Verb
Verbs
What is a verb?
A verb is one of the main parts of a sentence or question in English.
In fact, you can’t have a sentence or a question without a verb! That’s how important these “action” parts of speech are. A verb, from the Latin verbum meaning word, is a word (part of speech) that in syntax conveys an action (bring, read, walk, run, learn), an occurrence (happen, become), or a state of being (be, exist, stand). In the usual description of English, the basic form, with or without the particle to, is the infinitive. In many languages, verbs are inflected (modified in form) to encode tense, aspect, mood, and voice. A verb may also agree with the person, gender, and/or number of some of its arguments, such as its subject, or object. Verbs have tenses: present, to indicate that an action is being carried out; past, to indicate that an action has been done; future, to indicate that an action will be done.
The verb signals an action, an occurrence, or a state of being. Whether mental, physical, or mechanical, verbs always express activity.
1. Physical Verbs – Definition and Examples
Physical verbs are action verbs. They describe specific physical actions. If you can create a motion with your body or use a tool to complete an action, the word you use to describe it is most likely a physical verb.
Physical Verb Examples
The physical verb examples in the following sentences are in bold for easy identification.
Let’s run to the corner and back.
I hear the train coming.
Call me when you’re finished with class.
2. Mental Verbs – Definition and Examples
Mental verbs have meanings that are related to concepts such as discovering, understanding, thinking, or planning. In general, a mental verb refers to a cognitive state.
Mental Verb Examples
The mental verb examples in the following sentences are in bold for easy identification.
I know the answer.
She recognized me from across the room.
Do you believe everything people tell you?
3. States of Being Verbs – Definition and Examples
Also known as linking verbs, state of being verbs describe conditions or situations that exist. State of being verbs are inactive since no action is being performed. These verbs are usually complemented by adjectives.
States of Being Verb Examples
The state of being verbs in the following sentences are in bold for easy identification.
I am a student.
We are circus performers.
Please is quiet.
Types of Verbs
How many types of verbs are there? In addition to the main categories of physical verbs, mental verbs, and state of being verbs, there are several other types of verbs. In fact, there are more than ten different types of verbs that are grouped by function.
List of all Verb Types
Action Verbs
Action verbs express specific actions, and are used any time you want to show action or discuss someone doing something. An action verb expresses an activity that a person or thing can do. For example:
Lee eats cake.
(Eating is something Lee can do.)
The bear chased the salmon in the shallow rapids.
(Chasing is something the bear can do.)
Compare those verbs with these:
Lee likes cake.
(Liking is not an activity. It's a state.)
The bear is hungry.
(Being is not an activity. It's a state.)
Transitive Verbs
Transitive verbs are action verbs that always express doable activities. These verbs always have direct objects, meaning someone or something receives the action of the verb. A transitive verb is followed by a noun or noun phrase. These noun phrases are not called predicate nouns, but are instead called direct objects because they refer to the object that is being acted upon. For example: "My friend read the newspaper." "The teenager earned a speeding ticket."
A way to identify a transitive verb is to invert the sentence, making it passive. For example: "The newspaper was read by my friend." "A speeding ticket was earned by the teenager."
Intransitive Verbs
Intransitive verbs are action verbs that always express doable activities. No direct object follows an intransitive verb.An intransitive verb is one that does not have a direct object. Intransitive verbs may be followed by an adverb (a word that addresses how, where, when, and how often) or end a sentence. For example: "The woman spoke softly." "The athlete ran faster than the official." "The boy wept."
Auxiliary Verbs
An auxiliary verb (or a helping verb as it's also called) accompanies a main verb to help express its tense, mood, or voice. The most common auxiliary verbs are be, do, and have. You will see these in the following forms:
Be: am, is, are, was, were, being, been
Do: does, do, did
Have: has, have, had, having
Modal auxiliary verbs are also auxiliary verbs. They are can, could, may, might, must, ought to, shall, should, will, and would. (These never change their forms.)
Examples of Auxiliary Verbs
Here are some examples of auxiliary verbs expressing tense (main verbs in bold):
I have been sitting here since 7 o'clock.
Sarah was waiting for the shark to reappear.
John will have broken the record by then.
