Verbs in English Grammar: Definition, Types, Uses and Examples
In English, as in any language, verbs are indispensable. They indicate actions, including those related to feelings and emotions. Verbs manifest in diverse types and forms to convey nuanced meanings. Before exploring verb types and forms, let’s examine how various dictionaries define “verb.”
Definition of a Verb: According to the Oxford Learners’ Dictionary, a verb is “a word or group of words that express an action (such as eat), an event (such as happen), or a state (such as exist).” The Cambridge Dictionary defines a verb as “a word or phrase that describes an action, condition, or experience.” The Collins Dictionary offers a more detailed explanation, defining a verb as “a word such as’sing’, ‘feel’, or ‘die’ which is used with a subject to say what someone or something does or what happens to them, or to give information about them.”
General Classification of Verbs According to What They Signify: We can broadly classify verbs based on the nature of the action they signify.
Verbs Referring to Actions: These verbs denote physical or mental actions performed by the subject. Examples include walking, running, talking, and reading.
Verbs referring to experiences or feelings: These verbs express emotions, perceptions, or sensations. Examples include love, hate, feel, and cherish.
Verbs referring to a State or Condition: These verbs describe the subject’s state or condition. Examples of these verbs include the following: be, seem, appear, and become.
Verbs in English Grammar
Verbs are one of the fundamental components of English grammar, playing a crucial role in expressing actions, states of being, and relationships between different elements in a sentence. Here’s a detailed explanation of verbs in English grammar:
- Definition: A verb is a word that expresses an action, occurrence, or state of being. It conveys what the sentence’s subject does or is.
- Types of verbs:
- Action verbs: These verbs indicate the subject’s physical or mental actions. Examples include “run,” “eat,” “read,” “think,” etc.
- Linking Verbs: These verbs connect the subject of the sentence to a subject complement, which further describes or identifies the subject. Common linking verbs include “is,” “am,” “are,” “was,” “were,” “appear,” “seem,” etc.
- Auxiliary verbs (helping verbs): These verbs assist the main verb in expressing tense, mood, or voice. Examples include “have,” “has,” “had,” “do,” “does,” “did,” “can,” “could,” “may,” “might,” “must,” “shall,” “should,” “will,” “would,” etc.
- Modal verbs: They express necessity, possibility, ability, permission, or obligation. Examples include “can,” “could,” “may,” “might,” “must,” “shall,” “should,” “will,” “would,” etc.
- Transitive Verbs: These verbs require a direct object to complete their meaning. For example, in the sentence “She ate an apple,” “ate” is a transitive verb, and “an apple” is its direct object.
- Intransitive verbs do not require a direct object to complete their meaning. For example, in the sentence “He sleeps,” “sleeps” is an intransitive verb.
- Regular Verbs: These verbs follow a standard pattern for conjugation in different tenses. For example, “walk” (walk, walked, walked).
- Irregular Verbs: These verbs do not follow the regular pattern of conjugation and have unique forms for different tenses. For example, “go” (go, went, gone).
- Functions of verbs:
- Expressing Actions: Verbs convey actions performed by the subject. For example, “She sings beautifully.”
- Indicating States of Being: Verbs can express a state of existence, condition, or identity. For example, “He is happy.”
- Showing Relationships: Verbs link the subject to other elements in the sentence, such as objects, complements, or adverbial phrases. For example, “She seems tired.”
- Expressing Time and Tense: Verbs indicate the time of an action or event through different tenses, such as past, present, and future. For example, “They will arrive tomorrow.”
- Verb Phrases: Sometimes, a single verb may not be enough to convey the intended meaning, especially in complex sentences. We use verb phrases in such cases, combining a main verb with one or more auxiliary verbs. For example, “She has been studying for hours.”
- Subject-Verb Agreement: In terms of number and person, verbs must agree with their subjects. We use singular verbs for singular subjects and plural verbs for plural subjects. For example, “he runs” (singular subject) and “they run” (plural subject).
- Conjugation: Verbs undergo changes in form to indicate tense, mood, voice, aspect, and agreement with the subject. Conjugation refers to the systematic alteration of verbs according to these factors. For example, the verb “to be” conjugates as “am,” “is,” and “are” in the present tense.
