Verbs!
What Are Verbs?
A verb is a "doing" word. A verb can express:
A physical action (e.g., to swim, to write, to climb).
A mental action (e.g., to think, to guess, to consider).
A state of being (e.g., to be, to exist, to appear).
Verbs Can Express Physical Actions
Here are some sentences with verbs that express physical actions. (In each example, the verb is highlighted.)
She sells pegs and lucky heather.
(In this example, the word sells is a verb. It expresses the physical activity to sell.)
The doctor wrote the prescription.
(In this example, the word wrote is a verb. It expresses the physical activity to write.)
Alison bought a ticket.
(The word bought is a verb. It expresses the physical activity to buy.)
Verbs Can Express Mental Actions
While many verbs express physical actions (e.g., to jump, to dance, to sing), verbs can also express mental actions. For example:
She considers the job done.
(The word considers is a verb. It expresses the mental activity to consider.)
Peter guessed the right number.
(The word guessed is a verb. It expresses the mental activity to guess.)
I thought the same thing.
(The word thought is a verb. It expresses the mental activity to think.)
Verbs Can Express a State of Being
A small but extremely important group of verbs do not express any activity at all. The most important verb in this group (arguably of all) is the verb to be.
Here are some real examples with the verb to be:
Edwina is the largest elephant in this area.
(The word is is a verb from the verb to be.)
It was a joke.
(The word was is a verb from the verb to be.)
I am.
(The word am is a verb from the verb to be.) (Point of interest: I am is the shortest sentence in English.)
The Types of Verbs
As we've covered, a verb can be categorized as a physical verb (e.g., to run), a mental verb (e.g., to think), or a state-of-being verb (e.g., to be). However, a verb will often be further categorized as one of the following:
Action Verb
An action verb expresses an activity that a person or thing can do. For example:
Lee eats cake.
(Eating is something Lee can do.)
The bear chased the salmon in the shallow rapids.
(Chasing is something the bear can do.)
Compare those verbs with these:
Lee likes cake.
(To like is not an activity. It's a state.)
The bear is hungry.
(To be is not an activity. It's a state.)
Stative Verb
A stative verb expresses a state rather than an action. A stative verb typically relates to a state of being, a thought, or an emotion. For example:
I am at home.
She believes in fairies.
He feels elated.
Transitive Verb
A transitive verb is one that acts on something (i.e., it has a direct object). For example:
I saw the dog.
(Here, the direct object is the dog.)
Lee ate the pie.
(Here, the direct object is the pie.)
The postman will give Sarah the letter.
(Here, the direct object is the letter.)
Note: The direct object of a transitive verb can be found by finding the verb and asking "what?" For example, "saw what?" (answer: the dog); "ate what?" (answer: the pie); "will give what?" (answer: the letter). Read more about transitive verbs.
Intransitive Verb
An intransitive verb is one that does not act on something (i.e., there is no direct object). For example:
The rain fell.
My throat hurts.
The cat sneezed.
Read more about intransitive verbs.
Auxiliary Verb
An auxiliary verb (or helping verb) accompanies a main verb to help express tense, voice or mood. The most common auxiliary verbs are be, do, and have (in their various forms). Here are some examples of auxiliary verbs:
Lee has eaten all the pies.
(Here, the auxiliary verb has helps to express tense.)
The table has been prepared.
(Here, the auxiliary verbs has been help to express voice (in this case, the passive voice).)
If he were to arrive in the next 10 minutes, we would be on schedule.
(Here, the auxiliary verbs were and would help to express mood (in this case, the subjunctive mood).)
Read more about auxiliary verbs.
Modal Verb
Lee can eat a lot of pies.
(Here, the modal verb can helps to express the idea of ability.)
Lee might eat that pie before he gets home.
(Here, the modal verb might helps to express the idea of possibility.)
Lee may eat as many pies as he likes.
(Here, the modal verb may helps to express the idea of permission.)
Lee should give you some of that pie given you bought it.
(Here, the modal verb should helps to express the idea of obligation.)
Phrasal Verb
A burglar will often break a window to break in.
(Here, the phrasal verb break in means to enter illegally, which is different to break.)
If you drop the baton the team will drop back to last place.
(Here, the phrasal verb drop back means to fall behind, which is different to drop.)