Verbs

Verbs
By Chris Commodore © 2006

How wonderful that verbs exist
The heart and soul, to say the least
Of language so that we can say
Things did and told from day to day

What would communication be
If we had not the verb to be
How would we say what things are now
Or say and do the things to come?

And yesterday communicate
Or say that things are up to date
The feelings in our hearts express
Improper verbs and we digress

Verbs with an -ing express
Exactly what we’re doing now
But in the future more or less
What things are still to come, I guess.

And verbs that show things finished, done
All acts completed, passed and gone
Take different variations
To streamline conversations

For present (tense)participle
The verb takes -ING.
But for the past participle
The verb could take -ed,
 
Some verbs are called intransitive
No-action-pass-to-object class
Unlike the verbs called transitive
That action to their objects pass

With proper verb inflections
Thoughts do change implications
In present, past, or future tense
Verbs punctuate the sentence

So, sentences without their verbs
Would be like tea without their herbs
For meaning we’d be at a loss
Since thoughts could wrongly get across

Continued action in the past
Expressed by present perfect tense
For instance: I’ve been running last
Makes present perfect sense

For actions done and finished
There is past perfect tense
This time: I had been running last
Is the past perfect tense

And acts expected in the past
Like: I shall have been running last
Or: They shall have been leaving, hence
Expresses future perfect tense

Some verbs are words of action
Like fight, and swim, and peel
But others show condition
Like is, and seem, and feel

Some verbs are rather troublesome
In past and future tense
So, make a list and study, hence
Verb wizard you’ll become

When verbs are in the active voice
The subject is the doer
But verbs are in the passive voice
When subject’s the receiver

Did you know that a verb has mood
Well, if you did not know, that’s good
Mood tells us how the verb is used
Enough, I’m now confused

To question, to inquire
Interrogative mood
Like: Pray tell, Ms. Maguire
Are you now eating food?

To state a simple point of fact
Like:  Mrs. Blane has tact
Verb’s format is indicative
But not imperative

Don’t in class use your cellphone;
You’re not in class alone.
This remark is not punitive
No, just imperative

And just to entertain a wish
Thoughts contrary to fact
Like: If Oprah were my relative…
That shows verb mood subjunctive.