Understanding Verbs in English
A verb is a word that shows what someone or something does, what happens to them, or their state of being. Verbs are essential in constructing sentences, as every sentence requires at least one verb. They describe actions, occurrences, or conditions and help convey meaning effectively. Verbs are an important topic for students, especially for those preparing for competitive exams.
What is a Verb?
A verb tells what the subject of a sentence is doing or what is happening to it. It shows actions (physical or mental), states, or events. Verbs must match the subject in terms of tense (past, present, or future), number (singular or plural), and person (first, second, or third).
Examples of verbs in sentences:
- “She writes daily.” (Action)
- “They are sleeping.” (State)
- “It happened suddenly.” (Event)
Definition of Verbs
Different dictionaries define verbs in similar ways:
Oxford Learner’s Dictionary: A word or group of words that express an action (like “run”), an event (like “happen”), or a state (like “exist”).
Cambridge Dictionary: A word or phrase describing an action, condition, or experience.
Collins Dictionary: Words used with a subject to describe actions, events, or states.
Types of Verbs
Verbs are categorized based on their functions and roles in sentences. Here are the major types:
Action Verbs
These verbs show actions done by the subject.
Examples:
- “He runs fast.”
- “They think about the problem.
Linking Verbs
These verbs connect the subject with a noun or adjective that gives more information about it.
Examples:
- “He is a teacher.”
- “The food tastes good.”
Helping Verbs (Auxiliary Verbs)
These verbs assist the main verb to express tense, mood, or voice.
Examples:
- “She is reading a book.”
- “They have completed the task.”
Transitive Verbs
These verbs need a direct object to complete their meaning.
Examples:
- “She reads a book.”
- “They opened the door.”
Intransitive Verbs
These verbs do not need an object.
Examples:
- “The baby cried.”
- “Birds fly in the sky.”
Regular Verbs
These verbs form their past tense by adding “-ed” or “-d” to the root form.
Examples:
- Root: “Work” → Past: “Worked”
- Root: “Play” → Past: “Played”
- Root: “Help” → Past: “Helped”
- Root: “Look” → Past: “Looked”
Irregular Verbs
These verbs have unique past tense and past participle forms.
Examples:
- Root: “Go” → Past: “Went” → Past Participle: “Gone”
- Root: “Eat” → Past: “Ate” → Past Participle: “Eaten”
- Root: “Begin” → Past: “Begun” → Past Participle: “Began”
- Root: “Write” → Past: “Wrote” → Past Participle: “Written”
Phrasal Verbs
These are combinations of a verb with a preposition or adverb that create a new meaning.
Examples:
- “Turn on the lights.”
- “Give up on the idea.”
List of Phrasal Verbs
Phrasal Verb
|
Meaning
|
Example Sentence
|
---|---|---|
Call Around
|
Call different people
|
She called around to find a good doctor.
|
Break into
|
Enter forcibly
|
The police broke into the locked house.
|
Check out
|
Investigate
|
Let’s check out the new library in town.
|
Get back
|
Return
|
What time will you get back from work?
|
Get up
|
Get out of bed
|
He gets up early to catch the bus.
|
Give up
|
Stop trying
|
She gave up after several failed attempts.
|
Keep on
|
Continue
|
Keep on studying, and you’ll pass the test.
|
Log in
|
Sign in
|
Don’t forget to log in to your account.
|
Look after
|
|
She looks after her younger sister at home.
|
Run out
|
Get consumed completely
|
We ran out of sugar while baking cookies.
|
Run away
|
Escape
|
The cat ran away when it heard the noise.
|
Stick to something
|
Continue doing something
|
Stick to your budget to save money.
|
Take off
|
Remove
|
Please take off your jacket at the door.
|
Turn up
|
Appear suddenly
|
He turned up late for the meeting.
|
Warm up
|
Prepare for exercise
|
Athletes always warm up before a game.
|
Run into
|
Meet unexpectedly
|
I ran into an old friend at the mall.
|
Pick out
|
Choose
|
Can you pick out a good movie for tonight?
|
Look out
|
Be watchful
|
Look out for cars while crossing the road.
|
Modal Verbs
These verbs express ability, possibility, permission, or necessity.
Examples:
- “You can solve this.”
- “He should finish the work.”
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Join NowForms of Verbs
Verbs have six main forms. Let’s explore each with examples.
1. Root Form: The base form of the verb.
Examples: “run,” “read,” “play.”
2. Simple Present (First Form): Used for present tense sentences. For third-person singular, add “-s.”
Examples:
- “He reads a book.”
- “They play in the park.”
3. Simple Past (Second Form): Shows past actions.
Examples:
- “She walked to school.”
- “They saw the movie.”
4. Past Participle (Third Form): Used for perfect tenses.
Examples:
- “He has written a letter.”
- “They have eaten lunch.”
5. Present Participle and Gerund: Formed by adding “-ing” to the root verb.
Examples:
Present Participle: “He is running.”
Gerund: “Reading helps improve knowledge.”
6. Infinitive: Formed by adding “to” before the root verb.
Examples:
- “She likes to read.”
- “He wants to study.”
General Classification of Verbs
Verbs Referring to Actions
These verbs describe physical movements.
Examples: “Jump,” “write,” “laugh,” “sing.”
Verbs Referring to Experiences
These verbs describe mental or emotional states.
Examples: “Trust,” “feel,” “believe,” “like.”
Verbs Referring to State or Condition
These verbs describe existence or situations.
Examples: “Am,” “is,” “are,” “was.”
How to Recognize a Verb
To identify a verb in a sentence:
- Look for the word showing an action or state.
- Check if it changes based on tense, person, or number.
- Observe its position and relation to the subject.
How to Use a Verb
Verbs are essential for constructing sentences. They show what the subject does or experiences.
Examples:
- “I eat breakfast.” (What the subject does)
- “They feel happy.” (What the subject experiences)
Verb Conjugation
Conjugation refers to changing the verb form to match the tense, person, or number of the subject.
Examples of Conjugation:
- Present: “I like coffee.”
- Past: “I liked coffee.”
- Future: “I will like coffee.”
Active and Passive Voice
Active Voice
The subject performs the action.
Example: “The dog chased the cat.”
Passive Voice
The subject receives the action.
Example: “The cat was chased by the dog.”
Verb Examples List
Here is a list of verbs to help you learn and expand your English vocabulary. The table below includes examples of common verbs used in daily life.
Verb Examples | Verb Examples |
---|---|
Drink | Read |
Sing | Sit |
Ring | Cut |
Choose | Buy |
Write | Mark |
Gain | Match |
Grant | Move |
Cool | Enjoy |
Believe | Explain |
Bring | Open |
Admire | Order |
Fail | Offer |
Break | Draw |
Agree | Push |
Amaze | Prefer |
Amuse | Plan |
Appear | Play |
Arrive | Throw |
Ask | Ring Repair |
Behave | Become |
Borrow | Flee |
Blame | Stand |
Belong | Pull |
Believe | Save |
Call | Slow |
Cool | Sneeze |
Carry | Solve |
Cause | Start |
Clear | Stop |
Climb | Draw |
Enjoy | Plan |
Explain | Play |
Hunt | Become |
Ignore | Flee |
Fight | Improve |
Impress | Save |
Invite | Slow |
Jog | Sneeze |
Jump | Solve |
Join | Start |
Knock | Stop |
Last | Enjoy |
Label | Explain |
Learn | Open |
Live | Order |
Look | Offer |
Love | Push |
Prefer | Provide |
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