The Definitive Guide to Mastering English Verbs: Definition and Examples

What are verbs? Explore various types of verbs in English grammar through a helpful verbs list and examples. Verbs play a crucial role in constructing sentences, which also holds true for the English language. Having a clear understanding of their function is essential for effective communication.

This guide provides a comprehensive overview, covering various verb types, their diverse forms, conjugation across tenses, and expert insights for practical usage in spoken and written communication.

What Is A Verb?

Discover the dynamic core of language? Verbs! These words represent external actions (run, jump, work) and internal processes (love, think, consider). Verbs are the life force of sentences, revealing what the subject is doing, feeling, or simply existing.

Unlike other word types, verbs are essential for making a sentence. Their significance is reflected in the many rules governing their usage, making them a focal point in English grammar.

A verb is a word that denotes action, whether physical or mental, occurrence, or a state of being. In its infinitive form, a verb is written with the particle ‘to,’ as illustrated by verbs like ‘to bake,’ ‘to clean,’ ‘to cook,’ and ‘to sing‘. Acknowledging this format makes it easier to identify verbs in a sentence.

Verbs, often described as ‘doing words‘ by beginners, consistently convey actions in the past, present, or future, depending on the tense used. Crucially, verbs form the primary element of a sentence and hold a significant place among the nine parts of speech in English. Understanding their diverse forms and functions enhances one’s ability to articulate thoughts and ideas effectively.

Verb Examples in Different Tenses

Let’s explore the usage of the verbs in sentences to illustrate how they function. We’ll also present them in various tenses to show the necessary modifications for coherence.

Verb Examples in the Simple Tenses

• I paint regularly – in the simple present tense, indicating a routine activity. Let’s change in the past tense.
• I painted regularly – transitioning to the past simple tense, the verb changes to ‘painted,’ signifying that the regular painting habit occurred in the past but may not persist.
• I will paint regularly – projecting into the future, the addition of ‘will’ between the subject ‘I’ and the verb ‘paint’ transforms the sentence into the future tense. This implies a commitment or plan to continue the regular painting habit.

This overview covers simple tenses, and while there are more complex tenses, we offer additional examples below for your observation and understanding.

Examples of Verbs in the Continuous Tenses

The continuous tense denotes an ongoing action that occurred in the past, is presently ongoing, or will continue into the future. In the following examples, the past continuous tense is presented at the top, the present continuous tense in the middle, and the future continuous tense at the bottom, illustrating how the sentences convey the ongoing nature of the actions and the distinct form of the verbs compared to their infinitive form:

• They were enjoying football when it started raining.
• I am reading a book.
• By 5 PM, they will be finishing the construction work.

Verb Examples in the Perfect Tenses

The best way to recall the perfect tense effectively is to associate it with actions that were finished, have recently concluded, or will be completed. Observe the altered form of the verb, distinct from its infinitive form, and note the modifications in surrounding words to suit the respective tense.

Past Perfect Tense:

• I had submitted my application before the deadline.

Present Perfect Tense:

• I have explored many countries in my travels.

Future Perfect Tense:

• I will have graduated by the time the new academic year begins.

Verbs Examples in the Perfect Continuous Tenses

Understanding the perfect continuous tense involves combining the aspects of the previous two tenses. It encapsulates actions that were ongoing but have recently concluded, actions that are currently ongoing but will soon cease, and actions that will be ongoing and then come to completion. Explore the examples below:

• I had been painting for an hour when you arrived.
• I have been reading for an hour.
• I will have been writing for an hour when you arrive.

Verb examples: Cook, read, write, walk, stand, go, have, get, promise, invite, listen, sing, sit, etc.

Additional sentences with different verbs:

• He writes poetry.
• I can solve the problem.
• She paints beautifully.

Verb Rules

Mastering Important Verb Rules

Many rules surround using verbs in English; let’s look at the most important ones.

