Verbs: Definition

A verb is a word that expresses an action, occurrence, or state of being. It is a crucial part of a sentence as it shows what the subject is doing or what condition the subject is in.

Types of Verbs with Examples

1. Action Verbs

Action verbs describe physical or mental actions performed by the subject.

• Physical Action Verbs: show activities you can see or do.
  • Examples: run, jump, write, eat, drive

  • She runs every morning.

  • He wrote a letter.

• Mental Action Verbs: express thinking, feeling, or perceiving.
  • Examples: think, believe, know, imagine, consider

  • I believe in hard work.

  • They understand the problem.

2. Linking Verbs

Linking verbs connect the subject to a subject complement (a word or phrase that describes or identifies the subject). They do not show action but rather a state of being or condition.

• Common linking verbs: be (am, is, are, was, were), become, seem, appear, feel, look, sound, taste, smell

• Examples:
  • She is a teacher.

  • The soup tastes delicious.

  • He became a doctor.

3. Auxiliary (Helping) Verbs

Auxiliary verbs help the main verb express tense, mood, voice, or aspect. They cannot stand alone.

• Common auxiliary verbs: be, have, do, will, shall, can, could, may, might, must, should, would

• Examples:
  • She is running fast. (helping verb is + main verb running)

  • They have finished the work.

  • You should study for the exam.

4. Modal Verbs

Modal verbs express necessity, possibility, permission, or ability. They are a subset of auxiliary verbs.

• Common modals: can, could, may, might, must, shall, should, will, would

• Examples:
  • You must complete the assignment.

  • She can speak three languages.

  • We might go to the party.

5. Transitive and Intransitive Verbs

• Transitive Verbs require a direct object to complete their meaning.
  • Examples: She wrote a letter. (letter = object)

  • They built a house.

• Intransitive Verbs do not take a direct object.
  • Examples: He sleeps soundly.

  • The baby cried loudly.

6. Regular and Irregular Verbs

• Regular Verbs: form their past tense by adding -ed or -d.
  • Examples: walk → walked, play → played, decide → decided

  • She played soccer yesterday.

• Irregular Verbs: do not follow the regular pattern; their past tense forms vary.
  • Examples: go → went, eat → ate, take → took, write → wrote

                       He went to school.