day 61: infinitives part i of ii

Earlier I said that we teach two main categories of verbs—action and Be a Helper, Link verbs (BHL verbs).

There is another “category” of verbs that you should learn, however. That is the group of verbs (also used as other parts of speech) known as the infinitive.

We teach infinitives as verbs (and early on) for a couple of reasons:

1. While they might act like other parts of speech (i.e. modifying, being the sentence’s main subject, etc.) at times, more often than not, they act like verbs.
1. They can describe what a subject is doing: The girl decided to write the letter.
2. They can have BHL verbs with them: She had to take her medicine.
3. They can have adverbs with them (when they are comprised of action verbs): She wanted to write beautifully.
4. They can have direct objects with them (when they are comprised of action verbs): The girl wanted to eat chocolates.
5. They can have predicate adjectives with them (when they are comprised of BHL verbs): She wanted to be careful.

They can have predicate nominatives with them (when they are comprised of BHL verbs): She wanted to be an actress.

Tomorrow—more on infinitives.

day 58: Be a Helper, Link Verb Song

To help you remember the Be, a Helper, Link verbs, there is a little rhyme
that you can sing to the tune of ABC’s (or “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star”):

            ABCDEFG

            Be, a Helper, Link verbs,
            HIJKLMNOP

            Is, Are, Am, Was, & Were.

            QRSTUV

            Be, & Being, Been, Become,
            WXYZ

            Has, & Had, & Have are ones.
            Now I said my ABC's

            Can, Could, Shall, Should—they are fun.

            Next time won't you sing with me?

            Will, Would, Do, Did, Does, & Done.
            ABCDEFG

            May, Might, Must—they are some as well,

            HIJKLMNOP

            Appear, Look, Seem, Remain, Taste, Feel, & Smell.