- Action Verbs:
- Run:
- Sentence: The athlete ran a marathon.
- Explanation: The action verb “ran” describes the physical action performed by the athlete.
- Eat:
- Sentence: She ate dinner with her family.
- Explanation: The action verb “ate” indicates the action of consuming food performed by the subject “she.”
- Read:
- Sentence: He reads books every night before bed.
- Explanation: The action verb “reads” describes the habitual action of reading performed by the subject “he.”
- Write:
- Sentence: They wrote letters to their grandparents.
- Explanation: The action verb “wrote” indicates the action of composing written messages performed by the subjects “they.”
- Jump:
- Sentence: The kangaroo jumped over the fence.
- Explanation: The action verb “jumped” describes the physical action of leaping performed by the kangaroo.
- Think:
- Sentence: She thinks deeply about the problem.
- Explanation: The action verb “thinks” describes the mental action of contemplating or considering performed by the subject “she.”
- Swim:
- Sentence: We swim in the pool every summer.
- Explanation: The action verb “swim” indicates the physical action of moving through water performed by the subjects “we.”
- Dance:
- Sentence: They danced all night at the party.
- Explanation: The action verb “danced” describes the physical action of moving rhythmically to music performed by the subjects “they.”
- Speak:
- Sentence: He speaks three languages fluently.
- Explanation: The action verb “speaks” indicates the ability to produce words or communicate verbally performed by the subject “he.”
- Build:
- Sentence: The construction workers built a new bridge.
- Explanation: The action verb “built” describes the physical action of creating or assembling performed by the construction workers.
- Write:
- Sentence: She writes poetry in her free time.
- Explanation: The action verb “writes” indicates the activity of composing written material performed by the subject “she.”
- Run:
- Sentence: He runs five miles every morning.
- Explanation: The action verb “runs” describes the physical activity of moving swiftly on foot performed by the subject “he.”
- Jump:
- Sentence: The dog jumps over the fence.
- Explanation: The action verb “jumps” denotes the physical action of propelling oneself off the ground performed by the dog.
- Study:
- Sentence: They study diligently for their exams.
- Explanation: The action verb “study” signifies the mental activity of acquiring knowledge or information performed by the subjects “they.”
- Laugh:
- Sentence: We laugh at funny jokes.
- Explanation: The action verb “laugh” describes the physical action of expressing amusement or joy performed by the subjects “we.”
- Example: jump
- Sentence: The cat jumped over the fence.
- Explanation: The action verb “jumped” indicates the physical action performed by the subject “the cat.”
- Example: run
- Sentence: She runs every morning in the park.
- Explanation: The action verb “runs” indicates the physical action performed by the subject “she.”
- Run:
- Linking Verbs:
- Is:
- Example: She is a doctor.
- Explanation: The linking verb “is” connects the subject “she” to the subject complement “doctor,” describing her profession.
- Am:
- Example: I am tired.
- Explanation: The linking verb “am” connects the subject “I” to the subject complement “tired,” describing the state of being.
- Are:
- Example: They are students.
- Explanation: The linking verb “are” connects the subject “they” to the subject complement “students,” identifying their status.
- Was:
- Example: He was happy.
- Explanation: The linking verb “was” connects the subject “he” to the subject complement “happy,” describing his emotional state.
- Were:
- Example: We were at the park.
- Explanation: The linking verb “were” connects the subject “we” to the subject complement “at the park,” specifying their location.
- Appear:
- Example: She appears confident.
- Explanation: The linking verb “appears” connects the subject “she” to the subject complement “confident,” describing her demeanor.
- Seem:
- Example: It seems complicated.
- Explanation: The linking verb “seems” connects the subject “it” to the subject complement “complicated,” expressing a judgment.
- Become:
- Example: He became a leader.
- Explanation: The linking verb “became” connects the subject “he” to the subject complement “a leader,” indicating a change in status.
- Feel:
- Example: They feel happy.
- Explanation: The linking verb “feel” connects the subject “they” to the subject complement “happy,” describing their emotional state.
- Remain:
- Example: She remains optimistic.
- Explanation: The linking verb “remains” connects the subject “she” to the subject complement “optimistic,” describing her attitude.
- Grow:
- Example: The plants grow tall.
