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.
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