What is a defective verb?

Definition
	A defective verb is a verb which does not exhibit all the forms typical of a regular verbal conjugation.

Example (English)
	The auxiliary verb ought is a defective verb.

Concept module: defective verb
In overview module: Glossary (Linguistics): D
In modular book: Glossary of linguistic terms, by Eugene E. Loos (general editor), Susan Anderson (editor), Dwight H., Day, Jr. (editor), Paul C. Jordan (editor), and J. Douglas Wingate (editor)
In bookshelf: Linguistics

This page is an extract from the LinguaLinks Library, Version 5.0 published on CD-ROM by SIL International, 2003. [Ordering information.]

Page content last modified: 5 January 2004