Canadian Business English Fifth Edition Mary Ellen Guffey Patricia Burke PowerPoint by Vaska Tumir © 2008 Nelson Education Ltd

Canadian Business EnglishFifth Edition

Mary Ellen GuffeyPatricia Burke

PowerPoint by Vaska Tumir

© 2008 Nelson Education Ltd

Chapter 8

Verbs: Kinds, Voices, Moods


Objectives Distinguish between transitive and intransitive

verbs Identify at least eight linking verbs Recognize active- and passive-voice verbs Change the passive into the active voice Recognize constructions requiring the subjunctive

mood Use subjunctive forms correctly

3Canadian Business English, Fifth Edition

A verb is a word that expresses action or a state of being.


The drivers have just picked up our order. action

Sarah will be late for the general meeting. state of being


Kinds of Verbs: Transitive

Transitive verbs express an action directed toward a person or thing.

Transitive verbs require objects (nouns or pronouns) to complete their meanings.

The government promised new business incentives.

transitive verb object

Janice e-mailed me yesterday. transitive verb object


Pick out the transitive verb in this sentence.

1. Ikea offers free design consultations to its customers.

Check your skill...

^Transitive Ôbject Ôbject

2. Customers meet with an Ikea designer in the store. ^Transitive Ôbject

3. Please lay the change on the counter. ^Transitive Ôbject Ôbject


Kinds of Verbs: Intransitive

Intransitive verbs express action but do not require objects to complete their meanings.

Maria walks to work every day.

\intransitive/

Rod chuckled softly at the joke. \intransitive/


Pick out the intransitive verb in this sentence.

1. Katie listened carefully to the deposition. Întransitive Verb

2. Michael left shortly after 9:00 PM. Întransitive Verb

3. After dinner, we stayed home and watched a DVD. Întransitive Verb

Check your skill...


Kinds of Verbs: Linking Verbs

Linking verbs link or join to subjects words that rename or describe the subjects.

A noun, pronoun, or adjective that renames or describes the subject is called a complement.

Gordon Vespucci is the new CEO. ^linking verb ^complement


Kinds of Verbs:Linking Verbs

Some linking verbs are derived from the infinitive to be: be, is, am, are, was, were, been, and being.

Other linking verbs reflect sense experience: feel, appear, taste, seem, sound, etc.

Their new CD sounds good.

^linking verb ^complement


Identify the linking verb and complement in this sentence.

1. The caller could have been Jeremy.

Check your skill...

^linking verb ^complement

2. It was Samantha who took the minutes. ^linking verb ^complement

3. Later, Mike felt bad about his e-mail to me. ^linking verb

complement


Verb Voices

Active Voice

When a transitive verb expresses an action directed by the subject toward the object of the verb, the verb is in the active voice.

Writing that incorporates active-voice verbs is clear, direct, and forceful.


Verb Voices

Active Voice

We now offer pre-payment plans to all customers. âctive voice

DataServe opened its operations to Nova Scotia. âctive voice

The financial officer underestimated the operating expenses. âctive voice


Verb Voices

Passive Voice

When the action of a transitive verb is directed toward the subject, the verb is in the passive voice.

Our old audits will be revised.

Passive-voice usually disguises or omits the doer or agent of an action.

It is often used when indirectness is desired.


Verb Voices

Passive Voice

Pre-payment customer plans are offered. \ passive voice /

Operations in Nova Scotia will be expanded. \ ___passive voice /

Current expenses have been underestimated. \ passive voice /


Identify the voice of the verb in this sentence.1. The bank stopped payment on the cheque.

Check your skill...

^ Active Voice

2. Emma spotted the accounting error.^ Active Voice

3. The accounts were left in a terrible mess. ^ Passive Voice

4. Text messaging has become very popular.^ Active Voice

5. The twins were taken to the nearest Urgent Care Centre.^ Passive Voice


Verb Moods

Three Moods Three verb moods are used to express attitude

toward a subject.

1. The indicative mood expresses facts.2. The imperative mood expresses commands.3. The subjunctive mood expresses a doubt, conjecture (guess), or suggestion.


Verb Moods: Subjunctive

Learn to use it correctly in the following three constructions:

1. Doubtful Statement When a statement that is doubtful or contrary to fact is

introduced by if, as if, or wish, the subjunctive form were is used instead of the indicative form was.

If I were in charge, things would be different.Mike acts as if he were her father.



2. Doubtful Statement If the statement could possibly be true, use the

indicative form.

If Mr. Cavallo was at the convention, I did not see him.



3. That Clause Use the subjunctive form be when a that clause follows a verb expressing a command, recommendation, request, suggestion, or requirement.

Louisa Aragon asked that all budget requests be sent to her.

Dr. Rowan ordered that the patient be confined to bed.



4. Motion made at a meeting Use a subjunctive verb form when a motion is stated in

a that clause.

The treasurer moved that the audit be recalled.


Select the correct verb mood in this sentence.

1. I wish Walter (was, were) in my position.

I wish Walter were in my position.

2. If Sue (was, were) leaving this morning, she didn’t call here.

If Sue was leaving this morning, she didn’t call here.

3. Our legal advisor recommended we (are, be) at the meeting.

Our legal advisor recommended we be at the meeting.

4. Anne moved that the decision (is, be) postponed until May.

Anne moved that the decision be postponed until May.

Check your skill...


Chapter 8 - Quiz

Is the underlined verb transitive, intransitive, or linking?

1. When in doubt, careful writers consult their dictionaries. ^ Transitive Verb

2. The supervisor felt bad about having to lay off some staff.^ Linking Verb

3. Stock prices fell; the market was unstable. Întransitive Verb ^Linking Verb

4. Laura spotted the error in the audit immediately.^ Transitive Verb


Chapter 8 - Quiz

Is the underlined verb active or passive?

5. The instructor asked students to read business articles.

Âctive Voice

6. Applicants were asked to submit their resumes online.^Passive Voice

7. Our old desktops have been donated to the university.^Passive Voice

8. The lawyer recommended we accept the offer.Âctive Voice


Chapter 8 - Quiz

Select the correct verb.

9. If you (was, were) me, how would you react?

If you were me, how would you react?

10. If the magazine (was, were) delivered last week, it should be here somewhere.

If the magazine was delivered last week, it should be here somewhere.



END


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Canadian Business English Fifth Edition Mary Ellen Guffey Patricia Burke PowerPoint by Vaska Tumir © 2008 Nelson Education Ltd