- Explanation: The linking verb “grow” connects the subject “plants” to the subject complement “tall,” describing their physical development.
- Turn:
- Example: The milk turned sour.
- Explanation: The linking verb “turned” connects the subject “milk” to the subject complement “sour,” describing its transformation.
- Smell:
- Example: The flowers smell delightful.
- Explanation: The linking verb “smell” connects the subject “flowers” to the subject complement “delightful,” describing their aroma.
- Taste:
- Example: The soup tastes delicious.
- Explanation: The linking verb “tastes” connects the subject “soup” to the subject complement “delicious,” describing its flavor.
- Sound:
- Example: The music sounds soothing.
- Explanation: The linking verb “sounds” connects the subject “music” to the subject complement “soothing,” describing its auditory effect.
- Look:
- Example: She looks tired.
- Explanation: The linking verb “looks” connects the subject “she” to the subject complement “tired,” describing her appearance.
- Appear:
- Example: He appears upset.
- Explanation: The linking verb “appears” connects the subject “he” to the subject complement “upset,” describing his emotional state.
- Feel:
- Example: The fabric feels soft.
- Explanation: The linking verb “feels” connects the subject “fabric” to the subject complement “soft,” describing its texture.
- Become:
- Example: She became a teacher.
- Explanation: The linking verb “became” connects the subject “she” to the subject complement “a teacher,” indicating a change in occupation.
- Seem:
- Example: It seems impossible.
- Explanation: The linking verb “seems” connects the subject “it” to the subject complement “impossible,” expressing a judgment.
- Example: seem
- Sentence: The movie seems interesting.
- Explanation: The linking verb “seems” connects the subject “the movie” with the subject complement “interesting,” describing the movie’s quality.
- Example: is
- Sentence: The sky is blue.
- Explanation: The linking verb “is” connects the subject “the sky” with the subject complement “blue,” describing a characteristic of the subject.
- Is:
- Auxiliary Verbs (Helping Verbs):
- Have:
- Example: She has finished her homework.
- Explanation: The auxiliary verb “has” helps to indicate the present perfect tense of the main verb “finished.”
- Has:
- Example: He has gone to the store.
- Explanation: The auxiliary verb “has” helps to indicate the present perfect tense of the main verb “gone.”
- Had:
- Example: They had already left when I arrived.
- Explanation: The auxiliary verb “had” helps to indicate the past perfect tense of the main verb “left.”
- Do:
- Example: We do enjoy hiking.
- Explanation: The auxiliary verb “do” helps to form the emphatic present tense of the main verb “enjoy.”
- Does:
- Example: She does not like spicy food.
- Explanation: The auxiliary verb “does” helps to form the negative present tense of the main verb “like.”
- Did:
- Example: He did his homework yesterday.
- Explanation: The auxiliary verb “did” helps to indicate the past tense of the main verb “do.”
- Can:
- Example: They can swim very well.
- Explanation: The auxiliary verb “can” helps to indicate ability in the present tense of the main verb “swim.”
- Could:
- Example: She could speak French fluently when she was younger.
- Explanation: The auxiliary verb “could” helps to indicate ability in the past tense of the main verb “speak.”
- May:
- Example: You may leave early if you finish your work.
- Explanation: The auxiliary verb “may” helps to indicate permission in the present tense of the main verb “leave.”
- Might:
- Example: It might rain later, so take an umbrella.
- Explanation: The auxiliary verb “might” helps to indicate possibility in the present tense of the main verb “rain.”
- Must:
- Example: We must finish this project by Friday.
- Explanation: The auxiliary verb “must” helps to indicate necessity in the present tense of the main verb “finish.”
- Shall:
- Example: I shall call you tomorrow.
- Explanation: The auxiliary verb “shall” helps to indicate future action in the present tense of the main verb “call.”
- Should:
- Example: You should apologize for what you said.
- Explanation: The auxiliary verb “should” helps to indicate advice or recommendation in the present tense of the main verb “apologize.”
- Will:
- Example: She will start her new job next week.
- Explanation: The auxiliary verb “will” helps to indicate future action in the present tense of the main verb “start.”
- Would:
- Example: If I were you, I would take the job.
- Explanation: The auxiliary verb “would” helps to indicate hypothetical situations or polite requests in the present tense of the main verb “take.”
