Verb | Definition, Types, Examples & Listings

Below is a complete guide to English verbs that covers everything from their definition and types to their gender, number, case, functions, and usage. So, we provide a comprehensive understanding of the role of verbs in the English language.

Define Verb With Examples

A verb is a word that expresses an action, either physical or mental. Verbs also describe a state of being, condition, and action. Verbs are like be, become, or exist.

Examples

• True Love exists
• Jeffrey builds a house
• Anita is thinking about horses

Verbs that function as auxiliaries can change the tense of another verb. Moreover, they can be utilized with negative words such as “not” to make negative statements.

• She has been running for a month and already feels her stamina increasing.
• I do not feel so good.

Each sentence needs at least one verb. In the event that there is no verb, it is an incomplete sentence or a sentence fragment. With the exception of basic sentences(commands), a sentence also needs a subject, the thing doing the action. Subjects are important for a verb because they change how it is informed. This is particularly legal for the most common verb is be.

Verb Examples (Sentences)

• I run to get the train.
• She eats too much food.
• We play games together.
• He reads a story before bed.
• They drink water after running.
• I write a letter to my friend.
• She sings a song in the music class.
• We walk to the market together.
• He jumps over the small wall.
• I watch TV in the evening.
• She cooks dinner for her family.
• They listen to the teacher carefully.
• He drives a boat well.
• I help the man to cross road.
• She laughs too high.

Types of Verbs

1. Dynamic (Action) Verbs
2. Stative(State-Of-Being) Verbs
3. Auxiliary (Helping) Verbs
4. Transitive and Intransitive Verb
5. Modal Verbs
6. Phrasal Verbs
7. Gerunds Verbs
8. Linking Verbs
9. Action Verbs

Define Dynamic (action) Verbs With Examples

Most verbs describe an actual activity or movement, something external that should be visible or heard. These action words are officially known as dynamic verbs, but can also be called action or event verbs.

Example:

• Say
• Laugh
• Swim
• Walk
• Play
• Drink
• Sing
• Dance
• Eat
• Talk

There is plenty of activities that happen in our mind and feeling. Which are not external. Verbs that describe mental or internal actions are as yet unique verbs. But they’re not always so obvious. These contain process verbs, which describe actions of transition.

Examples: Guess, consider, change, live, endure, grow, succeed, and fail.

Define Stative Verbs With Examples

The opposite of dynamic verbs of action is a state of verb being. Stative verbs are used to describe a subject’s state of being or feelings, such as likes and dislikes.

Examples:

• Hate
• Prefer
• Involve
• Love
• Want
• Like
• Dislike
• Seem
• Need
• Know
• Believe
• Realize
• Understand

The important part of the stative verb is that you can’t use them in continuous tenses. Stative verbs stick to the simple basic tenses or infrequently utilize the ideal. Verbs that can be both dynamic and stative present a challenge in determining their usage, depending on their meaning and the context in which they are used.

Verbs that can be Dynamic and Stative

A lot of verbs have more than one meaning, so they can be utilized as dynamic or stative. Smell, see, taste, hear, and feel are some perception words. At the point when perception verbs are used as a compulsory action. When verbs are used in a general sense to describe an ongoing state of being, this concept is applicable. In the case of passive or unintentional actions, they fall under the category of stative verbs.

Examples:

• The cake actually tastes extraordinary regardless of whether it’s not your birthday.
• I can’t see without my glasses.

Dynamic

Verbs become dynamic when used to describe voluntary actions that are specific, deliberate, and/or temporary. In addition to other things, it implies they can be used in continuous tenses.

Examples:

• I haven’t been seeing great since I lost my glasses.
• We were tasting cakes for the wedding throughout the evening.

Define Auxiliary Verbs With Examples

Auxiliary verbs (also called helping verbs) include verbs, for example, be, do, and have. They’re used in combination with another(primary) verb to adjust its meaning. Auxiliary verbs can be used to indicate tense, mindset, and voice. They’re also used to form negative statements when used with words, for example not and never. Auxiliary verbs should be conjugated for tense and person (e.g., “I am,” “she was”).

