Verbs

DEFINITION
A Verb is a word that describes actions or a state of being.
Verbs are words that give the idea of action, of doing; something.
Example:
words like run, fight, do and work, all convey action.
But some verbs do not give the idea of action; they give the idea of existence, of state, of
‘being’
STATE-OF-BEING VERBS/ VERBS OF BEING

 Verbs of being express a state of existence.

 Example- “am”, “is”, “was”, “were”, “will”, “be”, “being” are some verbs of being.
 In other words, a state-of-being verb identifies who or what a noun is, was, or will be.
 They modify according to the subject in the sentence.

Example:

 Aditya is a student.
 Shruti is a hard-worker.
 Prasanna was always an early-riser.
 They are
 I am

ACTION VERBS
An action verb is a verb that expresses physical or mental action. The action verb tells us
what the subject of our clause or sentence is doing-physically or mentally.
Example:

 Josan walked to school.
 Alina wants a doll house for her birthday.
 Will you help me with my chores?

TRANSITIVE AND INTRANSITIVE VERBS

TRANSITIVE VERBS                INTRANSITIVE VERBS

A Transitive Verb is a Verb that An Intransitive Verb is a Verb that denotes an

denotes an action which passes over action which does not pass over to an object, or
from the doer or Subject to an object. which expresses a state or being.
 Example:
Example:
 He ran a long distance. (Action)
 John likes apples.
 There is a flaw in this diamond. (Being)
 My sister cooks all our meals.
 The baby sleeps. (State)

 Active Verbs can be either transitive or intransitive, depending on its usage in the
sentence. Notice that the transitive meaning and the intransitive meaning are
sometimes different.

TRANSITIVE VERB INTRANSITIVE VERB

The pilot flies the plane very well. Eagles fly high in the sky.
The boys play football on weekends. The boys play in the yard on weekends.
My mom runs her own company My mom runs in the park for fun.

How verbs changes with Subject

Past tense- “was” used for Singular

subject is singular- “s” If subject is more than
added to the verb in one, only verb form in the
present tense. present tense.
Eg. They read. They
Eg. She reads. He prays. swim.
subject and “were” for plural
subjects.
SUBJECT VERB AGREEMENT
Eg. She was reading. They were
reading.

REGULAR AND IRREGULAR VERBS

REGULAR VERBS IRREGULAR VERBS

A verb in which the past tense is not formed

To form the past tense and the past by adding the usual -ed ending.
participle of regular verbs, add –ed. Example:-
Eg-I walked to the store.
Awake–awoke–awoken
accept-accepted-will accept
Drink-drank-drunk

How Verbs Change With The Tense

Simple Tense Progressive Tense Perfect Tense

(when a specific period (when reference to action that (when reference to action that
of time is referred). is “progressing”). is continuing over time).
Past- eg. I ate. Past- eg. I was eating. Past Perfect- eg. I had eaten.
Present- eg. I eat. Present- eg. I am eating. Present Perfect- eg. I have
eaten.
Future- eg. I will eat. Future- eg. I will be eating.
 Future Perfect- eg. I will eat.

Note: Rules used to change the tense of most verbs.

EXAMPL Present
E Past Tense Future Tense
Tense

RULE: Add -ed Add -s or es Add will before the verb

Word- Play Played Plays Will play

AUXILIARY VERBS
Auxiliary Verbs = “helping verbs”
Auxiliary verbs are verbs that are used before the main verb of the sentence to express the
Action and the state.
The three most common auxiliary verbs are: be, do and have
The three most common auxiliary verbs are: be, do and have
Example:
I am leaving = Leaving is the main verb. Am is the auxiliary verb.
He has arrived = Arrived is the main verb. Has is the auxiliary verb.
Do you Run? = Run is the main verb. Do is the auxiliary verb.
Do / does / did
Do is common for forming questions and making negatives.
Did is used for do and does in the past tense. Do and does is never used for the past.
Eg: I do my homework.
Do I know you?
Did he finish his work?
Be = am / is / are
Be can be used as an auxiliary verb or the main verb in a sentence.
Be is also used to make passives.
Is tells us that an action is happening now or is going to happen in the future.
Are is used with they and we. (eg: They are excited)
Was is used as the past tense of am and is.
Were is used as the past tense of you, we and they.
Have = has / had
Have is used to make the present perfect tense (it is always followed by the past participle).
eg: I have a dog.
Has is used for the third person singular.
eg: He has lived in London.
Had is used for past tenses especially the past perfect tense.
MODAL VERBS
A modal verb is a type of verb that is used with other verbs to indicate obligation, ability,
permission, request, capacity, suggestions, order, or advice.
Modal verbs modify the main verb.
Example:
“may”, “must”, “can”, “would”, “could”, “should”, etc.
Modal Auxiliaries – Helping Verbs indicating moods

Function Modal Aux. Verb Negative

Ability/Permission Can Cannot

Past ability/ Permission Could Could not
Possibility/Permission/
May May not
Request
Necessity Need Need not
Examples:

 I can speak a little Russian.

 Can I open the window?
 I may be home late.
 May I sit down, please?
 I must go now.
 She must be over 90 years old.
 You should stop smoking.
 Would you like a cup of tea?
 If I were you, I would say sorry