- Example: have
- Sentence: They have finished their dinner.
- Explanation: The auxiliary verb “have” assists the main verb “finished” in expressing the perfect tense.
- Example: have
- Sentence: They have completed their homework.
- Explanation: The auxiliary verb “have” assists the main verb “completed” in expressing the perfect tense.
- Have:
- Modal Verbs:
- Can:
- Example: I can swim.
- Explanation: The modal verb “can” indicates the ability of the subject to swim.
- Could:
- Example: She could speak French fluently when she was younger.
- Explanation: The modal verb “could” indicates past ability or possibility.
- May:
- Example: You may leave early if you finish your work.
- Explanation: The modal verb “may” indicates permission or possibility.
- Might:
- Example: It might rain later, so take an umbrella.
- Explanation: The modal verb “might” indicates a possibility or likelihood of rain.
- Must:
- Example: We must finish this project by Friday.
- Explanation: The modal verb “must” indicates necessity or obligation.
- Shall:
- Example: I shall call you tomorrow.
- Explanation: The modal verb “shall” indicates future action or intention.
- Should:
- Example: You should apologize for what you said.
- Explanation: The modal verb “should” indicates advice or recommendation.
- Will:
- Example: She will start her new job next week.
- Explanation: The modal verb “will” indicates future action or prediction.
- Would:
- Example: If I were you, I would take the job.
- Explanation: The modal verb “would” indicates a hypothetical situation or polite request.
- Ought to:
- Example: You ought to apologize for your mistake.
- Explanation: The modal verb “ought to” indicates moral obligation or duty.
- Need to:
- Example: He needs to finish his homework before bedtime.
- Explanation: The modal verb “need to” indicates necessity or requirement.
- Have to:
- Example: They have to attend the meeting tomorrow.
- Explanation: The modal verb “have to” indicates obligation or compulsion.
- Example: must
- Sentence: You must complete the assignment by tomorrow.
- Explanation: The modal verb “must” expresses obligation, indicating that completing the assignment is necessary.
- Example: can
- Sentence: She can speak Spanish fluently.
- Explanation: The modal verb “can” expresses ability, indicating that the subject “she” has the capability to speak Spanish fluently.
- Can:
- Transitive Verbs:
- at:
- Example: She ate an apple.
- Explanation: The transitive verb “ate” requires a direct object (“an apple”) to complete the action of eating.
- Read:
- Example: He read a book last night.
- Explanation: The transitive verb “read” requires a direct object (“a book”) to complete the action of reading.
- Write:
- Example: They wrote a letter to their friend.
- Explanation: The transitive verb “wrote” requires a direct object (“a letter”) to complete the action of writing.
- Build:
- Example: The workers built a new bridge.
- Explanation: The transitive verb “built” requires a direct object (“a new bridge”) to complete the action of building.
- Cook:
- Example: She cooked dinner for her family.
- Explanation: The transitive verb “cooked” requires a direct object (“dinner”) to complete the action of cooking.
- Play:
- Example: They played a game of chess.
- Explanation: The transitive verb “played” requires a direct object (“a game of chess”) to complete the action of playing.
- Throw:
- Example: He threw the ball to his friend.
- Explanation: The transitive verb “threw” requires a direct object (“the ball”) to complete the action of throwing.
- Open:
- Example: She opened the door for her guests.
- Explanation: The transitive verb “opened” requires a direct object (“the door”) to complete the action of opening.
- Complete:
- Example: They completed the project on time.
- Explanation: The transitive verb “completed” requires a direct object (“the project”) to complete the action of completing.
- Paint:
- Example: He painted a beautiful landscape.
- Explanation: The transitive verb “painted” requires a direct object (“a beautiful landscape”) to complete the action of painting.
- Eat:
- Example: She ate her lunch quickly.
- Explanation: The transitive verb “ate” requires a direct object (“her lunch”) to complete the action of eating.
- Buy:
- Example: He bought a new car last week.
- Explanation: The transitive verb “bought” requires a direct object (“a new car”) to complete the action of buying.
- Fetch:
- Example: The dog fetched the ball.
- Explanation: The transitive verb “fetched” requires a direct object (“the ball”) to complete the action of fetching.