Examples:

• Am
• Is
• Are
• Was
• Were
• Have
• Has
• Had
• Do
• Does
• Did
• Will
• Shall
• Can
• Could

Sentences

• The door was
• I am
• It is been a week since Alicia and I not talking.
• Did you enjoy the meal?

Define Transitive and Intransitive Verb With Examples

Transitive Verb

A transitive verb is a verb that follows up on a person or thing and in this way takes an immediate item (the thing being acted upon).

Examples:

• I eat an apple. → “apple” is the object.
• She reads a book. → “book” is the object.
• They play football. → “football” is the object.

Sentences:

• Toby buys groceries.
• Kelly asks a question.

Intransitive

verb don’t follow up on a person or thing and in this manner don’t take an immediate item. While an intransitive verb doesn’t take an immediate object, it can be used along with an adverb or adverbial phrase (as can a transitive verb).

Examples:

• He runs every morning. → No object needed.
• She sleeps at night. → No object needed.
• They laugh loudly. → No object needed.

Sentences:

• Rida coughed on me!
• Rida coughed
• Rida coughed.

A few verbs are ditransitive, meaning they have two items, a direct object and an indirect object (usually the person for whom the activity is being performed).

Example:

• Amir reads me a book.

Define Modal Verbs With Examples

Modal verbs are auxiliary verbs that are used along with another(primary)verb to express ability, permission, possibility, need, or commitment. The main modal verbs are can, could, may, might, must, should, ought to, will, and would. Modular verbs do not change form.

Examples:

• Can
• Could
• May
• Might
• Shall
• Should
• Will
• Would
• Must
• Ought to

Sentences:

• Martin should speak a little louder.
• I can read Arabic and Hebrew.
• Talia should consider performing at the talent show.

Define Regular & Irregular Verbs With Examples

Regular Verbs

Define Phrasal Verbs With Examples

A phrasal verb is a combination of a verb and one or more particles, such as an adverb or preposition, that together function as a single unit to convey a specific meaning that may be different from the literal meanings of the individual words. For example, when the verb kick is combined with the preposition off, the resulting phrasal verb kick-off means to start or begin something.

Example:

• Look after → I look after my little brother. (take care of)
• Give up → She gave up smoking. (stop)
• Pick up → He picked up the bag. (lift or learn)

Define Gerunds Verbs With Examples

A gerund is a noun that takes the present participle (ing) type of verb. Gerunds typically describe a similar activity as the verb from which they are formed.

Example:

• Eating pizza and burgers is good for you.
• Swimming is fun. → Swimming is the subject.
• I enjoy reading. → Reading is the object.
• He loves writing stories. → Writing is the object.

Define Linking Verbs With Examples

A linking verb, also known as a copular verb, connects the subject of a sentence to a subject complement, which can be a noun, pronoun, or adjective that describes or renames the subject. Common linking verbs include the verbs be, appear, become, and feel.

• am
• is
• are
• was
• were
• be
• been
• become
• seem
• appear

Examples in sentences:

• She is happy. → “is” links “she” to “happy.”
• He seems tired. → “seems” links “he” to “tired.”
• They are students. → “are” links “they” to “students.”

Define Action Verbs With Examples

It is a type of verb that describes an action or movement that is performed by the subject of a sentence.

Examples: run, jump, sing, dance, write, eat, cook, drive, and so on.

List of Verbs

Forms of Verbs

There are three forms that are usually used for verbs:

1. Base Form / Infinitive – the first form of verbs like simpl (e.g., go, eat, play)
2. Past Form – tells about the past actions (e.g., went, ate, played)
3. Past Participle – it is used to make perfect tense with has/have/had (e.g., gone, eaten, played)

Some verbs also have a present participle in this the verb is writing with (ing) like : going, eating, playing.

Here’s a small table example:

Verb FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

What is a verb with an example?

A verb is a word that expresses an action, either physical or mental. Verbs also describe a state of being, condition, and action. Verbs are like be, become, or exist. Example: True Love exists.

What are the 3 types of verbs?

1. Dynamic (Action) Verbs
2. Stative(State-Of-Being) Verbs
3. Auxiliary (Helping) Verbs

What are the 10 examples of verbs?

1. Run
2. Dance
3. Slide
4. Jump
5. Think
6. Do
7. Go
8. Stand
9. Eat
10. Can