• When referring to the third person, the verb necessitates an -es or -s form, as illustrated in “he uses the restroom.”
• When a long phrase separates the verb and the subject, the verb must agree with the original subject, as demonstrated in the sentence, “The candies which he gave to his missis were very tasty.”
• When the subject is introduced by the phrase ‘one of,’ the subsequent verb should be singular, exemplified by “One of the students is studying..”
• In sentences featuring two nouns that denote the same entity, the ensuing verb should be singular, as seen in “The physician and the nurse are working in the clinic.”
• If two synonymous nouns are present within a sentence, they should be followed by a singular verb, illustrated by “His authority and strength are immense.”
• Plural nouns, when standalone, require a plural verb, such as “His boots are oversized..” However, if the plural noun is preceded by the word ‘a pair of,’ a singular verb is required, as shown in “A pair of boots is rather costly.”
• Uncountable nouns consistently take a singular verb, demonstrated in “The poem that he writes is very romantic.”
• When a collective noun signifies a singular entity, it should employ a singular verb, as in “The army is very strict.” Conversely, a plural verb is suitable if the collective noun refers to individuals, as in “The troops are requesting new members.”

Subject Verb Agreement Rules

• There are 10 subject-verb agreement rules in English grammar:
• Number agreement: Singular subjects require singular verbs, while plural subjects take plural verbs.
• Subjects separated by “with,” “as well as,” “together with,” or “along with” do not influence the verb, which agrees with the main subject.
• Subjects joined by “and” are plural.
• Subjects joined by “or/not,” “either…or/neither…nor,” or “not only…but also” take the verb that corresponds to the subject closest to it.
• Collective nouns may take a singular or plural verb (UK) based on the intended meaning.
• In sentences beginning with “here” or “there,” the actual subject follows the verb.
• Singular indefinite pronouns require a singular verb, plural indefinite pronouns demand a plural verb, and specific indefinite pronouns (some, any, all, most) may be singular or plural based on sentence context.
• Use a singular verb for measurement, time, money, and weight expressions when the amount is considered a single unit.
• Plural subjects with a singular meaning should have a singular verb.
• Titles of single entities are always singular.

Types of Verbs with Examples

Now that we’ve looked at verbs, practical verb grammar rules, and all the possible tenses you can write them in for you to think about, we’ll offer a choice of verb examples to help you diversify your grammar and enrich your vocabulary.

Learn some common examples of different types of verbs in English with helpful grammar rules.

1. Irregular Verbs Examples

Irregular verbs in English differ from the traditional pattern of adding “d” or “ed” to form the past tense (past simple and/or past participle).

Base Form	Past Tense	Past Participle
Fall	Fell	Fallen
Feed	Fed	Fed
Feel	Felt	Felt
Fight	Fought	Fought
Find	Found	Found
Fly	Flew	Flown
Forbid	Forbade	Forbidden
Forget	Forgot	Forgotten
Forgive	Forgave	Forgiven
Freeze	Froze	Frozen
Get	Got	Got
Give	Gave	Given
Go	Went	Gone
Grind	Ground	Ground
Grow	Grew	Grown
Hang	Hung	Hung
Have	Had	Had
Hear	Heard	Heard
Hide	Hid	Hidden
Hit	Hit	Hit
Hold	Held	Held
Hurt	Hurt	Hurt
Keep	Kept	Kept
Kneel	Knelt	Knelt
Know	Knew	Known
Lay	Laid	Laid
Lead	Led	Led
Lean	Leant/Leaned	Leant/Leaned
Learn	Learnt/Learned	Learnt/Learned
Leave	Left	Left
Lent	Lent	Lent
Lie (in bed)	Lay	Lain
Lie	Lied	Lied
Light	Lit/Lighted	Lit/Lighted
Lose	Lost	Lost
Make	Made	Made
Mean	Meant	Meant
Meet	Met	Met
Overtake	Overtook	Overtaken
Pay	Paid	Paid
Put	Put	Put
Read	Read	Read
Ride	Rode	Ridden
Ring	Rang	Rung
Rise	Rose	Risen
Run	Ran	Run
Saw	Sawed	Sawn/Sawed
Say	Said	Said
See	Sawed	Seen
Sell	Sold	Sold
Send	Sent	Sent
Set	Set	Set
Sew	Sewed	Sewn/Sewed
Shake	Shook	Shaken
Shed	Shed	Shed
Shine	Shone	Shone
Shoot	Shot	Shot
Show	Showed	Shown
Shrink	Shrank	Shrunk
Shut	Shut	Shut
Sing	Sang	Sung
Sink	Sank	Sunk
Sit	Sat	Sat
Sleep	Slept	Slept
Slide	Slid	Slid
Smell	Smelt	Smelt
Sow	Sowed	Sown/Sowed
Speak	Spoke	Spoken
Spell	Spelt/Spelled	Spelt/Spelled
Spend	Spent	Spent
Spill	Spilt/Spilled	Spilt/Spilled
Spit	Spat	Spat
Spread	Spread	Spread
Stand	Stood	Stood
Steal	Stole	Stolen
Stick	Stuck	Stuck
Sting	Stung	Stung
Stink	Stank	Stunk
Strike	Struck	Struck
Swear	Swore	Sworn
Sweep	Swept	Swept
Swell	Swelled	Swollen/Swelled
Swim	Swam	Swum
Swing	Swung	Swung

