What is a Verb? Easy Definitions and Examples

If you want to learn English you need to know the usage of verbs. The verb is one of the crucial elements of a sentence. Without a verb, you can’t make sentences that can express an action, occurrence, or state being. Today, we’ll learn about the verb, verb types, and their usage in sentences.

What is a Verb?

A verb is a word that describes an action, occurrence, or state of being. Verbs help us to express what someone does, what happens, or how someone feels. It represents the action and state of the subject in the sentence.

For example, in this sentence, “She dances gracefully”, the word “dances” tells us about the action she is performing. Our sentence would have been incomplete without verbs.

Importance of Verbs

Every sentence must have at least one verb. Verbs play a crucial role in communication. They allow us to convey our thoughts, express emotions, and describe activities. Here are a few reasons why verbs are important. See the reasons below:

• Action: They show what someone or something is doing.
• State of Being: They can indicate existence or condition.
• Connection: They link subjects to additional information.

Examples of Verbs

Let’s look at some examples to see how verbs work in sentences:

• “The cat sleeps.” (shows a state of being)
• “He runs fast.” (shows an action)
• “They are excited.“ (shows a feeling)

Hopefully, you have been able to learn about verbs. Now, you will learn about the classification of the verbs. So, let’s dive into content one more time.

Classification of Verbs

In this section, we’ll learn about types of verbs and their usage in sentences with examples. So that we can identify the verb and its type in sentences.

Verbs can be categorized into many types based on their functions. Understanding these types can help you use them more effectively in your writing. Some commonly used verb types that you should learn to make proper sentences.

Principal Verbs

Definition:

A principal verb is the main verb in a sentence showing the major action or state of the subject. It can stand alone and does not require any helping verbs. There are two types of principal verbs. Finite verb and Non-finite verb. For more clarity about the classification of verbs, you can see the given images (Classification of verbs).

Examples of Principal verbs:

1. Run
2. Eat
3. Sing
4. Read

Use of those verbs in the sentences:

1. I run every morning to keep my energy levels high for the day.
2. Do you want to eat lunch together at the new cafe nearby?
3. We love to sing songs while driving on road trips with friends.
4. I always read before bed; it helps me relax and fall asleep.

Additional Information about the Principal verbs:

Principal verbs stand alone and provide clear actions or states, essential for meaningful communication. It’s called the main verb of the sentence.

Auxiliary Verbs

Definition:

Auxiliary verbs, also known as helping verbs, assist the main verb in expressing tense, mood, or voice.

Examples of Auxiliary verbs:

1. Is
2. Have
3. Will
4. Can

Use of those verbs in the sentences:

1. She is studying hard for her next exams, determined to achieve her goals.
2. They have already finished their project and are excited to present it on presentation day.
3. I will join you at the concert if I can get tickets.
4. He can play the guitar beautifully, making everyone stop and listen.

Additional Information about the Auxiliary verb:

Auxiliary verbs are vital for forming questions and negatives, allowing for more complex sentence structures.

Finite Verbs

Definition:

The Finite verbs show tense and agree with the subject in person and number, conveying complete actions.

Examples of Finite verbs:

1. Walks
2. Played
3. Reads
4. Are

Use of those verbs in the sentences:

1. She walks to the park every afternoon to enjoy nature and clear her mind.
2. He played basketball with friends yesterday and had a great time.
3. I read a chapter of my favorite book every night before sleeping.
4. They are going to visit their grandparents this weekend for a family gathering.

Additional Information about the Finite verbs:

Finite verbs are essential for constructing clear and precise sentences, indicating the main action or state.

Non-finite Verbs

A short description:

Non-finite verbs do not indicate tense and cannot serve as the main verb in a sentence.

Examples of Non-finite verbs:

1. To play
2. Eating
3. Running
4. Written

Use of those verbs in the sentences:

1. I want to play soccer this weekend with my friends at the park.
2. Eating healthy food is important for staying fit and energized.
3. Running in the morning helps me start my day with a positive attitude.
4. The book was written by a well-known author and is quite popular.

Additional Information about the Non-finite verbs:

Non-finite verbs often appear as Gerunds or Infinitives, enriching the sentence without conveying tense.

Transitive Verbs

Definition:

Transitive verbs are action verbs that need one or more objects to complete their meaning. These verbs cannot stand alone and can’t express the complete sense without objects. Objects can be Nouns, Pronouns, Noun phrases, Noun Clauses, Gerunds, and Infinitives.

Examples of Transitive Verbs:

1. Give
2. Eat
3. Send
4. Find

Use of Those Verbs in the Sentences:

1. She gives her friend a thoughtful gift for her birthday.
2. He eats an apple every morning to stay healthy.
3. I send a letter to my grandmother every week.
4. They find a lost puppy in the park and take it home.

Additional Information about Transitive Verbs:

Transitive verbs enhance sentence clarity by indicating who performs the action and what receives it. They create dynamic interactions in writing, making it easier for readers to understand relationships between subjects and objects.

Intransitive Verbs

Definition:

Intransitive verbs are action verbs that do not require a direct object to complete their meaning. These verbs can stand alone in a sentence, expressing a complete thought without needing to refer to a receiver of the action.

Examples of Intransitive Verbs:

1. Sleep
2. Laugh
3. Arrive
4. Run

Use of Those Verbs in the Sentences:

1. The baby sleeps soundly in her crib, enjoying her peaceful dreams.
2. We laugh together at the funny jokes shared during dinner.
3. They arrive early to ensure they get good seats at the concert.
4. He runs every morning to keep fit and clear his mind.