Here are some examples of auxiliary verbs expressing voice:
Unfortunately, our dessert has been eaten by the dog.
The phone will be disconnected tomorrow.
Here are some examples of auxiliary verbs being used to express mood:
If he should arrive, tell him to leave.
If he were to arrive in the next 10 minutes, we would still be on track.
Auxiliary Verbs and Verb Phrases
A verb phrase is made up of the auxiliary verb(s) and the main verb. In the examples below, the verb phrase is shaded with main verb in bold:
Rose has been drinking since breakfast.
Peter is taking you to the airport.
Be aware that any adverbs which appear alongside or inside the verb phrase are not part of the verb phrase. For example:
Rose has been drinking heavily since breakfast.
(The adverb heavily is not part of the verb phrase.)
Peter is definitely taking you to the airport.
(The adverb definitely is not part of the verb phrase.)
Stative Verbs
Stative verbs can be recognized because they express a state rather than an action. They typically relate to thoughts, emotions, relationships, senses, states of being, and measurements. A stative verb expresses a state rather than an action. A stative verb typically relates to a state of being, a thought, or an emotion. For example:
I am at home.
She believes in fairies.
He feels elated.
Modal Verbs
Modal verbs are auxiliary verbs that are used to express abilities, possibilities, permissions, and obligations. A modal verb is a type of auxiliary verb used to express ideas such as ability, possibility, permission, and obligation. The modal auxiliary verbs are can, could, may, might, must, ought to, shall, should, will, and would. For example:
Lee can eat a lot of pies.
(Here, the modal verb can helps to express the idea of ability.)
Lee might eat that pie before he gets home.
(Here, the modal verb might helps to express the idea of possibility.)
Lee may eat as many pies as he likes.
(Here, the modal verb may helps to express the idea of permission.)
Lee should give you some of that pie given you bought it.
(Here, the modal verb should helps to express the idea of obligation.)
Phrasal Verbs
Phrasal verbs aren’t single words; instead, they are combinations of words that are used together to take on a different meaning to that of the original verb. A phrasal verb is a verb made up of more than one word (usually two words). A phrasal verb has a main verb and another word (either a preposition or a particle). The phrasal verb usually has a meaning different to the main verb. For example:
A burglar will often break a window to break in.
(Here, the phrasal verb break in means to enter illegally, which is different to break.)
If you drop the baton the team will drop back to last place.
(Here, the phrasal verb drop back means to fall behind, which is different to drop.)
Irregular Verbs
Irregular verbs are those that don’t take on the regular spelling patterns of past simple and past participle verbs. Irregular Verbs Are Very Common
An irregular verb is one that does not conform to the usual rule for forming its simple past tense and its past participle.
In English, the "usual" rule (more on this below) is to add -ed or -d to the base form of the verb to create the past forms.
This is how a regular verb forms its simple past tense and past participle. (Note: There are spelling rules to consider too.)
Read more about the spelling rules with regular verbs.
Irregular Verbs Can Be Strong or Weak Verbs
An irregular verb can be either a weak verb (when its past forms end –d or –t) or a strong verb. Here are some examples of strong and weak irregular verbs:
Base Form Simple Past Tense Past Participle comment
grow grew has grown irregular verb (strong)
freeze froze has frozen irregular verb (strong)
tell told has told irregular verb (weak)
shoot shot has shot irregular verb (weak)
A number of sources state that the terms irregular verb and strong verb are synonyms (i.e., they mean the same). Likewise, they claim that the terms regular verb and weak verb are synonyms.
