Microsoft Word Theoretical Course of English Grammar

1.
 
Functional classification of verbs 
According to their functions, verbs can be divided into three major categories or classes: 
lexical or full verbs, primary verbs and auxiliary modal verbs (Biber et al. 2003: 104; Green-
baum & Quirk 1991: 24-40). 
a) The grammatical categorical meaning of lexical or full verbs is to denote action, process 
or state dynamically, i.e. developing in time. The full verbs are only used as main verbs because 
of their lexical meanings. E.g.: 
Every morning he goes to the office and comes back at eight.
This class of verbs is an open class, which means that the English language is always add-
ing new lexical verbs. E.g.: to download, to e-mail, etc.
b) There are only three primary verbs: 
be
, 
have
and 
do
, the most common verbs in Eng-
lish. They form a separate class because they can be used either as main verbs or as auxiliary 
verbs.
Primary verbs can act as main verbs when they realize their lexical meaning of existence, 
possession or performing something: 
He was in the hotel with his family. 

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Theoretical Course of English Grammar 
Script by prof. 
Nino Kirvalidze
32
He has a big family – a wife and six children. 
The did everything to save the child.
Special attention should be paid to the primary verb 
be.
Opinions differ concerning its 
functional status. British and American scholars consider that, when 
be 
is used as a copula, or a 
linking verb (e.g.: 
He is angry; She is a dancer
, etc.) it functions as a main verb, while Russian 
linguists refer to such use of 
be 
as the “pure link-verb” connecting the subject with its nominal 
predicative (Blokh 1983: 91). 
When the primary verbs lose their lexical meaning they are used as auxiliaries to show 
how the main verb is to be understood.

The auxiliary 
have
is used to form the perfect aspect:
I have just come home
.

The auxiliary 
be
is used to form the progressive or continuous aspect: 
He is having 
lunch.

The auxiliary 
be
is also used to form the passive voice:
The letter was sent to him
.

The auxiliary 
do
is used in negative statements and in questions; this is known as 
do
insertion. For instance:
Where do you live?
He does not speak French. 
c)
modal verbs (
can, may, must, could, might, have to, be able to, have to, shall, will,
should, would, need, etc.
)
are used only as auxiliary verbs to express ability, possibility, 
obligation, necessity, volition or prediction of the action, process or state which is denoted by 
the main verb.
Cf.:
People thought he might have been joking
.(possibility)
He would probably go there
. (volition/prediction)