VERB

LA LANGUAGE ACADEMY
 Verb : Meaning & Definition

Meaning
In the English language or any language for that matter, verbs happen to be an essential
part of speech, without which it would be impossible to indicate what the subject is doing.
It refers to all actions, including those related to feelings and emotions. Verbs come in
different types and forms so that they can perform differently in order to provide
complete meaning. Before we look into the types of verbs and the verb forms, let us look
at how various dictionaries define the term ‘verb’.
Definition
The Oxford Learners’ Dictionary defines a ‘verb’ as “a word or group of words that
express an action (such as eat), an event (such as happen) or a state (such as exist)”.
According to the Cambridge Dictionary, a ‘verb’ is defined as “a word or phrase that
describes an action, condition, or experience”.
Types of Verbs

Verb

Main Auxiliary
Verbs Verbs

Transitive & Regular & Finite &

Helping
Intransitive Irregular Non-Finite Modal Verbs
Verbs
Verbs Verbs Verbs
 Main Verb

Definition / Meaning
The main verb is the action done by or on the subject of the verb. Action words are easy to
identify. You need to ask the question ‘What is the subject doing?‘
Example : “Richa is playing badminton.”
Ask the question ‘What is Richa doing?’ the answer is “playing”- Verb.
There are three types of the Main Verb:
1. Transitive Verb & Intransitive Verb
2. Regular Verb & Irregular Verb
3. Finite Verb & Non-Finite Verb
Forms of Main Verb

Forms of Main
Verb

1st Form of 2nd Form of 3rd Form of

Verb Verb Verb Continuous
Form of Verb
(Present) (Past) (Perfect)
 Transitive Verb

Definition
Transitive Verb of the main verb requires an object on which the action takes place.
Here the object is not the verb but the action is.
Example : “I am painting the car.”
This sentence has a definite object on which the action takes place. Hence, here the
Verb painting is transitive in nature.
How to Identify a Transitive Verb?
A transitive verb is one that only makes sense if it exerts its action on an object. The
effect of the transitive verbs can be directly seen on the object. For e.g: Kick, throw,
pat, give.
 Intransitive Verb

Definition
Intransitive Verb: This kind is the opposite of the Transitive Verb. It doesn’t have an object
of the action.
Example : “I am painting.”
In this sentence, there is an action being done but there is no mention of the object on
which the action is being done. Hence, here the Verb painting is intransitive in nature.
How to Identify an Intransitive Verb?
An intransitive verb does not allow a direct object. This is a distinction from a transitive
verb, which takes one or more objects. The verb property is called transitivity. Intransitive
verbs are often identified as those that can’t be followed by who or what. For eg: Arrive,
Smile, Cry, etc.
 Regular Verb

Definition
Regular verbs are those whose conjugation follows the typical pattern, or one of the
typical patterns, of the language to which it belongs. They form their inflected parts by
adding the typical endings - s, - ing and - ed to give forms such as plays, entering, and
liked. For e.g: verbs such as play, enter, and like are regular verbs.
Example:
“I was singing a song yesterday.”
In the sentence mentioned above, the verb singing has a regular - ing form. Hence, it is
an example of a ‘Regular Verb.’
How to identify a ’Regular Verb’?

A regular verb will have a form that can be applied to other verbs in present, past,
perfect and continuous tense.

Present Past Perfect Continuous

Work Worked Worked Working
Walk Walked Walked Walking
 Irregular Verbs

Definition
Irregular verbs are the ones in which the past tense is not formed by adding the usual ‘-
ed’ ending. Examples of irregular verbs are sing (sang), feel (felt), and go (went).
Example :
“I went to a party yesterday. Here the verb went has an irregular form.”
In the sentence mentioned above, Here the verb went has an irregular form. Hence, it
is an example of an ‘Irregular Verb.’
 How to identify an ‘Irregular Verb’?

An irregular verb has a different form in a different tense that is unique to itself.

Present Past Perfect Continuous

Go Went Gone Going
Bite Bit Bitten Biting
 Finite Verbs

Definition
A finite verb is limited by the actor or a number. It is limited or bounded. It changes its
form according to the tense. The structural form of finite V3 form:
Example:
“Ram has written a letter.”
“She gave a written statement before the judge.”
A finite verb is always one word, from which you can determine the tense.
“John was cooking carrots.”
(The finite verb is "was." By looking at "was," you can tell the tense of the verb, which is
the past tense.)
 How to identify a ’Finite Verb’?

There are “Three rules” to identify a ”Finite Verb” which are as follows :
Rule #1 A finite verb is controlled by the no. of subjects if the subject is singular, the
verb will be singular. If the subject is plural, the verb will be plural.
Example:
The girl runs slowly. (Subject is singular)
The girls run slowly. (Subject is plural)
Rule #2 A finite verb is controlled by the person.
Example:
I visit my grandparents at least once a month. (I – First Person)
She visits her grandparents at least once a month. (She – Third Person)
 How to identify a ’Finite Verb’?

Rule #3 A finite verb is controlled by the tense. It can be in the past, present or future
tense.
Example:
Mary studies Spanish. (Present Tense)
Mary will study Spanish. (Future Tense)
 Non-Finite Verbs

Definition
An infinite/non-finite verb is unlimited and unbounded. It is opposite to a finite verb.
Example:
“I suspect it was him.”
Here, “suspect” is limited. It is limited by person and tense.
Example:
“I want to achieve success.”
Here, “achieve” is independent of person and tense.
 Types of Non-finite Verbs

The Non-Finite or Infinite Verb is divided into the following types.

Infinitives: Infinitives are the root verbs. They can be a ‘to infinitive’ like to eat or ‘bare
infinitive’ like shall.
Participles:
Present Participle: - ing form
Past Participle: completed action.
Perfect Participle: having + V4
Gerund: The gerunds are participle verbs working as a noun. They are just as same as a
present participle in its form but it is used with a different cause.
 How to identify an ‘Infinite Verb’?

