Verbs in English

Learning and practicing English verbs is a must-do step whether you are just starting to learn a language or looking for ways to improve your skills. By understanding this simple, at first glance, topic, you'll be able to add action to your language, making it more dynamic and expressive. Today, we're talking about English verbs, their types, forms, and other essentials. So buckle up, and let's dive in!

What is a Verb?

It is a word we use to describe actions, events, or states. It can be simple actions like "run" or "go," mental activities, such as "think" or "believe," and even emotional responses, say, "laugh" or "cry." Based on this verb definition, we can distinguish three main types of verbs. 

1. Action verbs – describe physical or mental actions performed by a subject.
2. Linking verbs – connect the subject of a sentence to additional information about it, like description or state of being.
3. Helping (auxiliary) verbs – used alongside main verbs to modify their meaning or express nuances like time, possibility, or necessity.

Each type of verbs has its characteristics and distinctions. At first, understanding them might be a tricky task. But don't worry! We're always here to help. So, let's talk about each type in more detail.

3 Types of Verbs in English

Imagine the situation – you're out for your morning run, and while running, you notice how everything around you feels calm and peaceful. Both of these actions are happening at the same time. However, to describe them, we've used two different categories of verbs. And now, let's discuss these types of verbs with examples.

Action Verbs

Let's start with the most widespread type of verbs. These verbs express what someone or something does. They are the essentials because they basically carry the main idea of what is happening. Here are 10 action verb examples:

1. Run
2. Jump
3. Walk
4. Play
5. Wonder
6. Imagine
7. Fear
8. Enjoy
9. Admire
10. Speak

Action verbs in English can describe:

• Physical action: The cat leaps onto the windowsill.
• Mental action: She considers the consequences carefully.
• Emotional action: He fears the worst.

Moreover, there are also two types of action verbs. They can be either transitive or intransitive. What does it mean?

• Transitive verbs require a direct object to complete their meaning. The action is performed on something or someone. For example:

She wrote a letter. (letter is the direct object of the verb wrote)

Without the object, the sentence would be incomplete or unclear: 

She wrote. (What did she write?)

• Intransitive verbs do not require a direct object to convey meaning. The action stands on its own. For example:

The baby cried.

In some cases, depending on the context, verbs can function as both transitive and intransitive. For example:

She sang a popular song.

She sang beautifully.

Linking Verbs

The second type is a linking verb, which links the subject of a sentence to a word or phrase that describes or identifies it. Instead of showing an activity, like in our action verbs examples, linking verbs convey a state of being or condition.

Linking verbs connect the subject of a sentence to additional information, also called the subject complement. Depending on the context, it can be:

• An adjective that describes the subject, for example:

The sky is blue.

She seems happy.

• A noun or pronoun that renames or identifies the subject, for example:

John is a firefighter.

Kate became a nurse.

• A prepositional phrase or other grammatical constructions that provide more information about the subject, for example:

She is in a hurry.

The situation is under control.

These examples of linking verbs can be used in any tense. They help provide more information on a subject and allow you to express your thoughts more easily.

10 examples of linking verbs:

1. Be
2. Look
3. Seem
4. Sound
5. Become
6. Remain
7. Stay
8. Appear
9. Feel
10. Taste

Helping Verbs

Now that you know two verb types in English, it is time to move to the last one. Helping verbs never stand alone in the sentence like the main ones do. Instead, they "help" the main ones by adding more details about time, mood, or possibility. In English, there are two main types of such verbs:

• Primary or auxiliary verbs help form tenses and structures. There are three of them:

be (and its forms) – for continuous and passive forms;

have (and its forms) – for perfect tenses;

do (and its forms) – for questions, negatives, and emphasis. 

• Modal verbs help express possibility, necessity, or ability. There is a bit more of these – the list includes words can, could, will, would, may, might, shall, should, and must.

Here are some examples of using helping verb English grammar in context:

She is studying for her exam. (is shows the ongoing action in the present.)

I will call you later. (will indicates a future action.)

They have finished their homework. (have shows that the action is completed.)

