What are defective verbs?
1 Answer
Aug 1, 2016
Those are verbs which do not have all forms required to create sentences in different tenses. See explanation for examples.
Explanation:
Some English verbs are missing forms used to create sentences in diifferent tenses.
For example:
- the verb can is such a verb because although it has got Past Simple form could, it does not have Past Participle form used to create Perfect tenses.
If you want to create Perfect tense sentences you have to use be able to form which has all possible forms.
- the verb must has only present form.
If you want to create a sentence in any other tense you have to use its equivalent: have to.
