Verbs

The words which denote some action, an occurrence, or a state of being are called Verbs. The Verbs always express some
activity - whether mental, physical, or mechanical.

Types of Verbs:
All the verbs can broadly be divided into 4 types:
1. Physical Verbs
2. Mental Verbs
3. Possessing Verbs
4. State of being Verbs

1. Physical Verbs
Physical verbs are action verbs. They describe specific physical actions. If we can create a motion with our body or use a tool to
complete an action, the word we use to describe it is most likely a physical verb.
Physical Verb Examples
 Let’s run to the corner and back.
 I hear the train coming.
 Call me when you’re finished with class.

2. Mental Verbs
Mental verbs have meanings that are related to mental things like thinking, or planning. These verbs cannot be seen.
Mental Verb Examples
 I know the answer.
 She recognized me from across the room.
 Do you believe everything people tell you?

3. Possessive Verbs
The Possessive verbs show connection, belonging or possession of some object with a subject.
Possessive Verb Examples
 I have big house.
 Ram has a beautiful watch.

4. States of Being Verbs

Also known as linking verbs, state of being verbs describe conditions or situations that exist. These verbs are inactive since no
action is being performed.
States of Being Verb Examples
 I am a student.
 We are circus performers.
 Please be quiet.

Other types of Verbs

In addition to the main categories of physical verbs, mental verbs, possessive verbs and state of being verbs, there are several
other types of verbs. There are more than ten different types of verbs that are grouped by function.

1. Transitive Verbs & Intransitive Verbs

Transitive Verbs: The action verbs that always express doable activities. These verbs always have direct objects, meaning
someone or something receives the action of the verb.
In simple words – “a verb that requires an object to complete its meaning is called Transitive Verb.”
Ria likes. (likes what????) Ria likes ice cream.
Monu wastes. (wastes what???) Monu wastes time.
I love. (love what???) I love India.

Intransitive Verbs: The action verbs that always express doable activities. No direct object follows an intransitive verb.
In simple words – “a verb that does not require an object to make sense but completes the sentence itself is called Intransitive
Verb.”
Smoking kills. The birds sing.
The lion roared. The baby cried.
Most verbs can be used as both Transitive and Intransitive Verbs. But some verbs like go, die, arrive, sit, lie, sleep etc. can be
used only as Intransitive Verbs.
2. Auxiliary Verbs
Also known as helping verbs, they are used along with a main verb to show the verb’s tense or to form a question or negative
sentence.
For example: is/am/are, was/were, will
Ram is playing cricket. (Present Tense)
Ram was playing cricket. (Past Tense)
Ram will be playing cricket. (Future Tense)

3. Modal Verbs
Modal verbs are auxiliary verbs that are used to express abilities, possibilities, permissions, and obligations.
For example: can, could, may, might, will etc.
I can speak English.
It may rain today.
Ram will buy a new car.

4. Finite Verbs & Non-finite Verbs

Definition Sample Verbs Sentence Examples
Finite Verbs A verb that agrees with a given 1. Appear 1. He appears sick.
subject in a sentence. It is 2. Promise 2. Jai promised to change her habit.
usually marked for tense. 3. Love 3. Ginni loves eating pizza.
Non-finite A verb that has no distinction in 1. Expand 1. You can expand your boundary.
Verb different tense. It cannot be 2. Leave 2. We may leave after 10.00pm.
used unaccompanied as the 3. Smile 3. She had a reason to smile.
main verb in a given question or
sentence.

5. Regular Verbs & Irregular Verbs

Definition Sample Verbs Sentence Examples
Regular A verb whose past participle 1. Accept 1. I accepted the offer.
Verbs and past tense is attained by 2. Arrive 2. He has just arrived.
adding –d or –ed or –t for some. 3. Fence 3. He fenced the area.
It is sometimes called a weak 4. Deliver
verb.
Irregular Also called a strong verb. It 1. Get 1. He got his business running at
Verb does not usually follow rules for 2. Go the right time.
common verb forms. They 3. Sleep 2. We went (go) home early.
usually do not have the 4. See 3. They came by bus on a
predictable –ed ending. 5. Come Saturday morning.

Finite and Non-Finite Verbs

Finite Verbs: The verb forms whose use is limited by the person and number of their subject are called Finite Verbs.

Non-Finite Verbs: The verb forms, whose use is not determined by number/person of the subject are called Non-Finite Verbs.
Ram comes here on Sunday.
Ram plans to come here on Sunday.
In the first sentence, the verb ‘comes’ has ‘Ram’ as its subject. The use of this verb is limited as it can only be used for Third
Person and that also for Singular Noun. Because the use of such verbs is limited, they are called Finite Verbs.
In the second sentence, the word ‘plans’ agrees with the subject, and ‘to come’ names the action denoted by the verb ‘plans’.
Here, the verb ‘to come’ is not limited by person and number. Such verbs are called Non-Finite Verbs.

Non-Finite Verbs are of 3 Types:

1. Infinitives - The Infinitive is a Verbal Noun. It is the first principal part of the verb.
To identify: to + V – 1
Boys love to play cricket.
I like to eat paneer.
Ram wants to become a doctor.
Some special uses of Infinitive
i) Too + Infinitive: ‘Too’ with Infinitive is used to combine a pair of sentences.
 The weather is very cold. I cannot go out.
The weather is too cold to go out.
The bag is very heavy. I cannot lift it.
The bag is too heavy to lift.

ii) Enough + Infinitive: ‘Enough’ with Infinitive is also used to combine a pair of sentences.
The pipe is very long. It can reach the roof.
The pipe is long enough to reach the roof.

iii) To avoid repetition: This is mainly done after verbs like – want, wish, like, hate, try and auxiliary verbs like –
have, ought, need, and also with expressions like used, be able and the going to form.
Do you want to see the movie?
No, thank you. I don’t want to.
Do you do your household work yourself?
I used to, but now I have got a maid.

2. Gerund - A Gerund is a Verbal Noun which does the work of a verb and a noun.
To identify: V – 1 + ing
Smoking is injurious for health.
I like swimming.

Difference between Infinitive and Gerund

Both Infinitive and Gerund can be used to say the same thing. The minor difference is as follows.
S. N o . The Infinitiv e The Gerund
1 I like to play cricket I like playing cricket
2 To see is to believe Seeing is believing
3 To sleep is goo d for health Sleep ing is go od fo r health

3. Participle - It is called Verbal Adjective, because it functions partly as a verb and partly as an adjective.
To identify: V – 1 + ing
We read an interesting book.
The wounded lion finally died.
In the above sentences, the words - interesting, wounded are formed from verbs – interest, wound. They talk about the noun –
book, lion, just like an adjective. Hence, these words function both as Verb and Adjectives. They are called Participles or Verbal
Adjectives.

Types of Participles:
i) Present Participle –The Participles ending in ‘ing” are called Present Participles. They denote an incomplete
action or state.
I can hear a girl singing.
ii) Past Participle– The Participles that denotes a completed action (no longer in progress) or state are called Past
Participles.
He found the place deserted.
iii) Perfect Participle – The Participles formed by ‘having’ or ‘having been’ or ‘being’ before the past participle
form of the verb (V – 3) are called Perfect Participle.
Having finished his work, he went home.
Fo rms
S. N o . Kind s Verbs w itho ut Verbs w ith an O bject
an O bject Activ e Passive
1 Present Falling Stealing Being sto len
2 Past Fallen - Sto len
3 Perfect Havng fallen Having sto len Been stolen

Difference between Gerund and Present Participle

Both Gerund and Present Participle end with ‘ing’. So, it might create confusion.
This is a walking stick.
Walking is good for health.