Definition

According to the traditional definition, verbs express actions (e.g. marcher), states (e.g. être) or transformations (e.g. jaunir). That which is expressed or referred to by a verb when it is used in discourse, is called a process.

Lexical meaning and actualization

Lexical meaning

A verb has a lexical meaning, i.e. the meaning that can be found in a dictionary. This meaning is its virtual referent. The actual referent of the verb is given when it is used in discourse. This is called the actualization of the verb and affects all parts of speech to various degrees.

Actualization

1. (i) The processes expressed for instance by the actualizations of the verb marcher include information about the time (e.g. present, past), as well as other information (e.g. who or what is carrying out the process).

2. Ex: je marche; nous avons marché; marchez!

3. I am walking; we have been walking; walk!

4. (ii) The actualization of the verb is made possible thanks to the various forms of the conjugation.

Consider for instance the verb marcher:

1. – lexical meaning: se déplacer avec ses jambes ou ses pattes

– possible actualizations:

1. – Je marche tous les dimanches.

I walk/go walking every Sunday.

1. – Elle a marché toute la journée.

2. She has been walking all day.

3. – If faudrait que nous marchions plus vite.

4. We should walk faster.