- Find:
- Example: They found the missing keys under the couch.
- Explanation: The transitive verb “found” requires a direct object (“the missing keys”) to complete the action of finding.
- Prepare:
- Example: She prepared a delicious meal for her family.
- Explanation: The transitive verb “prepared” requires a direct object (“a delicious meal”) to complete the action of preparing.
- Fix:
- Example: He fixed the broken window.
- Explanation: The transitive verb “fixed” requires a direct object (“the broken window”) to complete the action of fixing.
- Plant:
- Example: They planted flowers in the garden.
- Explanation: The transitive verb “planted” requires a direct object (“flowers”) to complete the action of planting.
- Pass:
- Example: She passed the ball to her teammate.
- Explanation: The transitive verb “passed” requires a direct object (“the ball”) to complete the action of passing.
- Teach:
- Example: He taught English to foreign students.
- Explanation: The transitive verb “taught” requires a direct object (“English”) to complete the action of teaching.
- Drive:
- Example: She drove her car to work every day.
- Explanation: The transitive verb “drove” requires a direct object (“her car”) to complete the action of driving.
- Example: eat
- Sentence: He ate an apple.
- Explanation: The transitive verb “ate” requires a direct object (“an apple”) to complete its meaning, indicating what was eaten.
- at:
- Intransitive Verbs:
- Example: sleep
- Sentence: She sleeps peacefully.
- Explanation: The intransitive verb “sleeps” does not require a direct object and expresses the action performed by the subject “she.”
- Regular Verbs:
- Example: talk
- Sentence: She talked to her friend yesterday.
- Explanation: The regular verb “talked” follows the standard pattern of conjugation for past tense verbs (“talk, talked, talked”).
- Example: walk
- Sentence: He walked to the store.
- Explanation: The regular verb “walked” follows the standard pattern of conjugation for past tense verbs (“walk, walked, walked”).
- Sleep:
- Example: The baby sleeps peacefully.
- Explanation: The intransitive verb “sleeps” does not require a direct object to complete its meaning. It simply describes the action of sleeping without affecting any other object.
- Laugh:
- Example: They laughed at the funny joke.
- Explanation: The intransitive verb “laughed” describes the action of laughing without requiring a direct object.
- Arrive:
- Example: The train arrived at the station on time.
- Explanation: The intransitive verb “arrived” describes the action of reaching the destination without needing a direct object.
- Run:
- Example: The children ran around the playground.
- Explanation: The intransitive verb “ran” describes the action of running without involving any direct object.
- Wait:
- Example: We waited patiently for the bus.
- Explanation: The intransitive verb “waited” describes the action of waiting without requiring a direct object.
- Cry:
- Example: She cried when she heard the sad news.
- Explanation: The intransitive verb “cried” describes the action of crying without involving any direct object.
- Sing:
- Example: The birds sang melodiously in the morning.
- Explanation: The intransitive verb “sang” describes the action of singing without needing a direct object.
- Disappear:
- Example: The magician made the rabbit disappear.
- Explanation: The intransitive verb “disappear” describes the action of vanishing without requiring a direct object.
- Walk:
- Example: They walked along the beach at sunset.
- Explanation: The intransitive verb “walked” describes the action of walking without involving any direct object.
- Talk:
- Example: He talked about his travels around the world.
- Explanation: The intransitive verb “talked” describes the action of speaking without needing a direct object.
- Dance:
- Example: They danced gracefully at the ball.
- Explanation: The intransitive verb “danced” describes the action of dancing without involving any direct object.
- Jump:
- Example: The cat jumped onto the table.
- Explanation: The intransitive verb “jumped” describes the action of jumping without requiring a direct object.
- Swim:
- Example: We swam in the clear blue water.
- Explanation: The intransitive verb “swam” describes the action of swimming without involving any direct object.
- Sneeze:
- Example: He sneezed loudly due to his allergy.
- Explanation: The intransitive verb “sneezed” describes the action of sneezing without requiring a direct object.
- Fall:
- Example: The leaves fell from the trees in autumn.
- Explanation: The intransitive verb “fell” describes the action of falling without involving any direct object.
- Glow:
- Example: The fireflies glowed in the dark forest.
- Explanation: The intransitive verb “glowed” describes the action of emitting light without needing a direct object.
