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Basics of the Sentence

The verb and its relations

A correct English sentence should always contain a verb (though in colloquial speech, this often does not happen). A verb has relations, such as the subject and the object.

An intransitive verb may have a subject but not an object:

Subject verb
I slept.

A transitive verb may a have a subject and an object (the object may be dropped):

Subject verb
I ate.
Subject verb object
I ate the fish.

The subject and object are called the core relations. Other relations (peripheral relations) may be expressed with prepositions or adverbs.

These relations can be changed to change the meaning of the sentence: see changing relations.

Sometimes teh verb has two objects: see the verb with one or two objects.

Simple and periphrastic verbs; main and auxiliary verbs

The verb may be simple (one word only, as above) or periphrastic (more than one word).

Sentences with simple verbs Sentences with periphrastic verbs
I drank some coffee.
I need a drink.		 I have eaten breakfast.
I am watching television.

A periphrastic verb contains an auxiliary verb followed by a main verb. The main verb expresses the meaning of the verb. A simple verb is also a main verb.

It is very unusual in English for any other words to come between the verb and its object which follows it. They form a single solid block which should not be broken apart. Sometimes a main verb has two objects. In this case, they form a single solid block with the form main verb-object-object. Again, this block should not be broken apart.

Relations other than the subject and object are often expressed with prepositional phrases such as to me, in the house or for Peter. These can usually be regarded as modifying the whole sentence, and are discussed on another page.

Finite and non-finite verbs

The simple verb and the auxiliary of periphrastic verbs are finite: they change their form to express changes such as tense. The main verb of a periphrastic is non-finite and does not change.


Simple finite verb Periphrastic: auxiliary is finite
Present I drink beer. I am drinking beer.
I have drunk beer.
Past I drank beer. I was drinking beer.
I had drunk beer.

Sometimes English produces a long chain of verbs. Usually only the first will be finite. The others will be non-finite and will not change:

It may have been helping protect us.
It might have been helping protect us.

Be careful not to change the form of non-finite verbs:

Error Correct form
**It can helps us. It can help us.

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