2. Modal Verbs Examples

it is a limited category of auxiliary verbs that convey expressions of possibility, obligation, advice, permission, and ability.

• I can swim.
• She should attend the meeting.
• You must finish your homework.
• He may arrive late.
• We might go to the party.
• They could solve the problem.
• You shall not pass.
• It will rain tomorrow.
• I would like a cup of tea.
• She ought to apologize.

Modal Verbs To Express Ability

• He is able to solve complex problems.
• We can’t understand the instructions.
• They are unable to attend the meeting.
• She can play the piano.
• He could speak nicely when he was in college.
• We are able to complete the project on time.

Modals for Asking Permissions

• Can I borrow your pen?
• May I use your computer?
• Could I have a moment of your time?
• Would it be okay if I left early?
• Is it all right if I open the window?
• Might I ask for your assistance?
• Shall I proceed with the presentation?
• Am I allowed to park here?

Perfect Infinitive with Modals

• I should have finished my homework by now.
• You must have seen the news by this time.
• She might have forgotten about the appointment.
• We could have completed the project earlier.
• They would have arrived if the flight wasn’t delayed.
• She may have left his purse at home.
• You ought to have notified us in advance.
• It can’t have been easy for him to make that decision.

3. Dynamic Verbs Examples

A dynamic verb is indeed a verb that expresses ongoing or progressive action performed by the subject.

• Run: She is running in the marathon.
• Jump: The cat jumped onto the windowsill.
• Write: He is writing a novel.
• Swim: We enjoy swimming in the ocean.
• Speak: They speak multiple languages fluently.
• Drive: She is driving to the store.
• Cook: We are cooking dinner together.
• Play: The children are playing in the park.
• Dance: He danced all night at the party.
• Build: The construction workers are building a new house.

4. Stative Verbs Examples

Stative verbs are indeed verbs that express a state or condition rather than an action. They often relate to thoughts, emotions, relationships, senses, states of being, and measurements.

• Know: She knows the answer to the question.
• Believe: I believe in honesty.
• Understand: He understands the concept.
• Love: They love each other deeply.
• Own: We own a beautiful house.
• Hate: She hates spiders.
• Belong: The book belongs to the library.
• Want: He wants a new car.
• Like: They like classical music.
• Seem: It seems like a difficult task.

5. Auxiliary Verbs Examples

An auxiliary verb, mentioned briefly in the context of the verb “to be,” extends beyond and includes other verbs. These auxiliary verbs cannot form standalone sentences but collaborate with other verbs to convey various conditions, states, or tenses. Here are examples:

• Upon my arrival, she had completed the lesson.
• Following his return home, we had already finished dinner.

An auxiliary verb serves a functional or grammatical role in a clause, contributing to the expression of tense, aspect, modality, voice, emphasis, etc. Essentially, an auxiliary verb supports another verb by providing additional grammatical information.

• Do: I do not prefer going out tonight.
• Have: I have recently obtained his response.
• Be: A model railway expo will be hosted on Friday.
• Will: He will refrain from playing volleyball.

