It is a word that is used to express an action, state, or occurrence. It is the main part of a sentence and is a very important part of speech as any tense cannot be completed without a verb. There are twelve tenses and you will find a verb in every type whether is an indefinite family, continuous, perfect, or perfect continuous family.
What Is a Verb? | Types of Verbs Definition Examples
For example:
go, write, run, stand, walk, drive, eat, drink, watch, read, listen, sit
Akram and Ali go to school.
I often write a letter alone in the mountains.
The lion runs very fast.
Stand here.
Walk daily makes a man smart.
They drive carefully.
How to Recognize a Verb:
In all twelve tenses, a verb always comes right after the subject or helping verb (if those tenses do not have any helping verb like present/past indefinite tenses then it will come right after subject whereas, in the remaining ten tenses, it will come right after helping verb. In imperative sentences, then it will be in front of the sentence.
Types of Verb
There are many types of the verb depending upon the types of tenses where every tense have its own form of the verb to use.
- Main Verbs
- Linking Verbs
- Auxiliary Verbs
- Modal Verbs
The main verbs are related to actions, events, and states. Remember, the verb we use in our daily life are the main verbs.
Example:
They went ground straight after the sun was out.
(Action)
It was raining heavily yesterday.
(Event)
All the people were laughing there.
(State)
Unlike the main verbs, s do not express the action, it connects the subject and verb to give more information. Such verbs give the meanings or sense of being or seem.
Examples:
Ali looks happy.
The rose smells nice.
These leaves have turned pale.
This fruit tastes well.
Hence, it is proved the question is correct.
The clouds appeared from the West.
The total remains constant.
Auxiliary Verb is also known as Helping Verb. These types of verbs are used in a sentence with the main verb to extend and complete the meaning of a sentence and make the sentence more comprehensive.
Examples:
is, are, am, was, were, has, have, will, shall, etc
He is writing an article.
They were playing chess.
You will perform the prescribed task.
We have completed our work.
Applications of Helping Verbs:
Helping verbs have more contribution as a part of speech than other types of verbs. These types not only extend the meaning of a sentence but also used to make the sentences negative, interrogative, and interro-negative.
Making a Sentence “Negative”:
To make any sentence negative, just place “not” right after the helping verb. So, it is important to first recognize a helping verb to use. For this make exercises to recognize helping verbs.
They have done their work in time.
They have not done their work in time. (Negative)
Making a Sentence “Interrogative”:
If we want to make a sentence interrogative, we’ll have to put the helping verb at the start of the sentence with the sign of question mark at the end if the sentence. So, this is another key contribution of helping a verb in making a sentence interrogative.
We shall meet the next Sunday.
Shall we meet the next Sunday?
Making a Sentence “Interro-negative”:
As we know that Interro-negative sentences are those in which there is interrogation (question) as well as negativity(not). So, the helping verb is used to make a sentence interrogative.
All the insurance companies had paid their customers.
Had all the insurance company not paying their customers.
Modal verbs are those verbs that are used to express the mood, manner, or capability to perform any action.
Examples:
The examples of modal verbs are:
can, could, may, might, must, ought, should, would.
Application of Modal Verbs:
| Can, could | To show capability or power |
| Should | For proposal or advice |
| Must | To show compulsory task/ compulsion |
| Ought to | For moral duty |
| May | Permission possibility prayers, curses or desires |
| Might | For doubts |
| Would | For expected results |
| Shall/Will | For essential work |
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