Verbs

In the English language, verbs play a crucial role as they indicate the actions performed by the subject. They consist not only of physical actions but also emotions and states of being. Verbs have various types and forms. In this article, we will discuss about verbs, their types, examples and worksheets.

Verbs Definition

According to the Oxford Learners’ Dictionary, a verb is described 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).” The Cambridge Dictionary defines a verb as “a word or phrase that describes an action, condition, or experience.” Meanwhile, the Collins Dictionary offers a more detailed explanation, stating that “A verb is a word such as ‘sing,’ ‘feel,’ or ‘die’ which is used with a subject to say what someone or something does or what happens to them, or to give information about them.”

Verbs Classification

Verbs can be broadly classified based on the type of action they signify. The lists below provide examples of these different types of verbs.

Verbs Referring to Actions:

• Walk
• Run
• Talk
• Sit
• Read
• Write
• Jog
• Cough
• Sleep
• Jump

Verbs Referring to Experiences or Feelings:

• Love
• Hate
• Envy
• Believe
• Trust
• Feel
• Entrust
• Experience
• Care
• Cherish

Verbs Referring to a State or Condition:

• Am
• Is
• Are
• Was
• Were
• Have
• Has
• Will be
• Appear
• Seem

Also Check: Possessive Pronouns

Auxiliary Verbs

As the name implies, auxiliary Verbs/Helping Verbs assist other verbs in expressing tense, mood, or voice. They contribute to the grammatical structure of a sentence, supporting the main verb to convey meaning effectively.

Examples of auxiliary verbs include:

• Am
• Is
• Are
• Was
• Were
• Have
• Has
• Do
• Will
• Can

It’s essential to use auxiliary verbs correctly according to the tense of the sentence. Additionally, auxiliary verbs can also function as main verbs in some cases.

Modal Verbs

Modal verbs denote various degrees of possibility, necessity, or obligation in a sentence. Unlike other auxiliary verbs, modal verbs cannot function as the main verb in a sentence. Here are some common examples of modal verbs.

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

Phrasal Verbs

Phrasal verbs combine a verb with one or more particles, precisely prepositions or adverbs, to convey a single idea. Below given are examples of common phrasal verbs:

• 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
• Lookup
• Mix up
• Opt-out
• Pop in

Linking verbs

Linking verbs connect the subject of a sentence with its complement, which can be a noun, pronoun, adjective, or phrase. They do not express action but rather describe a state of being or a condition. Common linking verbs include forms of “to be” (am, is, are, was, were, etc.) as well as verbs like “seem” and “become.”Example 1: Connecting Nouns to Other Nouns in a Sentence

The weather seems pleasant today.

Here, the linking verb “seems” connects the subject “weather” with the adjective complement “pleasant.” The verb “seems” describes the state or condition of the weather, indicating that it appears or feels pleasant on the specified day.

Classifications of Verbs

Verbs can be classified into different categories based on their behaviour and usage in a sentence. Below given are the categories of verbs.

Regular Verbs and Irregular Verbs:

Regular verbs follow a predictable pattern when conjugated to show different tenses. Typically, the past form of a regular verb is formed by adding “-ed” to the base form. For example, “search” becomes “searched” in the past tense. Irregular verbs, on the other hand, do not follow this pattern and have unique past tense forms. For example, “read” remains the same in both the present and past tense forms.

Examples:

• Dileep searched for his white shirt but did not find it. (Regular verb)
• Selena read the book on the evolution of life on earth. (Irregular verb)

Also Check: JEE Foundation Course

Transitive Verbs and Intransitive Verbs:

Transitive verbs require a direct object to complete their meaning, while intransitive verbs do not take a direct object.

Examples:

• Vincent gave a box of chocolates to his brother. (Transitive verb: “gave”)
• The little girl ran around the park for two hours. (Intransitive verb: “ran”)

Ditransitive Verbs:

Ditransitive verbs can take both direct and indirect objects in a sentence.

