Verb: Definition & Types
A verb is a word or a combination of words that indicates action or a state of
being or condition. A verb is the part of a sentence that tells us what the subject
performs. Verbs are the hearts of English sentences.
Examples:
Jacob walks in the morning. (A usual action)
Mike is going to school. (A condition of action)
Albert does not like to walk. (A negative action)
Anna is a good girl. (A state of being)
Basic Forms of Verbs
Verb I (Present)
The first form of the verb is called Verb 1 (V1) or present. This verb is the
original form of the verb which is usually used in simple present tense
sentences. This verb form is the same as the original verb form, but always ends
in -s, -es, -ies for the third person singular subject (he, she, it) in the simple
present tense.
• Sleep – sleeps
• Watch – watches
• Go – goes
• Cry – cries
• Study – studies
Verb -ing
In the use of verbs ending in -ing, the grammar used is continuous tense
• Walk – walking
• Sing – singing
• Talk – talking
Gerund
Gerund is a verb (verb) in the present participle, which has the suffix -ing, for
example, swimming, playing, listening, etc. The difference is that the present
participle functions as a verb, while the gerund functions as a noun in a
sentence. For example, he is swimming is the present participle, but he likes
swimming is a gerund
Infinitive
Infinitives are verbs that begin with the suffix to and always use the base form
(v1). For example to buy, to ride, to drink, etc. In general, infinitives cannot
stand alone as a single verb in a sentence. For example, we cannot pronounce he
is to sing, but we must add other verbs such as he is going to sing, he is
planning to sing, etc. The opposite of gerunds, infinitives are generally used to
describe something that is not real, abstract, or has not happened yet. For
example, he wants to drink, in this case the subject (he) has not taken action
(drink).
Verb II (Past)
The second form of the verb is called Verb 2 (V2) or past. This verb is usually
used in simple past tense sentences. When do you use the 2nd verb? When an
action taken is past. This is indicated by the existence of time information such
as: last night, yesterday, three years ago, and so on. Usually the second verb is
added -d or -ed from the first verb, but it can also change the form of a different
letter. Words that only add -d or -ed are called regular verbs. While the change
of letters in the verb is called an irregular verb.
Contoh regular verb:
• Achieve – achieved
• Call – called
• Clean – cleaned
• Enjoy – enjoyed
• Phone – Phoned
• Talk – Talked
Contoh irregular verb:
• Begin – began
• Eat – Ate
• Speak – spoke
• Take – took
• Find – found
• Leave – left
Verb III (Past Participle)
In fact, many verb II and III have the exact same word with both forms. The
third form of the verb is used for the perfect tense and passive voice sentences.
Contoh regular verb:
• Study – studied – studied
• Work – worked – worked
• Walk – walked – walked
• Phone – phoned – phoned
•Prank – pranked – pranked
Contoh irregular verb:
• Go – went – gone
• Drink – drank – drunk
• Write – wrote – written
• Eat – ate – eaten
• Speak – spoke – spoken
• Take – took – taken
Different Types of Verbs
Action Verbs
Action verbs indicate what the subject of a sentence performs. Action verbs can
make the listener/reader feel emotions, see scenes more vividly and accurately.
Action verbs can be transitive or intransitive.
Transitive verbs must have a direct object. A transitive verb demands
something/someone to be acted upon.
Example:
o I painted the car. (The verb ‘paint’ demands an object to be painted)
o She is reading the newspaper. (The verb ‘read’ asks the question “what is
she reading?” – the answer is the object)
Intransitive verbs do not act upon anything. They may be followed by an
adjective, adverb, preposition, or another part of speech.
Example:
o She smiled. (The verb ‘smile’ cannot have any object since the action of
‘smiling’ does not fall upon anything/anyone)
o I wake up at 6 AM. (No object is needed for this verb)
Auxiliary Verbs
Auxiliary verbs are also called helping verbs to complete the main verb in a
sentence. In addition to completing the main verb, the auxiliary verb also serves
to clarify the main verb by helping to show time, tense, and possibility. The
auxiliary verbs are – be(am, is, are, was, were, been, being, and to be),
have(have, had and has ), and do (does, did, dan done.
o Alex is going to school.
o They are walking in the park.
o I have seen a movie.
o Do you drink tea?
o Don’t waste your time.
o Please, do submit your assignments.
Modal Verbs
A modal verb is a kind of auxiliary verb. It assists the main verb to indicate
possibility, potentiality, ability, permission, expectation, and obligation.
The modal verbs are can, could, must, may, might, ought to, shall, should, will,
would.
o I may want to talk to you again.
o They must play their best game to win.
o She should call him.
o I will go there.