What is a Verb?

A verb can be considered as one of the most important parts of a sentence. You probably already
know that a sentence must be composed of a subject and a predicate, so what makes a verb so
important? Well, the verb is the main component of a predicate. Without it, there won’t be a
sentence, just a bunch of words with an incomplete thought. Simply defined, the verb is a part of
speech which is used to demonstrate an action or a state of being.

What are the Different Kinds of Verbs?

Your primary school teachers must have defined verb as an “action word.” That is right,
however, verbs are more than just words that express an action done physically like:

run, jump, dance, write, kick, etc.

In reality, verbs may also refer to an action done mentally such as:

think, ponder, guess, imagine, wonder, etc.

1. Normal Verbs and Non-Continuous Verbs

The first type of verb used to express physical action is called a Normal Verb, while the second
one, which refers to an action you can’t see someone do, is called a Non-Continuous Verb.

Sample Sentences:

 Jesse Pinkman laughed hysterically.

 The verb in this sentence is laughed and the subject who does the action is Jessie
Pinkman.

 Aegon Targaryen and his sisters conquered the Seven Kingdoms.

 The verb is conquered, while the subject in this sentence is Aegon Targaryen and his
sisters.

 Darth Vader thought of an evil plan to get rid of Darth Sidious.

 Thought is the mental action word done by the subject Darth Vader in the sentence
above.

 I wonder what will happen on the next episode.

 The pronoun, I, is the subject in the last sentence and the verb is wonder.

2. Linking Verb

Aside from the Normal Verbs and Non-Continuous Verbs, there is another type which is called
the Linking Verb.
As the name suggests, a linking verb is a kind of verb that links a subject to the complement. A
complement is the part of a sentence which modifies or provides more information about the
subject. Examples of linking verbs are:

am, is, was, are, were, has been, might have been, become, etc.

The words listed above are just some of the “true linking verbs.” They are called that way
because they have no other functions but to serve as linking verbs. However, just like some
people, certain verbs also have dual personalities. Take a look at the two sentences below:

 Irine tasted the exotic food.

 The exotic food tasted great!

In the first sentence, you can easily say that the italicized word is an action word done by Irine.
However, in the second sentence, the same word has a different function. It serves as a linking
verb that connects exotic food with the word, great.

What are Multi-Part Verbs?

Do not assume that verbs are limited to a single word. Sometimes, they come in two to four
words. The basic formula for verbs with multiple parts is:

The auxiliary verbs, also called “helping verbs,” allow you to write in various verb tenses and
voices when combined with a base or main verb.

Take a look at the examples below:

 I was given a two-week notice by the sales agent.

 The sentence above is written in the passive voice. Was is the auxiliary verb and given is
the main verb.

 It must have been raining very hard.

 The main verb is raining and the auxiliary verbs are must have been.

What are the Different Forms of Verbs?

In order to be able to construct a grammatically correct sentence, it is very important that you
know how to write in the proper verb tense. The three basic forms of verbs are past, present,
and future. The first one obviously refers to an action that was already done, the second is for
present action, and the third is for an action that will be done.
Examples:

Past Present Future

aimed aim/s will aim
counted count/s will count
marched march/es will march
picked pick/s will pick
walked walk/s will walk

You will notice that:

1. The present form is just the basic form of the verb (add –s or –es for a singular subject)

 Example: He marches; Soldiers march

2. The past tense is the basic form plus –ed.

 *Note: The past tense of a verb pertaining to a singular subject and a plural subject is the
same.
 Example: She walked; They walked

3. The future tense is the word will plus the basic form of the verb.

 *Note: The future tense of a verb pertaining to a singular subject and a plural subject is
the same.
 Example: Andrea will count; The teachers will count

Although most verbs follow these rules, there are still some exceptions. Take a look at the
examples below:

Past Present Future

drove drive/s will drive
read read/s will read
felt feel/s will feel
taught teach/es will teach
thought think/s will think

The verbs presented in the table above are called irregular verbs. There are actually no specific
rules on how to form this kind of verb. But don’t worry because you can easily find a complete
list on the internet.
Final Thoughts

Verbs are very easy to spot. What can be challenging is deciding which correct verb tense to use.
However, this can be easily solved by reading a lot and practicing your writing skills. Other
people might find grammar a trivial thing, but the truth is that a considerable amount of
knowledge in proper grammar can take you a long way.