He might join us for dinner. (might expresses possibility.)

We should leave early to avoid traffic. (should suggests the best course of action.)

10 examples of helping verbs:

1. Can
2. Could
3. Will/would/shall/should
4. May/might
5. Must
6. Ought to
7. Have to
8. Need to
9. Dare to
10. Used to

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Using Verbs in Sentences

After learning the verb meaning and its types, it is time to understand when and how to use it in sentences. When doing so, you need to pay attention to two main factors:

• Verb tense shows us when the described action occurs. 
• Verb form explains which type of verb we should use in the sentence.

Take a look at these sentences:

She is running a marathon on Monday.

Have you ever thought about moving somewhere?

Mike works as a sales manager.

Will Andrew come to a party tomorrow?

Our kids have been playing outside all afternoon.

You can see that they contain main verb examples. However, they occur at various times and are used in different forms. As a result, we have completely different contexts. But how do you create such sentences and understand the differences between them? So now, it's time to talk about verb grammar in more detail.

Verbs in the Present

Present time refers to actions or situations that occur in real time or are relevant to the current moment. In English, there are three present tenses, and verbs play a significant role in each.

Present Simple

The Present Simple describes habitual actions, general truths, or regular situations. Regardless of the action or type of the sentence, verbs in the Present Simple always remain in their base form. 

Here's how to form Present Simple:

Affirmative: Subject + base verb (for he/she/it, add -s to the verb).

I play.

You study.

She works.

Negative: Subject + do/does + not + base verb.

I do not (don't) like pizza.

She does not (doesn't) work here.

Interrogative: Do/Does + subject + base verb?

Do you like movies?

Does he play football?

That's it! No changing stem verbs, just a word as it is. In some cases, you can use the auxiliary verb "do" in Present Simple to add emphasis. It only works in affirmative sentences, and the structure looks like this:

Subject + do/does + base verb.

I do like this movie!

He does work hard every day.

She does look tired.

Present Continuous

The Present Continuous tense describes situations in this exact moment, temporary actions or situations, or plans for the near future. You can use different kinds of verbs in this tense, but they always have one thing in common – the -ing ending. Here's how to form sentences in Present Continuous:

Affirmative: Subject + am/is/are + base verb (-ing).

I am studying.

She is working.

You are running.

Negative: Subject + am/is/are + not + base verb (-ing).

I am not playing today.

He is not (isn't) coming to the party.

They are not (aren't) reading.

Interrogative: Am/Is/Are + subject + base verb (-ing)?

Are you talking?

Is she waiting?

Am I interrupting?

Present Perfect

The Present Perfect verb tense describes actions or events that happened in the past but have relevance or connection to the present moment. And what is a verb in the grammar structure of this tense? That's when you must use the main verb's past participle. Here's how to form sentences in Present Perfect:

Affirmative: Subject + have/has + past participle. 

I have (I've) finished my homework.

She has (She's) traveled to Spain.

They have (The've) seen this movie before.

Negative: Subject + have/has + not + past participle.

I have not (haven't) read that book.

She has not (hasn't) eaten anything.

We have not (haven't) decided what to do.

Interrogative: Have/has + subject + past participle?

Have you seen John?

Has she completed the assignment?

Have they ever visited Italy?

Verbs in the Past

As a famous quote states, there is no future without the past. So, before learning what are verbs examples in the future, let's dive into the grammar nuances of past tenses in English.

Past Simple

The Past Simple tense describes completed actions that happened at a specific time in the past, whether it was yesterday, last year, or even a few moments ago. What is a verb example in this tense? The verb form in this tense is usually the base verb plus -ed for regular verbs, while irregular verbs have unique past tense forms. Here's how to form Past Simple sentences:

Affirmative: Subject + past verb form.

I watched a movie. 

She studied all night. 

He went to the store. (irregular verb: go → went)

Negative: Subject + did not (didn't) + base verb. 

I did not (didn't) like the food. 

She did not (didn't) finish her homework. 

They did not (didn't) visit the museum.

Interrogative: Did + subject + base verb? 

