A verb is a word that expresses an action ("run", "write"), an event ("happen", "occur"), or a state of being ("be", "seem", "belong"). Every grammatically complete sentence must contain at least one finite verb.
Pronunciation: /vɜːrb/ — rhymes with “herb” (British) or “curb”
Syllables: verb (1 syllable)
Word Family
- Noun: verb
- Adjective: verbal
- Related: verbalize, verbalization
What Is a Verb?
Verbs are the core of the sentence predicate — the part that says something about the subject. Without a verb, you cannot have a complete sentence. In "The dog barked loudly," "barked" is the verb telling us what the dog did. In "She is a doctor," "is" is the verb describing a state.
Verbs are the most grammatically complex part of speech in English. They change form to show tense (past, present, future), aspect (simple, continuous, perfect), voice (active, passive), and mood (indicative, subjunctive, imperative). Mastering verb forms is central to English fluency at every level from A1 upward.
Verbs can work alone as a single word ("She laughed.") or as a verb phrase combining a main verb with one or more auxiliary (helping) verbs ("She has been laughing for an hour."). Recognising verb phrases is essential for understanding complex tenses and passive constructions. Reference grammars such as the Cambridge Grammar guide document verb usage in detail.
Types of Verbs
| Type | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Action | Describes a physical or mental action | run, eat, think, write |
| Stative | Describes a state; not used in continuous tenses | know, believe, own, like, seem |
| Transitive | Requires a direct object | She read a book. |
| Intransitive | Does not take a direct object | The baby slept. |
| Regular | Past tense formed by adding -ed | walk → walked → walked |
| Irregular | Past tense formed unpredictably | go → went → gone |
| Auxiliary | Helps the main verb express tense/mood | be, do, have, can, will, must |
| Modal | Expresses ability, possibility, obligation | can, could, may, might, should |
Verb Examples in Sentences
| Sentence | Verb | Type |
|---|---|---|
| They play football every Sunday. | play | action, intransitive |
| She has written three novels. | has written | regular, transitive (perfect aspect) |
| I know the answer. | know | stative (no continuous form) |
| The window was broken by the storm. | was broken | irregular, passive voice |
| You must submit the form today. | must submit | modal + main verb |
Common Mistakes
Mistakes to Avoid
I am knowing the answer.
I know the answer. (stative verbs don't use continuous tenses)
She go to school every day.
She goes to school every day. (third person singular needs -s)
He didn't went to the party.
He didn't go to the party. (after 'did', use the base form)
The book was wrote by Tolkien.
The book was written by Tolkien. (passive requires past participle, not simple past)
Related Grammar Terms
Practise Verb Forms
Related Grammar Terms
Learn more: Present Simple Grammar Guide
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a verb?
A verb is a word that expresses an action, event, or state of being. Every complete sentence contains at least one verb. Examples include "run", "think", "be", "seem", "have", and "go". Verbs carry the core meaning of a sentence's predicate.
What is the difference between a regular and an irregular verb?
Regular verbs form their past tense and past participle by adding -ed: "walk → walked → walked". Irregular verbs change their form in unpredictable ways: "go → went → gone"; "buy → bought → bought". There are around 200 common irregular verbs in English that should be memorised.
What is a transitive verb?
A transitive verb requires a direct object to complete its meaning: "She read a book." Without the object, the sentence feels incomplete. Common transitive verbs include "eat", "write", "love", and "find". Some verbs can be both transitive and intransitive depending on context.
What is an intransitive verb?
An intransitive verb does not take a direct object: "She laughed." "The baby slept." Some verbs can be both transitive and intransitive depending on context: "He runs every day" (intransitive) vs "He runs a business" (transitive).
What are stative verbs?
Stative verbs describe states rather than actions: "know", "believe", "own", "like", "seem", "contain". They are not normally used in continuous tenses. "I am knowing the answer" is incorrect; the correct form is "I know the answer".
What is a finite verb?
A finite verb agrees with its subject in person and number and is marked for tense: "She runs" (third person singular, present). Every independent clause needs a finite verb. Non-finite verbs — infinitives, participles, gerunds — do not show tense or agree with a subject.
What is an auxiliary verb?
An auxiliary (helping) verb is used with a main verb to create tenses, questions, negatives, or modal meanings. Primary auxiliaries are "be", "do", and "have". Modal auxiliaries include "can", "could", "may", "might", "must", "shall", "should", "will", and "would".
What is the infinitive form of a verb?
The infinitive is the base form of a verb, often preceded by "to": "to run", "to eat", "to be". The bare infinitive (without "to") is used after modal auxiliaries: "She can swim." Infinitives are non-finite — they do not show tense on their own.
What is the difference between active and passive voice?
In the active voice, the subject performs the action: "The chef cooked dinner." In the passive voice, the subject receives the action: "Dinner was cooked by the chef." The passive is formed with "be" + past participle and is common in formal and academic writing.
How can I practise verb forms in English?
Use LexFizz's Complete the Sentence exercise to practise choosing the correct verb tense and form. The Flash Cards activity is ideal for memorising irregular verb forms (base, past, past participle). The Quiz exercise tests tense usage in full sentence contexts.