- Grow:
- Example: The flowers grew quickly in the fertile soil.
- Explanation: The intransitive verb “grew” describes the action of growing without involving any direct object.
- Shine:
- Example: The sun shone brightly in the clear sky.
- Explanation: The intransitive verb “shone” describes the action of shining without requiring a direct object.
- Blink:
- Example: She blinked in surprise at the sudden noise.
- Explanation: The intransitive verb “blinked” describes the action of blinking without involving any direct object.
- Sit:
- Example: They sat quietly on the bench.
- Explanation: The intransitive verb “sat” describes the action of sitting without requiring a direct object.
- Irregular Verbs:
- Example: go
- Sentence: They went to the beach yesterday.
- Explanation: The irregular verb “went” does not follow the regular pattern of conjugation for past tense verbs, having a unique form (“go, went, gone”) for different tenses.
- Go:
- Example: She goes to the gym every morning.
- Explanation: The verb “go” is irregular because its past tense form is “went,” and the past participle is “gone.” Instead of following the typical pattern of adding “-ed” to form the past tense, it changes completely.
- Eat:
- Example: They eat dinner at 7 o’clock.
- Explanation: “Eat” is an irregular verb because its past tense form is “ate,” and the past participle is also “eaten.” It doesn’t follow the regular pattern of adding “-ed” for the past tense.
- See:
- Example: He sees his friends at school.
- Explanation: “See” is irregular because its past tense form is “saw,” and the past participle is “seen.” It changes completely from its base form in the past tense and past participle.
- Take:
- Example: We take the bus to work every day.
- Explanation: “Take” is irregular because its past tense form is “took,” and the past participle is “taken.” It follows a different pattern than regular verbs when conjugated in past tense and past participle.
- Break:
- Example: She breaks the silence with her laughter.
- Explanation: The irregularity of “break” lies in its past tense form, which is “broke,” and its past participle, which is also “broken.” It does not follow the typical “-ed” pattern.
- Bring:
- Example: They bring snacks to the party.
- Explanation: “Bring” is irregular because its past tense form is “brought,” and the past participle is also “brought.” It changes from its base form in both the past tense and past participle forms.
- Choose:
- Example: He chooses the red shirt over the blue one.
- Explanation: “Choose” is irregular because its past tense form is “chose,” and the past participle is “chosen.” It doesn’t follow the typical “-ed” pattern for forming past tense and past participle.
- Drink:
- Example: She drinks a glass of water before bed.
- Explanation: “Drink” is irregular because its past tense form is “drank,” and the past participle is “drunk.” It changes completely from its base form in the past tense and past participle.
- Forget:
- Example: They forget their keys inside the house.
- Explanation: “Forget” is irregular because its past tense form is “forgot,” and the past participle is also “forgotten.” It deviates from the regular pattern of adding “-ed” for the past tense and past participle.
- Leave:
- Example: He leaves for work early in the morning.
- Explanation: “Leave” is irregular because its past tense form is “left,” and the past participle is also “left.” It changes in both past tense and past participle forms from its base form.
- Bring:
In summary, verbs are essential components of English sentences, serving to express actions, states of being, and relationships between different elements. Understanding the types, functions, and usage of verbs is crucial for effective communication in English.
| Verb Type | Examples |
|---|---|
| Verbs Referring to Actions | Walk, run, talk, sit, read, write |
| Verbs Referring to Experiences or Feelings | Love, hate, envy, believe, trust |
| Verbs Referring to a State or Condition | Am, is, are, was, were, have, has, will be |
| Auxiliary Verbs/Helping Verbs | Am, is, are, was, were, have, has, do, will, can |
| Modal Verbs | Can, could, will, would, may, might, should, must, ought to |
| Phrasal Verbs | Look up, run out, back away, break down, give up |
| Linking Verbs | Is, seem, appear, become, feel |
10 Examples of each type of verb with sentences:
Verbs Referring to Actions:
- Walk – She walks to the park every morning.
- Run – The athletes run in the marathon.
- Talk – We talk about our day over dinner.
- Read – He reads novels before bedtime.
- Write – She writes poems in her spare time.
- Jump – The children jump rope in the playground.
- Sing – They sing songs together at the concert.
