The Types of Verbs
As we've covered, a verb can be categorized as a physical verb (e.g., to run), a mental verb (e.g., to think), or a state-of-being verb (e.g., to be). However, a verb will often be further categorized as one of the following:
Action Verb
An action verb expresses an activity that a person or thing can do. For example:
- Lee eats cake.
- The bear chased the salmon in the shallow rapids.
(Eating is something Lee can do.)
(Chasing is something the bear can do.)
Compare those verbs with these:
- Lee likes cake.
- The bear is hungry.
(To like is not an activity. It's a state.)
(To be is not an activity. It's a state.)
Stative Verb
A stative verb expresses a state rather than an action. A stative verb typically relates to a state of being, a thought, or an emotion. For example:
- I am at home.
- She believes in fairies.
- He feels elated.
Transitive Verb
A transitive verb is one that acts on something (i.e., it has a direct object). For example:
- I saw the dog.
- Lee ate the pie.
- The postman will give Sarah the letter.
(Here, the direct object is the dog.)
(Here, the direct object is the pie.)
(Here, the direct object is the letter.)
Note: The direct object of a transitive verb can be found by finding the verb and asking "what?" For example, "saw what?" (answer: the dog); "ate what?" (answer: the pie); "will give what?" (answer: the letter).
Read more about transitive verbs.
Intransitive Verb
An intransitive verb is one that does not act on something (i.e., there is no direct object). For example:
- The rain fell.
- My throat hurts.
- The cat sneezed.
Read more about intransitive verbs.
Auxiliary Verb
An auxiliary verb (or helping verb) accompanies a main verb to help express tense, voice or mood. The most common auxiliary verbs are be, do, and have (in their various forms). Here are some examples of auxiliary verbs:
- Lee has eaten all the pies.
- The table has been prepared.
- If he were to arrive in the next 10 minutes, we would be on schedule.
(Here, the auxiliary verb has helps to express tense.)
(Here, the auxiliary verbs has been help to express voice (in this case, the passive voice).)
(Here, the auxiliary verbs were and would help to express mood (in this case, the subjunctive mood).)
Read more about auxiliary verbs.
Modal Verb
A modal verb is a type of auxiliary verb used to express ideas such as ability, possibility, permission, and obligation. The modal auxiliary verbs are can, could, may, might, must, ought to, shall, should, will, and would. For example:
- Lee can eat a lot of pies.
- Lee might eat that pie before he gets home.
- Lee may eat as many pies as he likes.
- Lee should give you some of that pie given you bought it.
(Here, the modal verb can helps to express the idea of ability.)
(Here, the modal verb might helps to express the idea of possibility.)
(Here, the modal verb may helps to express the idea of permission.)
(Here, the modal verb should helps to express the idea of obligation.)
Read more about auxiliary modal verbs.
Phrasal Verb
A phrasal verb is a verb made up of more than one word (usually two words). A phrasal verb has a main verb and another word (either a preposition or a particle). The phrasal verb usually has a meaning different to the main verb. For example:
- A burglar will often break a window to break in.
- If you drop the baton the team will drop back to last place.
(Here, the phrasal verb break in means to enter illegally, which is different to break.)
(Here, the phrasal verb drop back means to fall behind, which is different to drop.)
Read more about phrasal verbs.
Regular and Irregular Verbs
A regular verb is one that forms its simple past tense and its past participle by adding -ed or -d to the base form of the verb. (Note: There are spelling rules to consider too.) For example:
| Regular Verb | Simple Past Tense | Past Participle |
|---|---|---|
| love | loved | has loved |
| hate | hated | has hated |
| move | moved | has moved |
An irregular verb is one that does not conform to this ruling. For example:
| Irregular Verb | Simple Past Tense | Past Participle |
|---|---|---|
| tell | told | has told |
| bleed | bled | has bled |
Read more about regular and irregular verbs.
Verb Terminology
There is a lot of grammatical terminology associated with verbs. Below are explanations of the most common terms. (There is a more comprehensive list in our Glossary of Terms.)
The Infinitive Form
When a verb is preceded by the word to, it is said to be in its infinitive form (i.e., its most basic form).
- I have to smoke that!
(To smoke is the infinitive form of the verb.)
Read more about the infinitive form of a verb.
Past Tense
Verbs that express actions in the past are said to be in the past tense.
- He talked with more claret than clarity. (Susan Ertz)
- I ran to the lake.
- They were all there.
(Talked is the past tense of the verb to talk.)
(Ran is the past tense of the verb to run.)
(Were is the past tense of the verb to be.)
Present Tense
Verbs that express actions occurring now are said to be in the present tense.
- John jumps out the window.
- Who is ill?
- He is the kind of a guy who lights up a room just by flicking a switch.
(Jumps is the present tense of the verb to jump.)
(Is is the present tense of the verb to be.)
(Is is the present tense of the verb to be, and lights up is the present tense of the verb to light up.)
Future Tense
Verbs that express actions in the future are said to be in the future tense. These are usually formed by preceding the verb with the word will.