Rule #1: Bare infinitive with (infinitive without ‘to’) some modals We, cannot use
‘to+V1’ form with modals. Modals are written without ‘to’.
Example: “They can do the job.” (Case of Bare infinitive)
“ He shall come today.” (Case of Bare infinitive)
Exception: Full infinitive (infinitive with ‘to’) is used with these two modals We use
‘to+V1’ with these two modals.
Ought to
Have to
Example: “You ought to obey the rules.”
“You have to study hard.”
 How to identify an ‘Infinite Verb’?

Rule #2: To is the only preposition that takes the base form of the verb. However, there
are some phrases with to being at the end of them, which require the gerund form of the
verbs.
Example: “My kids volunteered to make cupcakes for the bake sale.”
“Clara’s eagerness to volunteering is a surprise at her age.”
Rule #3: To be, being, having, getting, etc. are generally followed by the past participle
form of the verbs and other adjectives.
Example: “Being sick, he took a day off from work.”
"The kid felt happy, having eaten a burger.”
 How to identify an ‘Infinite Verb’?

Rule #4: Usage of used to/ accustomed to/ addicted to/ habituated to: used to/
accustomed to/ addicted to/ habituated to + V4
Example: “She is addicted to using social media till late night.”
“My brother is accustomed to going for a walk everyday.”
Rule #5: With these words to + V1 is always used Try, refuse, proceed, plan, neglect,
hesitate, begin, manage, learn, forget, etc.
Example: “The kid hesitates to speak in front of the entire school.”
”My mother refused me to talk to her.”
 How to identify an ‘Infinite Verb’?

Rule #6: Gerund form is always used after possessive pronouns like (my, mine, his, her,
your, our, etc.
Example:
“Father is very upset about my failing in the entrance.”
Auxiliary Verb

What is an Auxiliary Verb?

An auxiliary verb (abbreviated aux) is a verb that adds functional or grammatical
meaning to the clause in which it appears, so as to
express tense, aspect, modality, voice, emphasis, etc. Auxiliary verbs
usually accompany the main verb. The main verb provides the main semantic
content of the clause.
Example: I have finished my lunch.
Here, the main verb is “finished”, and the auxiliary “have” helps to express
the perfect aspect. Some sentences contain a chain of two or more auxiliary
verbs.
Modal Verbs

What is a Modal Verb?

Modals or Modal Verbs or Modal Auxiliary are used to show the mood or attitude
of the subject. They are the verbs that are used to indicate modality. Such
as likelihood, ability, permission, request, capacity, suggestions, order, obligation,
or advice. Modal verbs always accompany the base (infinitive) form of another
verb having semantic content. Modals are the type of auxiliary expressing the
subject’s mood. They give information about the function of the main verb.
n English, the modal verbs commonly used are can, could, may, might, must, will,
would, shall, should, ought to, had better, “have to” and sometimes need or dare.
Modal Verbs

Modal Must Shall Will Can May

Verb

Modal + – Should Would Could Might

ed

Full Must not – Shall not Will not Cannot May not
negative Should not Would not Could not Might not
forms
Short Mustn’t – Shan’t Won’t Can’t – Mightn’t
Negative Shouldn’t Wouldn’t Couldn’t
forms
 Different types of Modals and their
usage
Modals Usage
Can, Could, May Permission
Can, Could, be able to past ability, power and capacity, remote possibility,
formal request
May, Might, Can, Could Possibility
Should show assistance or polite suggestion, give advice,

Would Request
Ought to, Must, have to, had to, have got to, will have Necessity, Compulsion
to
Ought not to, Must not, Prohibition
Dare challenge or courage
Need to requirements
Used to past habits, habitual action
 Helping Verbs

What is a “Helping Verb”?

In a sentence, the verb which is used along with the main verb or the principal verb
that denotes the action done by the subject is called a helping verb. As the name
suggests, a helping verb is a verb that helps another verb and is employed in a
sentence to modify the tense, voice or mood of the sentence.
Definition
A helping verb is “a verb (as am, may, or will) that is used with another verb to express
person, number, mood, or tense”, according to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary.
 How to use ‘Helping Verbs’?

To use helping verbs effectively, you should know how it is conjugated to represent a
different tense, mood or voice. Have a look at the examples given below to understand how.
Examples:
 I am going to speak at the inaugural ceremony tomorrow.
 We are having spaghetti for dinner tonight.
 What are you doing?
 The children have been waiting to have ice cream.
 The Pavilion Apartments was built by M & M Builders.
 You cannot change your parents.
 How to use ‘Helping Verbs’?

Examples:
 I did have an imaginary friend.
 Do you need any help?
 Were you feeling nervous when you were on stage?
 Tony will take care of the students.
List of Helping Verbs of all Tenses

Tense Examples Helping Verb

Present Continuous Monica is making Is

Lasagna.
Present Perfect She has spoken to the Has
dean about it already.
Present Perfect Chandler has been Has been
Continuous smoking for an hour.
Past Continuous Rachel was working at Was
the café.
List of Helping Verbs of all Tenses

Tense Examples Helping Verb

Past Perfect Ross has not worked at Has not

the museum for ten
years.
Past Perfect Continuous My friends had been Had been
wanting to come home for
a while now.
Future Continuous Phoebe will be playing the Will be
guitar at the party
tomorrow.
Future Perfect The plumber will have Will have
fixed all the pipelines in
two days.
List of Helping Verbs of all Tenses

Tense Examples Helping Verb

Future Perfect The waitress will have Will have been

Continuous been serving dinner for
fifty people at this time
tomorrow.