Did you see that? 

Did she call you? 

Did they enjoy the concert?

In the Past Simple tense, when the auxiliary verb did is used in negative and interrogative sentences, the main verb stays in its base form.

Past Continuous

The Past Continuous tense is used to describe actions that were happening at a specific time or that were interrupted by another past event. This tense is formed using the past tense of to be (was/were) and the -ing form of the main verb. Here's how to form sentences in Past Continuous.

Affirmative: Subject + was/were + base verb (-ing). 

I was sleeping when you called. 

She was reading a book. 

They were playing football all afternoon.

Negative: Subject + was/were + not + base verb (-ing). 

I was not (wasn't) listening. 

He was not (wasn't) working at that time. 

We were not (weren't) expecting visitors.

Interrogative: Was/Were + subject + base verb (-ing)? 

Was she studying? 

Were they watching TV? 

Was he driving home when it happened?

Past Perfect

The Past Perfect is used to describe actions that were completed before another event in the past. It shows which action happened first in a sequence of past events. This tense is formed using had followed by the past participle of the main verb. Here's how to form sentences:

Affirmative: Subject + had + past participle. 

I had finished my work before she arrived. 

She had already seen that movie. 

They had left by the time we got there.

Negative: Subject + had + not + past participle. 

I had not (hadn't) heard the news. 

He had not (hadn't) prepared for the exam. 

We had not (hadn't) met before that day.

Interrogative: Had + subject + past participle? 

Had you ever traveled abroad before you got your first passport? 

Had she finished her project on time? 

Had they already eaten when you arrived?

Verbs in the Future

While the past allows us to reflect on what has already happened, the future lets us imagine and plan what is yet to come. English has different ways of expressing future actions, and the choice of tense depends on the certainty, intention, or timing of the event.

Future Simple

The Future Simple is the most commonly used way to discuss future actions, predictions, promises, or spontaneous decisions. Future Simple is formed using will followed by the base verb. Here's how to form Future Simple sentences:

Affirmative: Subject + will + base verb. 

I will call you later. 

She will travel to France next summer. 

They will win the match.

Negative: Subject + will + not (won't) + base verb. 

I will not (won't) be late. 

He will not (won't) change his mind. 

We will not (won't) forget this moment.

Interrogative: Will + subject + base verb? 

Will you help me? 

Will she come to the party? 

Will they arrive on time?

The Future Simple tense is often used to make predictions (It will rain tomorrow), spontaneous decisions (I'll have a coffee), and promises (I will always support you).

Future Continuous

The Future Continuous tense describes actions that will be happening at a specific time in the future. It is formed by using will be followed by the -ing form of the verb.

Affirmative: Subject + will be + base verb (-ing). 

I will be working at 10 a.m. 

She will be studying all evening. 

They will be traveling next month.

Negative: Subject + will not (won't) be + base verb (-ing). 

I will not (won't) be sleeping at that time. 

He will not (won't) be using his car tomorrow. 

We will not (won't) be waiting for long.

Interrogative: Will + subject + be + base verb (-ing)? 

Will you be working tomorrow? 

Will she be meeting us later? 

Will they be staying for dinner?

Future Perfect

The Future Perfect tense describes an action that will be completed before a certain point in the future. It is formed using will have followed by the past participle of the main verb. Forming sentences in this tense looks like this:

Affirmative: Subject + will have + past participle. 

I will have finished my work by 5 p.m. 

She will have graduated by next year. 

They will have arrived before we leave.

Negative: Subject + will not (won't) have + past participle. 

I will not (won't) have completed the project by then. 

She will not (won't) have left before we arrive. 

They will not (won't) have eaten by dinner time.

Interrogative: Will + subject + have + past participle? 

Will you have finished by tomorrow? 

Will she have read the book before class? 

Will they have saved enough money for the trip?

Summary

What is a verb? At its core, a verb is the driving force of a sentence, bringing action, connection, and meaning to our words. Whether you are forming simple statements or crafting complex sentences, a strong grasp of verbs will enhance your fluency and confidence in English.