Let’s start with the verb definition and examples
What is a Verb?
A verb is a word that expresses:
- an action (run, write, eat),
- a state of being (is, am, are),
- or a condition (seem, become).
Example: She writes a letter.
1. Main Verbs (Lexical Verbs)
Main verbs carry the primary meaning of a sentence.
Examples:
- Run, eat, think, read, play
He plays cricket.
Types of Main Verbs:
a) Action Verbs
Show physical or mental action.
- Physical action: run, jump, hit
- She runs fast.
- Mental action: think, believe, remember,
- I believe you.
b) State (Stative) Verbs
Show a state or condition, not an action.
Common stative verbs:
- emotions: love, hate, like
- senses: see, hear, smell
- possession: have, own
- thoughts: know, understand
She knows the answer.
Stative verbs are usually not used in the continuous tense.
❌ I am knowing
✅ I know
c) Linking Verbs
Do not show action; they link the subject to more information.
Common linking verbs:
- be (is, am, are, was, were)
- seem, appear, become, feel, look
Examples:
She is happy.
He became a doctor.
2. Auxiliary Verbs (Helping Verbs)
Auxiliary verbs help the main verb form tense, mood, or voice.
Common auxiliary verbs:
- be (is, am, are, was, were)
- have (has, have, had)
- do (do, does, did)
Examples:-
She is reading.
They have finished.
Do you like tea?
3. Modal Verbs
Modal verbs indicate possibility, ability, permission, obligation, and other related concepts.
Common modal verbs:
Can, could, may, might, must, shall, should, will, would
Uses:
-
- Ability: can, could
- She can swim.
- Permission: may, can
- May I come in?
- Obligation: must, should
- You must follow the rules.
- Possibility: might, could
- It might rain.
Modal verbs:
- do not change form
- are followed by the base verb
Examples:-
He can go. (not can goes)
4. Transitive and Intransitive Verbs
a) Transitive Verbs
Need an object to complete the meaning.
- She wrote a letter.
(“a letter” = object)
b) Intransitive Verbs
Do not need an object.
- He slept peacefully.
Some verbs can be both:
- She reads a book. (transitive)
She reads daily. (intransitive)
5. Finite and Non-Finite Verbs
a) Finite Verbs
Change according to tense, number, and person.
- He writes well.
They write well.
b) Non-Finite Verbs
Do not change with subject or tense.
Types of non-finite verbs:
i) Infinitives
- to + base verb (to eat, to go)
She wants to learn.
ii) Gerunds
- verb + ing (used as a noun)
Swimming is good exercise.
iii) Participles
- Present participle: verb + ing
- The crying baby
- Past participle: verb + ed / irregular form
- A broken glass
6. Regular and Irregular Verbs
a) Regular Verbs
Form the past tense by adding -ed.
play → played → played
work → worked → worked
b) Irregular Verbs
Do not follow a fixed pattern.
go → went → gone
eat → ate → eaten
write → wrote → written
7. Phrasal Verbs
A combination of a verb + preposition/adverb with a new meaning.
look after = take care of
give up = stop
run out = finish
Examples:-
She gave up smoking.
Read More:-
Adjective definition and examples
I hope you like the verb definition and examples