1.1.2 Verbs

In this lesson, we will explore what a verb is, the types of verbs there are and some examples of each. There are many types of verbs, as will be shown later and it is good to learn the many variations as you will need to be able to identify and use them to achieve the higher grades in your GCSEs and even A-Level! A verb can be one or many other types of verbs simultaneously.

Verb

A verb is a word used to identify a movement or action. There are numerous types of verbs, such as action, linking, auxiliary, transitive, intransitive and many more!

Verbs appear in sentences more than any other word class. This is because a complete sentence requires at least two things: a subject (a person or thing) and a verb. So verbs are essential to understanding how English works.

A verb is a word that shows an action, a state of being, or a process. Verbs are one of the most important word classes in English — you can’t have a sentence without one! They tell us what the subject of the sentence is doing, feeling, or being(e.g. run, think, jump, am, have, believe). There are many different types of verbs, such as action verbs, stative verbs, modal verbs, auxiliary (helping) verbs, imperative verbs, and more. Some verbs can fit into more than one type depending on how they’re used in a sentence.

We will explore some of these types of verbs in this lesson. Before we do that, let’s test your knowledge.

Action Verb

An action verb is a verb that describes a physical or mental action — essentially telling what the subject of a sentence is doing. It expresses what someone or something can do, rather than a state of being. For example, physically you can run and sing. Mentally, you can think or experience. This is the most common example of a verb, and the easiest one to identify. Anytime a word represents an action, it will fit into the category of being an action verb.

Action verbs are important because they move the sentence forward. They give the sentence energy by showing the reader or listener exactly what is taking place. Without an action verb, a sentence cannot show any activity or progress.

Every complete sentence must contain a verb, and when that verb expresses something being done, it is an action verb. It helps us understand what the subject is up to — what is taking place in the moment, what has happened already, or what will happen later. This could involve a person, an animal, a thing, or even an idea taking action in some way.

Some action verbs are easy to spot because they describe clear, visible movements. Others are not as obvious, but they still describe actions — just ones that happen quietly, privately, or internally. Whether noticeable or not, all action verbs serve the same purpose: to describe an action being taken by the subject.

Modal Verb

A modal verb is a type of auxiliary verb that expresses possibility, necessity, ability, permission, or obligation. Unlike regular auxiliary verbs (be, have, do), modal verbs do not change form (e.g., they do not add “-s” in the third person singular) and must always be followed by a base verb. Common modal verbs include can, could, will, would, shall, should, may, might, and must.

These verbs do not show action on their own but modify the meaning of the main verb to express different shades of meaning. For example, in “She can swim,” the modal verb “can” expresses ability, while in “You must finish your homework,” the modal verb “must” indicates obligation.

Modal verbs are also used in negative and question forms, such as “He might not come today” or “Should we go now?”Instead of acting as a standalone action, a modal verb modifies the tone and intent of the main verb, providing additional meaning related to certainty, necessity, or possibility.

Linking Verb

A linking verb is a verb that connects the subject of a sentence (noun etc.) to something else, usually an adjective. It expresses a state of being. For example, verbs like be, is, am, are, was, were, seem and become are common linking verbs. This also includes negative versions such as was not (wasn’t) or is not (isn’t).

Instead of telling what the subject does (like run, sing or think), a linking verb connects the noun to a state of being or description. Common linking verbs include: is, am, are, was, were, be, being, been, seem, appear, become, feel, look, sound, taste.

Auxiliary Verb

An auxiliary verb, also known as a helping verb, is a verb that supports the main verb in a sentence by helping to form different tenses, moods, voices, or emphasis. Unlike adverbs (which are words that describe verbs — more on this in a later lesson), an auxiliary verb is still a verb because it can change form and is essential to the grammatical structure of a sentence.

Common auxiliary verbs include be, have, and do, as well as modal verbs like can, will, must, and should. These verbs do not function as the main action of the sentence but instead assist another verb.

For example, in “She is running,” the auxiliary verb “is” helps form the present continuous tense by supporting the main verb “running.” Similarly, in “They have finished,” the auxiliary verb “have” helps form the present perfect tense with the main verb “finished.” Essentially, auxiliary verbs only help other verbs — where other types of verbs don’t have that same rule. For instance, a linking verb can stand alone and doesn’t require another verb.

Common auxiliary verbs include: be (is, are, was), have (has, had), do (does, did).

Transitive Verb

A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object to complete its meaning. This means that the action of the verb is being done to something or someone. Without a direct object, a transitive verb would leave the sentence incomplete or unclear.

Common transitive verbs include bring, see, eat, make, love, and buy. These verbs need an object to fully express their action. For example, in “She bought a book,” the transitive verb “bought” requires the direct object “a book” to make sense. Similarly, in “He loves music,” the verb “loves” needs the object “music” to complete its meaning.

Transitive verbs can also appear in passive voice, where the object becomes the subject, such as “The book was bought by her.” Instead of standing alone, a transitive verb must be followed by a direct object to convey a complete thought, making it an essential part of many sentences. If there’s no object in the sentence, the meaning of a transitive verb feels incomplete.

Intransitive Verb

An intransitive verb is a verb that does not require a direct object to complete its meaning. This means that the action of the verb stands alone without needing something or someone to receive it.

Common intransitive verbs include sleep, run, cry, go, arrive, and sneeze. These verbs make sense on their own and do not need an object to complete their meaning. Even though the sentence may include adverbs or other details, there’s no object that the action is being done to.

Regular Verb

A regular verb is a verb that follows a consistent pattern when forming its past tense and past participle. Regular verbs follow the rule of adding “-ed” or “-d” to the base form. Common regular verbs include walk, play, jump, talk, and listen. These verbs follow the same predictable pattern when changing tenses.

Irregular Verb

An irregular verb is a verb that does not follow the standard pattern of adding “-ed” or “-d” to form its past tense and past participle. Instead, irregular verbs change in unpredictable ways, often requiring memorisation.

Common irregular verbs include go, eat, take, see, and write. These verbs do not follow a fixed pattern when changing tenses.