- Swim – I swim laps at the pool for exercise.
- Dance – We dance at weddings and parties.
- Play – They play soccer in the park on weekends.
Verbs Referring to Experiences or Feelings:
- Love – She loves her family deeply.
- Hate – He hates broccoli with a passion.
- Envy – They envy their neighbor’s new car.
- Believe – I believe in the power of positivity.
- Trust – We trust our friends to keep our secrets.
- Feel – She feels happiness when she’s with friends.
- Experience – They experienced joy during their vacation.
- Care – He cares for his sick grandmother.
- Cherish – We cherish the memories of our childhood.
- Adore – She adores her pet cat and spoils it rotten.
Verbs Referring to a State or Condition:
- Am – I am a teacher at the local school.
- Is – The sky is blue on a clear day.
- Are – They are siblings who get along well.
- Was – He was tired after a long day of work.
- Were – We were excited about the upcoming trip.
- Have – She has a beautiful garden in her backyard.
- Has – He has a keen interest in astronomy.
- Will be – They will be late if they don’t hurry.
- Appear – The stars appear brighter in the countryside.
- Seem – It seems like a good idea to go hiking today.
Auxiliary Verbs/Helping Verbs:
- Am – I am going to the store later.
- Is – She is studying for her exams.
- Are – We are planning a surprise party.
- Was – He was watching TV when I called.
- Were – They were playing soccer in the park.
- Have – She has finished her homework already.
- Has – He has completed the project ahead of schedule.
- Do – We do our best to help others in need.
- Does – She does yoga every morning for relaxation.
- Did – They did their chores before going out to play.
Modal Verbs:
- Can – She can speak three languages fluently.
- Could – He could run faster when he was younger.
- Will – We will help you move into your new apartment.
- Would – They would travel the world if they had the chance.
- May – She may come to the party later tonight.
- Might – He might join us for dinner if he’s available.
- Should – We should study for the exam tomorrow.
- Must – They must finish their homework before bedtime.
- Ought to – You ought to apologize for your mistake.
- Shall – Shall we go for a walk in the park?
Phrasal Verbs:
- Look up – I need to look up the definition of that word.
- Turn off – Please turn off the lights before leaving.
- Give in – She refused to give in to peer pressure.
- Run out – We ran out of milk, so I need to buy more.
- Go all out – They went all out to make the party a success.
- Think through – You should think through your decision carefully.
- Back away – The cat backed away from the loud noise.
- Back up – He asked his friend to back him up in the argument.
- Look up – Can you look up the address on your phone?
- Mix up – I accidentally mixed up the ingredients for the recipe.
Linking Verbs:
- Is – The flower is red.
- Seem – She seems happy today.
- Become – He became a doctor after years of study.
- Appear – The stars appear bright in the night sky.
- Are – They are students at the local university.
- Feel – I feel tired after a long day at work.
- Stay – The weather will stay sunny all day.
- Sound – The music sounds soothing.
- Look – She looks beautiful in that dress.
- Smell – The cookies smell delicious fresh out of the oven.
50 multiple-choice questions (MCQs) along with their answers based on different types of verbs:
Verbs Referring to Actions:
Which of the following is an action verb?
a) Love
b) Hate
c) Run
d) Trust
Answer: c) Run
What type of verb is “write”?
a) Verb referring to experiences or feelings
b) Verb referring to a state or condition
c) Action verb
d) None of the above
Answer: c) Action verb
Identify the action verb in the sentence: “She sings beautifully.”
a) She
b) Beautifully
c) Sings
d) None of the above
Answer: c) Sings
Which of the following is NOT an action verb?
a) Dance
b) Trust
c) Jump
d) Swim
Answer: b) Trust
What type of verb is “talk”?
a) Auxiliary verb
b) Linking verb
c) Action verb
d) Modal verb
Answer: c) Action verb
Verbs Referring to Experiences or Feelings:
Which of the following is an example of a verb referring to feelings?
a) Jump
b) Love
c) Write
d) Swim
Answer: b) Love
What type of verb is “adore”?
a) Action verb
b) Linking verb
c) Modal verb
d) Verb referring to experiences or feelings
Answer: d) Verb referring to experiences or feelings
Identify the verb referring to feelings in the sentence: “He adores his pet dog.”