6. Causative Verbs Examples

Causative verbs reveal the reason for an action, indicating that the subject did not perform the action themselves but somewhat influenced someone or something else to do it on their behalf.

• Have: I had the mechanic inspect the brakes.
• Get: I couldn’t get the engine to start.
• Make: I like him because he makes me laugh.
• Let: Let: If you agree, kindly let me know.

7. Transitive Verb Examples

A transitive verb can have a noun directly attached to it. Examples of this might be:

• Eat: She ate the sandwich.
• Write: John wrote a letter to his boss.
• Throw: They threw the ball to each other.
• Buy: She bought a new dress for the party.
• Kick: Julia kicked the ball towards the goal.
• Paint: She painted the picture with watercolors.
• Cook: He cooked dinner for his family.
• Clean: She cleaned the room thoroughly.
• Open: Eileen opened the window to let in the fresh air.
• Fix: The shopkeeper fixed the broken vase with glue.

8. Intransitive Verb Examples

Intransitive verbs don’t connect directly with nouns; they need a specific preposition. Examples include:

• Sleep: He sleeps soundly at night.
• Laugh: They laughed at the funny joke.
• Run: Aslam ran to catch the bus.
• Fall: The leaves fall from the trees in autumn.
• Dance: John danced gracefully to the music.
• Sing: She sang beautifully in the choir.
• Swim: They swam in the pool for hours.
• Jump: The rabbit jumped over the fence.
• Shiver: She shivered in the cold wind.
• Smile: Jacquline smiled at the kids playing in the park.

No Action To Be

No Action Reference:

• The verb “to be” is a linking verb that does not directly reference an action.

Auxiliary and Main Verb:

• “To be” can serve as both auxiliary and main verbs.

Main Verb with Adjective:

• When used as a main verb, “to be” joins a subject to an adjective.
• Example: She is small.

Main Verb with Noun:

• “To be” as a main verb can also connect a subject to another noun.
• Example: James is King.

9. Linking Verb Examples

Linking verbs connect the subject of a sentence to a subject complement, which can be a noun, pronoun, or adjective, and they do not express action. Here are examples of linking verbs:

To Be Verbs:

• She is a talented musician.
• They are excited about the trip.

Sensory Perception Verbs:

• The flowers smell delightful.
• The soup tastes too salty.

Becoming Verbs:

• He became a successful entrepreneur.
• They seem happy together.

Appear and Seem:

• The task appears challenging.
• She seems upset.

State of Being:

• The weather remains unpredictable.
• His answer was unclear.

More Examples:

• Seem: She seems excited about the upcoming event.
• Become: He became a skilled carpenter.
• Look: The old building looks majestic in the sunlight.
• Feel: They feel relieved after completing the project.
• Sound: The birds sound cheerful in the morning.
• Smell: The coffee smells enticing in the kitchen.
• Taste: The cake tastes divine with the added spices.
• Grow: The community grows stronger with each new member.
• Remain: The mystery remains unsolved despite thorough investigation.

Different Verb Forms with Examples

There are different verb forms in which they can come. We are now exploring each of these forms in more detail.

Infinitives

The infinitive form of a verb is how it looks at the start. In English, it’s often the word ‘to’ followed by the verb, like to run, to see, to have, to live.

What is a To-Infinitive?

A to-infinitive is the base form of a verb preceded by the word “to.” Here are important points about to-infinitives:

Formation:

• A to-infinitive is created by adding “to” before the base form of a verb.
• Examples: To run, to play, to study, to sing.

Usage as a Noun:

• Used as a noun in a sentence.
• Example: I love to swim in the ocean.

Usage with Modals:

• It is often used with modal verbs like can, should, may.
• Example: She wants to visit Paris.

Purpose or Intention:

• It expresses purpose or intention.
• Example: He went to the store to buy groceries.

After Adjectives:

• It is used after adjectives to express purpose.
• Example: She is excited to start her new job.

After Certain Verbs:

• A to-infinitive follows some verbs.
• Example: They decided to travel around the world.

Omission of “To” in Some Cases:

• “To” may be omitted after verbs like let, make, hear, see.
• Example: She made him cry.

