Role of Verb in Complex Sentence Structure

ElevatEd
English
March 21, 2025

There are so many fascinating concepts in English grammar that add up to make a sentence. One such element is the ‘verb’. It is an integral and very commonly used concept in English grammar and hence it is very important to grasp the idea behind it and know how it functions in a sentence structure.

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Every sentence is built on verbs. They depict an event, state, or activity. You can write better and communicate more effectively if you know how verbs function in complex sentences. Gaining an understanding of how verbs interact with various sentence components can boost your grammar confidence.

What is a Verb?

Any word that conveys activity or a state of being is a verb. It provides information about the subject's activity (such as jogging, reading, or leaping) or emotional state (such as hunger, excitement, or exhaustion). A verb is essential to conveying meaning in every sentence.

Understanding a Complex Sentence

An independent clause, which is a complete notion, and at least one dependent clause, which is a section that cannot stand alone, combine to create a complex sentence structure. For instance: "I went to the store because I needed milk." Because I needed milk" is the dependent clause, whereas the first part is the independent clause.

Verb Types

In English, there are various kinds of verbs-

Action Verbs: A subject's activity, whether it be a mental or physical movement, is described by these verbs. Verbs that do physical activity include "run," "jump," and "write," whereas verbs that do mental action include "think," "imagine," and "decide." They contribute to the lively and captivating nature of phrases.

Linking Verbs: These verbs link the sentence's subject to further details about it rather than demonstrating action. The following linking verbs are frequently used: "is," "are," "was," "seem," and "become." In "She is happy," for instance, the verb "is" connects "she" to the adjective "happy," so defining her emotional state.

Auxiliary (Helping) Verbs: These verbs help the primary verb convey voice, emotion, or tense. Among these are the verbs "have," "will," "is," and "must." In "He has finished," for instance, "has" helps construct the present perfect tense, whereas in "She is running," the auxiliary verb "is" helps express the present continuous tense.

The Connection Between Complex Sentences and Verbs

Verbs are essential for connecting concepts between independent and dependent clauses in complex phrases. The dependent clause's verb contributes to or further clarifies the independent clause's verb, which is the primary action. The verb "stayed" is in the independent clause of the sentence "I stayed home because it was raining," for instance, and the word "was" joins the dependent clause.

Examples of Verbs in Complex Sentence Structure

Three instances of verbs used in complex sentences are as follows-

I was doing my chores when the phone rang.
Verbs: rang (action), was doing (action)
She will finish her packing, after she eats dinner.
Verbs: will finish (action), eats (action).
He stayed home because he was feeling ill.
Verbs: stayed (action), was feeling (state of mind)

The verbs in each of these instances serve to link the main and dependent clauses, illustrating the action or condition of being in various sentence segments.

In conclusion, you can write more effectively and clearly if you know what is a verb and how verbs work in complex sentences. Gaining an understanding of the various verb forms and their relationship to sentence structure can help you convey complicated thoughts more clearly and concisely.

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