I don't know of any languages that use verb infinitives like English does: to run, to have, to read, topost. From what I remember, Japanese, Mandarin, French, Italian, Russian, German, Spanish, Latin, and Greek all have one word verbs. But such verbs in English are rare. Can you think of any? "Can" comes to mind....
English also conjugates verbs differently. All the examples I can think of have two forms, except for to be with three: I run, You run, He runs, we run, they run. Compared to romantic language's conjugational endings.
Where did this come from? Is it something magical that English made up while being isolated on it's island, or is there a family of languages somewhere that uses verbs like English does?
@"is": http://www.scientificpsychic.com/grammar/to_be.html
English also conjugates verbs differently. All the examples I can think of have two forms, except for to be with three: I run, You run, He runs, we run, they run. Compared to romantic language's conjugational endings.
Where did this come from? Is it something magical that English made up while being isolated on it's island, or is there a family of languages somewhere that uses verbs like English does?
@"is": http://www.scientificpsychic.com/grammar/to_be.html