To conjugate a verb means to change the verb from its base form (infinitive) to different forms that correspond to various grammatical categories such as person, number, tense, mood, or voice. This alteration allows the verb to agree with the subject of the sentence and to indicate when the action takes place or its nature. For example, in English, the verb "to be" is conjugated as "I am," "you are," "he is," etc., depending on the subject and tense.
Explanation
- The base form of a verb (infinitive) changes by adding suffixes or altering its form to match the subject of the sentence and the context such as time or mood.
- Conjugation helps communicate clear meaning by showing who is performing the action and when it is happening.
- Different languages have varying levels of complexity in conjugation; some have a few forms, while others have many depending on grammatical categories.
Example in English
- Infinitive: to work
- Conjugated forms: I work, you work, he works, we worked, they will work
Thus, conjugation dresses up a verb so it properly fits within the sentence structure and context.