Fast and Easy Way To Learn About Verbs For the CSET

3. When faced with the problem, the student paused.
The intransitive verb is “paused”. The subject (student) did something (paused) at a particular time (when faced with the problem).

A linking verb implies a state of being or condition for the subject, not an action. It links the subject to a word in the sentence.

Examples

1. The test indicates that Tim is a brain.
The linking verb is “is”. The subject (Tim) is linked to a noun (brain).

2. Matches appeared to be the cause of the fire.
The linking verb is “appeared”. The subject (matches) is linked to “cause”, which restates the subject.

3. It was a happy day.
The linking verb is “was”. “It” is linked to the noun “day”, which restates the subject.

Finite and Non-finite Verbs

A finite verb makes an assertion or expresses a state of being and can stand by itself as the main verb of a sentence.

Examples

1. The car demolished the building.
The finite verb is “demolished”.

2. The branches were brown and unhealthy.
The finite verb is “were”.

The non-finite forms of a verb have no tense, person or singular plural. The infinitive and