Verbs and verb phrases perform nine main grammatical functions within sentences in the English language. Both native English-speaking and ESL students must learn the nine functions to fully and correctly use verbs and verb phrases in both spoken and written English. The last four functions of verbs and verb phrases are:
- Direct object
- Object complement
- Indirect object
- Prepositional complement
Verbs are traditionally defined as "action or state of being words." Verb phrases are defined as phrases that consist of one or more verbs and any number of objects, modifiers, and complements including noun phrases, verb phrases, adverb phrases, and prepositional phrases. Traditional grammars generally use the term gerund for present participles that perform nominal functions, or the functions prototypically filled by nouns and noun phrases.
Verbs as Direct Objects
The sixth grammatical function that verbs and verb phrases can perform is the direct object. Direct objects are traditionally defined as words, phrases, and clauses that "receive the action of the verb." Only verb phrases in the form of present participles and infinitives can function as direct objects. For example, the following italicized verbs and verb phrases function as direct objects:
- I prefer reading fantasy literature.
- My husband prefers to read nonfiction.
- The dog enjoys chasing the cat.
- Golden retrievers like to swim.
Verbs as Object Complements
The seventh grammatical function that verbs and verb phrases can perform is the object complement. Object complements are defined as words and phrases that directly follow and modify the direct object. Only verb phrases in the form of present participles can function as object complements. For example, the following italicized verbs and verb phrases function as object complements:
- I consider my favorite activity studying English grammar.
- Cultural analysts declare the American pastime playing baseball.
- The man finds his least favorite job cleaning the bathroom.
Verbs as Indirect Objects
The eighth grammatical function that verbs and verb phrases can perform is the indirect object. Indirect objects are traditionally defined as words and phrases "to or for whom or what the action of the verb is performed." Only verb phrases in the form of present participles can function as indirect objects. However, verb phrases rarely function as the indirect object. For example, the following italicized verbs and verb phrases function as indirect objects:
- The children gave eating new vegetables a try.
- My boss gave trying a different procedure a consideration.
- She gave pursuing another graduate degree serious thought.
Verbs as Prepositional Complements
The nineth grammatical function that verbs and verb phrases can perform is the prepositional complement. Prepositional complements are defined as words and phrases that function as the object of preposition. Only verb phrases in the form of present participles can function as prepositional complements. For example, the following italicized verbs and verb phrases function as prepositional complements:
- The students are having problems with solving the assigned equations.
- My professor strongly believes in consulting librarians with research questions.
- Can we talk about planting a garden this summer?
The last four functions of verbs and verb phrases in English are direct object, object complement, indirect object, and prepositional complement. Both English-speaking and ESL students must learn the other four functions to use verbs and verb phrases properly in both spoken and written forms of English.
For more information on the first five functions of verbs and verb phrases in the English language, please see English Verbs and Verb Phrases: Five Functions of Verbs in the English Language.
Sources
Hopper, Paul J. A Short Course in Grammar. W.W. Norton & Company: New York, 1999.
Huddleston, Rodney. Introduction to the Grammar of English. Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, 1984.
Heather Marie Kosur - About Me I earned a BA in English studies with a minor in creative writing from Illinois State University in May 2007 and an MS in ...
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