What is a Verb?
A verb is a word that describes an action performed by the subject of a sentence, an occurrence, or a state of being.
Key Features of Verbs
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Verbs express physical or mental actions (such as run, think, eat).
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They can also describe events or occurrences (such as happen, become, develop).
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Verbs indicate states of being, conditions, or experiences (like be, exist, feel).
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Every grammatically complete sentence needs at least one verb.
Examples
| Sentence | Verb | Type |
|---|---|---|
| She runs every day. | runs | Action |
| It is cold outside. | is | State |
| The caterpillar became a butterfly. | became | Occurrence |
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Action verbs: jump, write, sing
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Linking verbs: be, seem, become
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Helping (auxiliary) verbs: have, will, do
Verbs change form to show tense (past, present, future), aspect, mood, and agreement with the subject in number and person.
Verbs are essential words that tell what the subject does, feels, or experiences in any sentence.
A verb is a word that expresses an action, an occurrence, or a state of being. It is one of the main parts of speech in English and is often called the “doing word.”
Types of Verbs:
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Action Verbs – Show what someone or something does.
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run, jump, write, eat
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Example: She runs every morning.
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Linking Verbs – Connect the subject to additional information about it (often forms of to be).
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am, is, are, was, were, become, seem
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Example: He is a teacher.
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Helping (Auxiliary) Verbs – Work with main verbs to show tense, mood, or voice.
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have, has, had, will, shall, can, may, do, does, did
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Example: She is reading a book.
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Key Points:
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Every complete sentence needs a verb.
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Verbs can change form to show tense (past, present, future), number (singular/plural), and person (first, second, third).
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Some verbs are regular (play → played) and others irregular (go → went).
A verb is a word that is the crucial part of a sentence, as it expresses:
- A physical action (e.g., run, write, kick)
- A mental action (e.g., think, believe, consider)
- An occurrence (e.g., happen, become, snow)
- A state of being (e.g., is, am, are, exist, seem)
Every complete sentence must contain at least one verb. Verbs are often used to describe what the subject of the sentence is doing or what its condition is.
Examples:
- She runs every morning. (Physical action)
- They believe in honesty. (Mental action/State)
- The sun was bright. (State of being/Linking verb)
- It has been raining all day. (Occurrence/Action, using auxiliary verbs)
Verbs change form (conjugate) to indicate things like tense (past, present, future) and agreement with the subject (singular or plural).
A verb is a word that expresses an action, occurrence, or state of being. It describes what someone or something does, is, or experiences. Verbs are essential in sentences, as they convey the main activity or condition and often indicate tense, mood, or aspect. Examples include “run,” “think,” “is,” and “happen.” In a sentence like “She walks to school,” “walks” is the verb, showing the action.