- I will take the blame.
- They will surrender.
- Give me where to stand, and I will move the earth. (Archimedes, 287-212 BC)
(Will take is the future tense of the verb to take.)
(Will surrender is the future tense of the verb to surrender.)
(Will move is the future tense of the verb to move.)
Read more about verb tenses.
Take a test on verb tenses.
Subject of a Verb
The person or thing performing the action of the verb is said to be the subject of the verb or the subject of the sentence.
- Tony stole the boat.
- The dog is guilty.
- Who was that?
(Tony is the subject of the verb to steal.)
(The dog is the subject of the verb to be.)
(Who is the subject of the verb to be.)
Read more about the subject of a verb.
Direct Object of a Verb
Many verbs perform an action on something. This is called the direct object of the verb.
- Terry kissed her hand.
- Beverly can eat a whole chicken.
(Her hand is the direct object of the verb to kiss.)
(A whole chicken is the direct object of the verb to eat.)
Read more about direct objects.
Intransitive Verbs
Some verbs cannot have a direct object. These verbs are called intransitive verbs.
- The rain fell heavily.
- Jack protested in the street.
(The rain fell, but it did not perform an action on anything. In this example, the verb to fall is an intransitive verb.)
(Jack protested, but he did not perform an action on anything. In this example, the verb to protest is an intransitive verb.)
Read more about intransitive verbs.
Transitive Verbs
Verbs that can have a direct object (most of them) are called transitive verbs.
- Barney copied the answer.
- Terry saw a black fin cutting through the water.
(The verb copied is a transitive verb. The direct object of the verb is the answer.)
(The verb saw is a transitive verb. The direct object of the verb is a black fin.)
Read more about transitive verbs.
Indirect Object of a Verb
Some verbs have two objects, a direct object and an indirect object. The indirect object is the person or thing for whom the action was performed.
- Jamie read the children a story.
- I will bake him a cake.
- The postman gives Anne a letter every day.
(Here, a story is the direct object, and the children is the indirect object.)
(Here, a cake is the direct object, and him is the indirect object.)
(Here, a letter is the direct object, and Anne is the indirect object.)
Read more about indirect objects.
Passive Sentence
The subject of a sentence does not always do the action of the verb. Sometimes, the action is done to the subject. Such sentences are called passive sentences because the subjects are being passive, i.e., not doing anything.
- Carl was arrested.
(Carl is not doing anything, but he is the subject of the sentence.)
(Note: Carl is the subject of the verb to be.)
Passive verbs always comprise two parts (was arrested in this example). The person doing the action of the verb in a passive sentence is usually shown with the word by.
- Carl was arrested by PC Adams.
Passive verbs are said to be in the passive voice. Passive sentences can be quite useful:
- The carpet was damaged.
- Mark damaged the carpet.
(This is a passive sentence. No one is blamed for damaging the carpet.)
(A passive sentence contrasts with an active sentence (where the subject performs the verb). This is an example of an active sentence. It tells us that Mark damaged the carpet.)
Read more about passive sentences.
Active Sentence
Active sentences contrast with passive sentences. In an active sentence, the subject of the verb performs the action.
- We damaged the carpet.
- Jamie read a story.
(This is an active sentence. We is the subject. We damaged the carpet.)
(This is an active sentence. Jamie is the subject. Jamie read a story.)
Read more about active sentences.
Conjugation of Verbs
A verb will change its form a little depending on the subject. For example:
- I write.
- He writes.
- The jackal laughs.
- The jackals laugh.
When verbs change in this way, it is known as conjugation. A verb conjugates according to the subject. The subject of a verb can be in one of six forms:
- I
- You
- He / She / It
- We
- You
- They
The first three are the singular forms (known as first person singular, second person singular, and third person singular). The second three are the plural forms (known as first person plural, second person plural and third person plural).
All subjects fit into one of these categories. For example, jackal is like he (i.e., third person singular) and jackals is like they (i.e., third person plural). (This subject rarely causes problems for native English speakers, who conjugate verbs correctly without much thought.)
Interestingly, this is the origin of the insurance term third party (i.e., it's insurance covering actions by "them").
Read more about subject-verb agreement.
Participles
Participles are formed from verbs. There are two types: present participles and past participles. Present participles end -ing. Past participles have various endings (e.g., -ed, -en). Below is a table showing some participles:
| Verb | Present Participle | Past Participle |
|---|---|---|
| to sing | singing | sung |
| to drive | driving | driven |
| to go | going | gone |
| to rise | rising | risen |
| to watch | watching | watched |
| to be | being | been |
Participles are classified as adjectives. (Note: When a verb form (like a participle) functions as an adjective or a noun, it is known as a verbal.) Below are some examples of participles being used as adjectives:
- Our business is badly affected by the soaring price of wool.
- He is a forgotten hero.
(The word soaring is a present participle. Here, it is being used as an adjective to describe price.)
(The word forgotten is a past participle. Here, it is being used as an adjective to describe hero.)
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