Additional Information about Intransitive Verbs:

Intransitive verbs often express actions that are complete in themselves, providing a sense of movement or state without the need for objects. They contribute to fluid and engaging writing by allowing for varied sentence structures.

Causative Verbs

Definition:

Causative verbs indicate that one person causes another to act, often suggesting indirect involvement.

Examples of Causative verbs:

1. Make
2. Have
3. Let
4. Get

Use of those verbs in the sentences:

1. I made my little brother laugh with a silly face during dinner.
2. She had her hair styled beautifully for the wedding ceremony.
3. He let his friend borrow his video game for the weekend.
4. They got their parents to help with the school project after dinner.

Additional Information about the Causative verbs:

Causative verbs emphasize the action of causing someone else to do something rather than acting directly.

Reflexive Verbs

Definition:

Reflexive verbs indicate that the subject and object are the same, using reflexive pronouns.

Examples of Reflexive verbs:

1. Enjoy
2. Help
3. Teach
4. Introduce

Use of those verbs in the sentences:

1. I enjoy myself when I dance to my favorite music at home.
2. She helped herself with snacks during the movie night with friends.
3. He taught himself how to cook by watching online videos.
4. We introduced ourselves to our new classmates at the beginning of school.

Additional Information about the Reflexive verbs:

Reflexive verbs highlight personal involvement, making actions more engaging and self-directed.

Reciprocal Verbs

Definition:

Reciprocal verbs indicate mutual actions between two or more subjects, often using specific structures.

Examples of Reciprocal verbs:

1. Help
2. See
3. Love
4. Talk

Use of those verbs in the sentences:

1. They help each other with their studies every week to improve their grades.
2. The two friends see each other at the coffee shop every Saturday.
3. She and her sister love each other, even when they disagree.
4. We often talk about our favorite movies and share recommendations.

Additional Information about the Reciprocal verbs:

Reciprocal verbs emphasize shared actions, highlighting cooperation and connection between subjects.

Linking Verbs

Definition:

Linking verbs connect the subject of a sentence to its complement, describing or identifying it without showing action.

Examples of the Linking verbs:

1. Is
2. Become
3. Seem
4. Feel

Use of those verbs in the sentences:

1. He is an amazing chef known for his delicious recipes and creativity.
2. She became an expert after years of studying and practicing her craft.
3. It seems like a perfect day to go for a picnic in the park.
4. They feel happy about the success of their group project.

Additional Information about the Linking verbs:

Linking verbs provide crucial descriptions, helping clarify the relationship between subjects and complements.

Impersonal Verbs

Definition:

Impersonal verbs do not refer to a specific subject and often express general situations or weather.

Examples of Impersonal verbs:

1. It
   
2. There
   
3. Seem
4. Appear

Use of those verbs in the sentences:

1. It is raining heavily, so we should play games indoors.
2. There are plenty of options for dinner at the new restaurant.
3. He seems excited about his upcoming trip to the mountains.
4. She appears tired after working long hours at her job.

Additional Information about the Impersonal verbs:

Impersonal verbs allow for flexible expressions, facilitating discussions without specifying subjects directly.

Phrasal Verbs

Definition:

Phrasal verbs consist of a verb combined with one or more particles (prepositions or adverbs) that change the original meaning. They are commonly used in everyday language.

Examples of Phrasal verbs:

1. Give up
2. Look after
3. Turn on
4. Find out

Use of those verbs in the sentences:

1. He gave up smoking last year and feels much healthier now.
2. She looks after her younger sister while their parents are away.
3. Can you turn on the lights? It’s getting dark in here.
4. I found out the truth about the surprise party from my friend.

Additional Information about the Phrasal verbs:

Phrasal verbs can be either separable or inseparable. In separable phrasal verbs, you can place the object between the verb and the particle, as shown in the example: “turn the lights off.” In inseparable phrasal verbs, you cannot separate the particle from the verb, as shown in the example: “look after.” Additionally, you need context to understand their meanings.

Quasi Passive Verbs

Definition:

Quasi-passive verbs appear passive but convey an active meaning, emphasizing the effect of the action.

Examples of Quasi Passive verbs:

1. Have
2. Get
3. Allow
4. Let

Use of those verbs in the sentences:

1. I had my car washed to keep it looking new and shiny.
2. She got her hair done for the special occasion and looked stunning.
3. They allowed him to join the game after he proved his skills.
4. We let our friends stay over for the weekend, and it was fun.

Additional Information about the Quasi Passive verb:

Quasi passive verbs focus on the action’s effect, making sentences feel more dynamic and engaging.

Perception Verbs

Definition:

Perception verbs are action words that show how we notice and understand things around us. They help us describe our experiences with our senses. Our thoughts and reactions change based on what we perceive.

Examples of Perception verbs :

1. See
2. Hear
3. Feel
4. Smell

Use of those verbs in the sentences:

1. I see the beautiful sunset while walking along the beach with my friends.
2. I hear the laughter of children playing outside my window, bringing a smile to my face.
3. She feels the warmth of the sun on her skin during our picnic at the park.
4. He smells the delicious aroma of freshly baked cookies wafting through the house.

Additional Information about the Perception verb:

Perception verbs provide sensory details, enhancing descriptions and making conversations more vivid.

Forms of Verbs

Short Definition:

The forms of verbs represent different ways to express the same action, including tense, aspect, and mood.

Examples of five forms of the verbs (using the verb play):

1. Base Form: play
2. Past Simple: played
3. Present Participle: playing
4. Past Participle: played
5. Third Person Singular: plays

 

Understanding verbs is essential for expressing actions, states, and events. It enables clearer communication, proper sentence structure, and accurate tense usage, and adds depth to our descriptions, making language more engaging and precise.