Verbs Followed by Infinitives

You can also learn from a list of commonly used Verbs Followed by Infinitives:

Attempt	Ask	Arrange
Beg	Begin	Care
Choose	Claim	Consent
Continue	Dare	Decide
Demand	Deserve	Dislike
Expect	Fail	Forget
Get	Hesitate	Hope
Hurry	Intend	Learn
Like	Love	Manage
Mean	Neglect	Need
Offer	Plan	Prefer
Prepare	Pretend	Proceed
Promise	Propose	Refuse
Remember	Seem	Start
Stop	Struggle	Swear

When do we use zero infinitives?

The zero infinitive is a bare infinitive, meaning the base form of a verb without the “to” particle. It is used in specific situations. Here are some cases when we use the zero infinitive:

• After Modal Verbs
• After Certain Perceptions
• After Certain Verbs of Perception in Passive Form
• After the Phrase “had better.”
• After Certain Causative Verbs
• After Certain Perceptions in Complex Object Structures

What is a Gerund?

A gerund is when a verb takes on the -ing form and acts as a noun within a sentence. Here are some critical points about gerunds and where they are used:

• Function as Nouns
• Used as a Subject of a Sentence
• Used as Object of a Verb
• Used as an Object of a Preposition
• After Certain Verbs
• After Prepositions
• After Possessive Adjectives
• After Certain Expressions
• Infinite Verb Form

Verbs Followed by Gerunds

A helpful list of Verbs Followed by Gerunds in English.

Admit	Advise	Anticipate
Acknowledge	Appreciate	Avoid
Bear	Begin	Complete
Consider	Defer	Delay
Deny	Discuss	Dislike
Enjoy	Entail	Finish
Forget	Hate	Intend
Involve	Justify	Keep
Like	Love	Mention
Mind	Miss	Postpone
Practice	Prefer	Quit
Recall	Recollect	Recommend
Regret	Resent	Resist
Risk	Sanction	Start
Stop	Suggest	Tolerate
Try

Participle

• A participle is a verbal used as an adjective, typically ending in -ing or -ed.
• Function: Participles function as adjectives, modifying nouns or pronouns.

Types of Participles

1. Present Participle:

• Formation: Add -ing to the verb stem.
• Time Indication: Represents an action happening right now.
• Example: I am leaving the house.

2. Past Participle:

• Formation: Add -ed to the verb stem (regular form).
• Time Indication: Represents an action that has already happened in the past.
• Examples: I decided what happens.

Irregular Forms

Some verbs have irregular past participles.

• to show – shown
• to see – seen
• to build – built
• to feel – felt

Finite and Non-finite Verbs

Finite Verb Forms:

• The finite form is the conjugated form used within a sentence.
• Controlled By: Controlled by the number of the subject (singular or plural).
• Examples: They are studying reproduction in shellfish.

Non-finite Verb Forms:

• The subject’s number, person, and tense do not control it.
• Examples: I don’t work at home in the dark.

Understanding these concepts helps recognize and appropriately use participles and verb forms in English grammar.

Common Verb Examples in Sentences

You can learn a comprehensive list of common verbs from A to Z in English.

Verb	Example Sentence
Dream	I dream of travelling to exotic places.
Discover	They discovered a hidden treasure in the cave.
Dance	She danced gracefully at the party last night.
Decline	Unfortunately, I must decline the invitation.
Deliver	The mailman delivers packages to our doorstep.
Demand	The protesters demand justice and equality.
Donate	We regularly donate to local charities.
Design	She designs beautiful websites for a living.
Discuss	Let’s sit down and discuss the upcoming project.
Dare	I dare you to try the spicy chilli challenge.
Decorate	We plan to decorate the house for the holidays.
Detect	The detective detected a clue in the crime scene.
Devour	The hungry lion began to devour its prey.
Dress	She dresses her daughter in warm clothes.
Define	Can you define the term “biodiversity”?
Dine	We often dine at our restaurant on weekends.
Dive	The diver explored the depths of the ocean.
Document	It’s essential to document your research findings.
Dominate	The boxer continues to dominate the sport.