Verbs
Learn about action words, linking verbs, helping verbs, and how to use them correctly in English grammar
What Are Verbs?
Verbs are words that express actions, states of being, or occurrences. They are essential parts of speech that tell us what someone or something does, what happens, or what exists. Verbs can show tense (past, present, future), mood, voice, and person. They are the engines that drive sentences and make them complete.
Types of Verbs
1. Action Verbs
Definition
Show physical or mental actions
Examples
run, jump, think, write, speak
Usage
Can be transitive or intransitive
Sentence
The cat runs quickly.
2. Linking Verbs
Definition
Connect subject to subject complement
Examples
be, become, seem, appear, feel
Usage
Followed by adjectives or nouns
Sentence
She is happy.
3. Helping Verbs
Definition
Support main verbs to show tense, mood, voice
Examples
have, has, had, will, would, can, could
Usage
Used with main verbs
Sentence
I have finished my homework.
4. Transitive vs Intransitive
Transitive
Take direct objects (I read a book)
Intransitive
No direct object (I sleep)
Transitive Example
She wrote a letter.
Intransitive Example
The bird flew.
5. Verb Tenses
Present
I walk, he walks
Past
I walked, he walked
Future
I will walk, he will walk
Perfect
I have walked, he has walked
Verbs in Sentences
The student (subject) studies (action verb) diligently (adverb).
She (subject) is (linking verb) intelligent (adjective).
They (subject) have been (helping verbs) working (main verb) hard.
The chef (subject) cooked (transitive verb) dinner (object) perfectly (adverb).
Interactive Quiz 1: Identify Verb Types
Identify the type of each verb:
1. "She runs quickly." - runs is an _____ verb.
Show Answer
Answer: Action verb (shows physical movement)
2. "He is happy." - is is a _____ verb.
Show Answer
Answer: Linking verb (connects subject to adjective)
3. "I have finished." - have is a _____ verb.
Show Answer
Answer: Helping verb (supports main verb finished)
Interactive Quiz 2: Transitive vs Intransitive
Identify if each verb is transitive or intransitive:
1. "She reads a book." - reads is _____
Show Answer
Answer: Transitive (takes direct object "a book")
2. "The bird flies." - flies is _____
Show Answer
Answer: Intransitive (no direct object)
3. "He writes letters." - writes is _____
Show Answer
Answer: Transitive (takes direct object "letters")
Interactive Quiz 3: Verb Tenses
Identify the tense of each verb:
1. "I walk to school." - walk is _____ tense
Show Answer
Answer: Present tense
2. "She walked home." - walked is _____ tense
Show Answer
Answer: Past tense
3. "They will arrive tomorrow." - will arrive is _____ tense
Show Answer
Answer: Future tense
Interactive Quiz 4: Create Sentences with Verbs
Create sentences using these types of verbs:
Use: action verb + linking verb + helping verb
Show Example
Example: I have been running and am tired.
Use: transitive verb + intransitive verb
Show Example
Example: She reads books and sleeps peacefully.
Use: present tense + past tense + future tense
Show Example
Example: I study now, studied yesterday, and will study tomorrow.
Important Grammar Rules for Verbs
Subject-Verb Agreement
Verbs must agree with their subjects in number and person (he walks, they walk).
Tense Consistency
Maintain consistent tense within a sentence or paragraph unless there's a clear reason to change.
Linking Verbs
Linking verbs connect subjects to adjectives or nouns, not to adverbs.
Quick Reference
Pro Tip
Verbs are the engines that drive sentences and show what happens!