a) Pet
b) He
c) Adores
d) Dog
Answer: c) Adores
Which of the following is NOT a verb referring to feelings?
a) Hate
b) Jump
c) Appreciate
d) Feel
Answer: b) Jump
What type of verb is “care”?
a) Auxiliary verb
b) Action verb
c) Verb referring to experiences or feelings
d) Modal verb
Answer: c) Verb referring to experiences or feelings
Verbs Referring to a State or Condition:
Which of the following verbs refers to a state or condition?
a) Walk
b) Love
c) Is
d) Sing
Answer: c) Is
What type of verb is “appear”?
a) Linking verb
b) Action verb
c) Modal verb
d) Verb referring to a state or condition
Answer: d) Verb referring to a state or condition
Identify the verb referring to a state or condition in the sentence: “She seems happy.”
a) Happy
b) She
c) Seems
d) None of the above
Answer: c) Seems
Which of the following is NOT a verb referring to a state or condition?
a) Run
b) Was
c) Are
d) Become
Answer: a) Run
What type of verb is “am”?
a) Verb referring to experiences or feelings
b) Auxiliary verb
c) Action verb
d) Phrasal verb
Answer: b) Auxiliary verb
Auxiliary Verbs/Helping Verbs:
Which of the following is an auxiliary verb?
a) Jump
b) Is
c) Love
d) Write
Answer: b) Is
What type of verb is “do”?
a) Linking verb
b) Action verb
c) Auxiliary verb
d) Modal verb
Answer: c) Auxiliary verb
Identify the auxiliary verb in the sentence: “She is reading a book.”
a) She
b) Reading
c) Is
d) Book
Answer: c) Is
Which of the following is NOT an auxiliary verb?
a) Have
b) Can
c) Run
d) Will
Answer: c) Run
What type of verb is “were”?
a) Verb referring to experiences or feelings
b) Modal verb
c) Auxiliary verb
d) Action verb
Answer: c) Auxiliary verb
Modal Verbs:
Which of the following is a modal verb?
a) Walk
b) Can
c) Love
d) Write
Answer: b) Can
What type of verb is “might”?
a) Auxiliary verb
b) Action verb
c) Linking verb
d) Verb referring to experiences or feelings
Answer: a) Auxiliary verb
Identify the modal verb in the sentence: “You should study for the exam.”
a) Study
b) For
c) Should
d) Exam
Answer: c) Should
Which of the following is NOT a modal verb?
a) May
b) Run
c) Must
d) Would
Answer: b) Run
What type of verb is “could”?
a) Verb referring to actions
b) Auxiliary verb
c) Linking verb
d) Phrasal verb
Answer: b) Auxiliary verb
Phrasal Verbs:
Which of the following is a phrasal verb?
a) Trust
b) Jump
c) Look up
d) Sing
Answer: c) Look up
What type of verb is “break down” in the sentence: “The car broke down on the highway”?
a) Action verb
b) Auxiliary verb
c) Modal verb
d) Phrasal verb
Answer: d) Phrasal verb
Identify the phrasal verb in the sentence: “He needs to calm down.”
a) He
b) Needs
c) Calm
d) Down
Answer: c) Calm down
Which of the following is NOT a phrasal verb?
a) Go on
b) Run
c) Set up
d) Turn off
Answer: b) Run
What type of verb is “give up”?
a) Verb referring to experiences or feelings
b) Action verb
c) Linking verb
d) Phrasal verb
Answer: d) Phrasal verb
Linking Verbs:
Which of the following is a linking verb?
a) Dance
b) Is
c) Jump
d) Swim
Answer: b) Is
What type of verb is “appear”?
a) Action verb
b) Auxiliary verb
c) Linking verb
d) Phrasal verb
Answer: c) Linking verb
Identify the linking verb in the sentence: “She looks tired.”
a) She
b) Looks
c) Tired
d) None of the above
Answer: b) Looks
Which of the following is NOT a linking verb?
a) Feel
b) Seem
c) Run
d) Become
Answer: c) Run
What type of verb is “feel”?
a) Verb referring to actions
b) Auxiliary verb
c) Linking verb
d) Phrasal verb
Answer: c) Linking verb