Example:

Garry passed the water bottle to Kevin, who was sitting in the first row. (Ditransitive verb: “passed”)

Verbs Worksheet

1. Identify the verb in the sentence: “The birds are chirping loudly.”
2. Rewrite the sentence using a different verb: “The children play in the park every afternoon.”
3. Fill in the blank with the correct verb form: “She ___________ her homework every evening.”
4. Circle the verb in the sentence: “The cat sat on the window sill.”
5. Change the verb tense in the sentence: “She writes a letter to her friend.”
6. Choose the correct verb to complete the sentence: “The sun ________ brightly in the sky.”

1. a) shine
2. b) shines
3. c) shining

1. Write a sentence using the verb “jump” in the past tense.
2. Underline the linking verb in the sentence: “The cake smells delicious.”
3. Complete the sentence with an appropriate verb: “The dog ___________ his tail happily.”
4. Correct the verb form in the sentence: “They goed to the store yesterday.”
5. Identify the action verb in the sentence: “The baby sleeps peacefully.”
6. Rewrite the sentence using an irregular verb: “She runs quickly in the race.”
7. Fill in the blank with the correct form of the verb: “The children ____________ loudly during the game.”
8. Choose the correct verb form: “My sister _____ her bike to school every day.”

1. a) rides
2. b) ride
3. c) riding

1. Identify the verb phrase in the sentence: “He has been studying for hours.”
2. Write a sentence using the verb “swim” in the present continuous tense.
3. Circle the helping verb in the sentence: “They will arrive at the airport tomorrow.”
4. Complete the sentence with the correct verb: “The teacher ___________ the students for their hard work.”
5. Change the verb to the past tense: “She sings beautifully.”
6. Choose the correct verb to complete the sentence: “The flowers ___________ in the garden.”

1. a) bloom
2. b) bloomed
3. c) blooming

1. Identify the verb phrase in the sentence: “I have been waiting for hours.”
2. Rewrite the sentence using a different verb: “The cat sleeps on the windowsill.”
3. Fill in the blank with the correct form of the verb: “The birds ___________ south for the winter.”
4. Choose the correct verb form: “My brother _______ the dishes after dinner.”

1. a) wash
2. b) washed
3. c) washing

1. Identify the verb in the sentence: “She is reading a book.”
2. Write a sentence using the verb “eat” in the past continuous tense.
3. Circle the main verb in the sentence: “The students have completed their project.”
4. Complete the sentence with the correct verb: “The sun ____________ brightly every morning.”
5. Change the verb tense in the sentence: “He will finish his homework tomorrow.”
6. Choose the correct verb form to complete the sentence: “The birds ___________ to their nests before sunset.”

1. a) flew
2. b) fly
3. c) flying

Answers to Verbs Worksheet

1. chirping
2. The children play in the park every afternoon.
3. does
4. sat
5. She wrote a letter to her friend.
6. b) shines
7. (Example Answer) She jumped over the puddle.
8. smells
9. wags
10. went
11. sleeps
12. She runs swiftly in the race.
13. laughed
14. a) rides
15. has been studying
16. (Example Answer) They are swimming in the pool right now.
17. will
18. praises
19. sang
20. a) bloom
21. have been waiting
22. (Example Answer) The cat naps on the windowsill.
23. migrate
24. b) washed
25. reading
26. (Example Answer) She was eating pizza for dinner.
27. completed
28. shines
29. will shine
30. b) fly

Verbs FAQs

What are verbs?

Verbs are words that express actions, states, or occurrences in a sentence. They indicate what the subject of the sentence is doing, has done, or will do. For example, in the sentence She runs every morning, the word runs is a verb, indicating the action of the subject she.

How many types of verbs are there?

Verbs can be categorised into several types based on their functions and forms. Some common types include action verbs, linking verbs, auxiliary verbs, modal verbs, and phrasal verbs. Each type serves a different purpose in a sentence and may behave differently grammatically.

What is the difference between regular and irregular verbs?

Regular verbs follow a predictable pattern when forming their past tense and past participle forms by adding -ed to the base form. Examples include walked, talked, and played. In contrast, irregular verbs do not follow this pattern and have unique past tense and past participle forms. Examples include go/went/gone, eat/ate/eaten, and sing/sang/sung.