Syntactic Theory
The Verb
Tests to identify verbs
- semantic test:
- Verbs refer to actions
- morphological test:
- Verbs can combine with a 3rd singular inflection (-(e)s)
- Verbs can combine with a past tense inflection (-ed)
- Verbs can combine with -ing (in the contexts: __-ing can be fun, Pat was __-ing)
- syntactic test
- Verbs can occur directly after can:
They can __ ... - Verbs can occur directly after wanted to
Pat wanted to __ ...
- Verbs can occur directly after can:
Or continue here to learn about problems with these definitions.
Categories: Glossary