It would be easier for us all if this were the only story. Unfortunately, here at Grammar Monster, we don’t get to decide how to classify verbs. Still, here is a Venn diagram which explains the complicated version of how they are classified:
It is somewhat ironic that the most regularly used verbs in English are irregular. They are:
Base Form Simple Past Tense Past Participle
be was/were has been
come came has come
get got has got ()
gotten ()
go went has gone
know knew has known
make made has made
say said has said
see saw has seen
take took has taken
think thought has thought
With an irregular verb, the past form and past participle are often different (but not always). For example:
Irregular Verb Simple Past Tense Past Participle
To begin began has begun
To break broke has broken
To buy bought has bought
Now, contrast those irregular forms with those of regular verbs, which just add -ed or -d:
Regular Verb Past Form Past Participle
To cook cooked has cooked
To play played has played
To dance danced has danced
The Most Common Irregular Verbs in English
Listed below are the most common irregular verbs in English:
Irregular Verb Past Simple Past Participle
arise arose arisen
be was/were been
beat beat beaten
become became become
bend bent bent
begin began begun
bet bet bet
bind bound bound
bite bit bitten
bleed bled bled
blow blew blown
break broke broken
breed bred bred
bring brought brought
build built built
buy bought bought
catch caught caught
choose chose chosen
come came come
cost cost cost
cut cut cut
deal dealt dealt
dig dug dug
do did done
draw drew drawn
drink drank drunk
drive drove driven
eat ate eaten
fall fell fallen
feed fed fed
feel felt felt
fight fought fought
find found found
fly flew flown
forbid forbade forbidden
forget forgot forgotten
forgive forgave forgiven
freeze froze frozen
get got got ()
gotten ()
give gave given
go went gone
grow grew grown
have had had
hear heard heard
hide hid hidden
hit hit hit
hold held held
hurt hurt hurt
keep kept kept
know knew known
lay laid laid
lead led led
leave left left
lend lent lent
let let let
lie lay lain
light lit lit
lose lost lost
make made made
mean meant meant
meet met met
pay paid paid
put put put
quit quit quit
read read read
ride rode ridden
ring rang rung
rise rose risen
run ran run
say said said
see saw seen
sell sold sold
send sent sent
set set set
shake shook shaken
shine shone shone
shoot shot shot
show showed shown
shut shut shut
sing sang sung
sink sank sunk
sit sat sat
sleep slept slept
slide slid slid
speak spoke spoken
spend spent spent
spin spun spun
spread spread spread
stand stood stood
steal stole stolen
stick stuck stuck
sting stung stung
strike struck struck
swear swore sworn
sweep swept swept
swim swam swum
swing swung swung
take took taken
teach taught taught
tear tore torn
tell told told
think thought thought
throw threw thrown
understand understood understood
wake woke woken
wear wore worn
win won won
withdraw withdrew withdrawn
write wrote written
Verbs with Irregular and Regular Forms
The following verbs can be regular or irregular:
Verb Past Simple Past Participle
burn burned OR burnt burned OR burnt
dream dreamed OR dreamt dreamed OR dreamt
learn learned OR learnt learned OR learnt
hang hung
also hanged hung
also hanged
smell smelled OR smelt smelled OR smelt
spell spelled OR spelt spelled OR spelt
The second form (e.g. learnt, dreamt) is more common in British English.
Irregular Verbs That Don't Change
Verbs that have the same form in Present, Past and Past Participle form:
Verb Past Simple Past Participle
bet bet bet
broadcast broadcast broadcast
cut cut cut
hit hit hit
hurt hurt hurt
let let let
put put put
quit quit quit
read read read
set set set
shut shut shut
spread spread spread
Double transitive verbs
Double transitive verbs (sometimes called Vc verbs after the verb consider) are followed by a noun phrase that serves as a direct object and then a second noun phrase, adjective, or infinitive phrase. The second element (noun phrase, adjective, or infinitive) is called a complement, which completes a clause that would not otherwise have the same meaning. For example: "The young couple considers the neighbors wealthy people." "Some students perceive adults quite inaccurately." "Sarah deemed her project to be the hardest she has ever completed."
Copular verbs
Copular verbs (aka linking verbs) can't be followed by an adverb or end a sentence, but instead must be followed by a noun or adjective, whether in a single word or phrase. Common copulae include be, seem, become, appear, look, and remain. For example: "His mother looked worried." "Josh remained a reliable friend." Copulae are thought to 'link' the adjective or noun to the subject.
nifested in eight forms: be, is, am, are, was, were, been, and being. These verbs precede nouns or adjectives in a sentence, which become predicate nouns and predicate adjectives similar to those that function with a linking verb. They can also be followed by an adverb of place, which is sometimes referred to as a predicate adverb. For example: "Her daughter was a writing tutor." "The singers were very nervous." "My house is down the street."
