Verbs - Definition, Types, Uses and Examples
Verb
Verb is defined as a word which is used to describe an action, state, or occurrence, and forming the main part of the predicate of a sentence. Verbs always express activity , whether mental activity or physical activity.
The Oxford Learners’ Dictionary defines a ‘verb’ as “a word or group of words that express an action (such as eat), an event (such as happen) or a state (such as exist)”. According to the Cambridge Dictionary, a ‘verb’ is defined as “a word or phrase that describes an action, condition, or experience”.
Verbs Referring to Actions
Verbs referring to action (action verbs) are those that involve the movement of one’s body in one way or the other. Some examples of verbs referring to actions are as follows:
- Walk
- Run
- Talk
- Sit
- Read
- Write
- Jog
- Tow
- Toss
- Hug
- Cough
- Sleep
- Jump
- Sing
- Drink
- Teach
- Present
- Build
- Break
- Fight
Verbs Referring to Experiences or Feelings
These are verbs that refer to something that you can feel or experience and do not necessarily involve a movement of any kind. Some examples of verbs referring to feelings and experiences are as follows:
- Love
- Hate
- Envy
- Believe
- Trust
- Feel
- Entrust
- Experience
- Care
- Cherish
- Sense
- Know
- Recognise
- Understand
- Comprehend
- Like
- Need
- Adore
- Loathe
- Appreciate
Verbs Referring to a State or Condition
These verbs are those that refer to situations or the state of being. All forms of ‘to be’ verbs belong to this category. Some examples of verbs referring to a state or condition are as follows:
- Am
- Is
- Are
- Was
- Were
- Have
- Has
- Will be
- Appear
- Seem
- Become
- Been
- Being
Auxiliary Verbs/Helping Verbs
Auxiliary verbs or helping verbs, as the name suggests, is a verb that is used to help another verb sound sensible and meaningful. It is used to change the other verb’s tense, mood or voice. So, every time an auxiliary verb is used, you always have one more verb, which acts as the main verb in a sentence.
Examples of auxiliary verbs are as follows:
- Am
- Is
- Are
- Was
- Were
- Have
- Has
- Do
- Will
- Can
Modal Verbs
Modal verbs are those verbs that are used to denote the possibility, probability, capability or necessity of something happening. Modal verbs, unlike other auxiliary verbs, cannot be used as a main verb in a sentence.
Examples of modal verbs are as follows:
- Can
- Could
- Will
- Would
- May
- Might
- Should
- Must
- Ought to
Phrasal Verbs
Phrasal verbs include phrases that are formed by combining two or more parts of speech that performs the same function as a verb in a sentence. In most cases, a phrasal verb results from a combination of a verb and a preposition.
Some examples of phrasal verbs are as follows:
- Go by
- Lay off
- Log in
- Get off
- Run out
- Go all out
- Think through
- Fed up
- Taken aback
- Act on
- Back away
- Back up
- Look up
- Mix up
- Opt out
- Pop in
Regular Verbs and Irregular Verbs
Regular Verb:
The verbs like ‘Cook’ used in the sentence ,in which we make past tense by adding -d or -ed are known as regular verbs. For example :
(Work-worked-worked), (stop-stopped-stopped), (laugh-laughed-laughed), etc.
Irregular Verb:
The verbs , in which we do not add -d or -ed to make Past Tense are known as Irregular Verbs , For Example :
(bring-brought-brought), (eat-ate-eaten), (go-went-gone), etc
Transitive and Intransitive Verb :
A verb which has an object is called a transitive verb Means the verbs which cannot be used without an object . For example : throw, buy, hit, love.
He throw a stone (Using a stone is a must to define the activity)
A verb which do not require an object are called Intransitive Verbs. For example : go, come, walk, listen.
He walks (We don’t need an object to define activity).