

Some intransitive verbs are linking verbs. These verbs link nouns and adjectives with subjects that they describe.

Bob is my friend.

"Bob" is the subject, "is" is the linking verb, and "friend" is the noun linked to the subject. When a noun is linked to a subject, it is called a predicate nominative.

Bob smells good.

"Bob" is the subject, "smells" is the linking verb, and "good" is the adjective linked to the subject. When an adjective is linked to a subject, it is called a predicate adjective.

Linking verbs can be divided into three types:

1. the 8 forms of "to be" - am, is, are, was, were, be, being, been
2. the 5 sense words that can be followed with "good" - look ("look good," not "see good"), sound ("sound good," not "hear good"), smell ("smell good"), feel ("feel good," not "touch good"), taste ("taste good")
3. several words that express a state of being, the most common of which can be remembered using the mnemonic "SGRABS" - stay, grow, remain, appear, become, seem

Learn to recognize linking verbs and their predicate adjectives to avoid the mistake of using an adverb as a predicate adjective.

• Read about modifier confusion.

Verbs must agree with their subjects in number. Several rules explain the proper pairing of subjects and verbs, and it is important to understand them because errors in subject/verb agreement are common in standardized test questions.

• Read about subject/verb agreement.

The tenses of verbs in a sentence must be consistent and logical.

Bob goes into the kitchen and ate a cookie.

This sentence contains a shift in verb tense. The verb "goes" is in the simple present tense and the verb "ate" is in the simple past tense. This shift does logically describe a sequence of events. To correct the error, put both verbs in the same tense.

Bob went into the kitchen and ate a cookie.

or

Bob goes into the kitchen and eats a cookie.

If one action in a sentence happens at a different time relative to another action in the sentence, the tense of the verbs must reflect this relationship.

• Review the rules of verb tense sequence.

A verbal is a form of a verb that acts as another part of speech. The three types of verbals are participles, infinitives, and gerunds. Use the mnemonic "PIG" to remember the three types of verbals.

A participle is a verb form used as an adjective. A participle can be a single word or it can be part of a participial phrase. Present participles end in "-ing" and past participles often end in "-ed." The past participles of irregular verbs take different forms; familiarize yourself with these to improve your ability to identify a participle in a sentence.

Hearing the buzzing timer, Bob rushed into the kitchen. Salivating, he opened the oven door. Satisfied that the cookies had baked long enough, he removed them from the oven and set them aside to cool.

"Hearing" is a present participle that is part of the participial phrase "hearing the buzzing timer" that modifies "Bob." The participle "buzzing" modifies "timer" and "salivating" modifies "he." The past participle "satisfied" is part of the participial phrase "satisfied that the cookies had baked long enough" that modifies "he."

• A common error involving participles and participial phrases is the dangling participle.

An infinitive, the base form of a verb plus the word "to," can act as a noun, an adjective, or an adverb.

Bob likes to eat cookies.

"To eat" is an infinitive that is part of the infinitive phrase "to eat cookies" that acts as a noun and serves as the direct object in this sentence.

The cookies to be eaten are on the table.

"To be eaten" is an infinitive acting as an adjective to describe "cookies."

Bob came into the kitchen to eat some cookies.

"To eat some cookies" is an infinitive phrase acting as an adverb to modify "came."

A gerund is a noun form of a verb that ends in "-ing."

Bob likes eating cookies.

"Eating" is a gerund that is part of the gerund phrase "eating cookies" that acts as a noun and serves as the direct object in this sentence.

Some sentences with errors in parallel structure contain an inconsistency in verbal form. Make sure that all verbals in a sentence are the same type.

Bob likes not only eating cookies but also to bake them.

This sentence is not parallel because the first coordinating conjunction, "not only," is followed by a gerund phrase ("eating cookies") and the second coordinating conjunction, "but also," is followed by an infinitive phrase ("to bake them"). Correct the sentence by using the same verbal form after each coordinating conjunction.

Bob likes not only eating cookies but also baking them.

or

Bob likes not only to eat cookies but also to bake them.

• Read about parallel structure.