What is a verb?

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)

Verbs are related to a lot of other factors like the subject, person, number, tense, mood, voice, etc.

Basic Forms of Verbs

There are six basic forms of verbs. These forms are as follows:

• - Base form: Children play in the field.
• - Infinitive: Tell them not to play.
• - Past tense: They played football yesterday.
• - Past participle: I have eaten a burger.
• - Present participle: I saw them playing with him today.
• - Gerund: Swimming is the best exercise.

Base Verb

The base verb is the form of a verb where it has no ending (-ing, -ed, -en) added to it. It is also called the Root Verb since it is the very root form of a verb.

Examples:

• - I go to school every day.
• - You run a mile every morning.
• - Do your homework.

Regular Verb

The Verbs that follow the most usual conjugations are considered Regular Verbs. It is regular since it abides by most if not all of the regular grammar rules there are.

Examples:

• - Rehan plays cricket.
• - Tam called out my name.
• - You really walked all the way back?

Irregular Verb

The Verbs that have irregularities in terms of following grammar rules are Irregular Verbs, in general.

Examples:

• - Do the dishes.
• - I hardly ever drink enough water in a day.
• - She drove all the way back.

Transitive Verb

The Main Verb that takes a direct object sitting right after it would be a Transitive Verb. They usually construct the most straightforward of sentences.

Examples:

• - She went to the fair.
• - We do not like being called out loud in crowds.
• - I love visiting my village home.

Intransitive Verb

The main Verb that does not take a direct object specified right afterward and rather there is an indirect one mentioned somewhere along the line is called an Intransitive Verb. These verbs often make the corresponding sentences incomplete.

Examples:

• - I laughed.
• - John ran.
• - A ghast of cold wind blew.

Ergative Verb

Ergative Verbs can be used as Transitive and Intransitive Verb. They are also called Labile Verb in English.

Examples:

Phrasal Verb

An idiomatic phrase consisting of a Verb and another element, most likely an Adverb or a Preposition is called a Phrasal Verb.

Examples:

• - She broke down in tears.
• - Don't look down upon the poor.
• - I'll see to it.

Linking Verb

A linking verb adds details about the subject of a sentence. In its simplest form, it connects the subject and the complement — that is, the words that follow the linking verb. It creates a link between them instead of showing action.

Often, what is on each side of a linking verb is equivalent; the complement redefines or restates the subject.

Generally, linking verbs are called ‘be’ verbs which are - am, is, are, was, were. However, there are some other verbs that can work as linking verbs. Those verbs are:
Act, feel, remain, appear, become, seem, smell, sound, grow, look, prove, stay, taste, turn.

Some verbs in this list can also be action verbs. To figure out if they are linking verbs, you should try replacing them with forms of the be verbs. If the changed sentence makes sense, that verb is a linking verb.

Examples:

• - She appears ready for the game. (She is ready for the game.)
• - The food seemed delicious. (The food was delicious.)
• - You look happy. (You are happy.)

Participle

A participle is a Verb form where they retain some of the characteristics and functions of both Verbs and adopt those of the Adjectives.

Examples:

Present Participle (Verb + -ing)

• - Have I become a laughing stock?
• - Cycling is a well-rounded exercise.

Past Participle

• - I have taken a hint.
• - Have you given it enough thought?

Perfect Participle (Having + Past Participle)

• - Having said that, I was quite worried.
• - Having stepped out of my comfort zone, I saw a whole new world.

Gerund

The Verbs having -ing endings that function like Nouns in sentences are called Gerunds.

Examples:

• - Smoking is injurious to health.
• - Walking is good for health.
• - I love swimming.