What is Verb? and Types of Verb

In this article, we will discuss what is a verb? and types of verbs. so let’s start

Table of Contents

What is Verb?

The verb means an action, performed by the subject or a state of the subject. Those words that describe the action or state of a subject is called a verb.

It is the main part of a sentence or phrase, without a verb, we can’t properly convey our message.

Actually, at least one verb is always present in a sentence, it will be either the main verb or helping verb or both. It is a very important part of any sentence and no sentence can be completed without a verb.

Examples:

I go to school. (Action)
He told me a story. (Action)
She is a doctor. (State)
This boy seems tired. (State)
She is cute. (State)

A verb can be one word or group of words and it comes after the subject.

Example:

He writes a letter. (1 verb)
He is writing a letter. (2 verbs)
He has been writing a letter for an hour. (3 verbs)
He will have been writing a letter for an hour. (4 verbs)

Types of verbs

Finite Verb
Non-finite verb
Main Verb
Linking Verb
Helping Verb
Modal Helping Verb
Infinitive
Gerund
Participle

Finite verb

A finite verb is a verb that changes its forms according to the tense (present, past, future) of the sentence, the number, and person of the subject. It is the main verb of the sentence or a clause.

Finite verb includes- main verb, linking verb, and helping/auxiliary verb.

Example:

Alan went to school.
Alex plays hockey.
He is playing for India.
He is one of the best players. (Here, the verb ‘is’ directly refers to the subject itself.)

Non Finite verb

The verb that is not affected by the person or number of the subject and the tense of the sentence is called non-finite verb. It acts as a noun, adjective, and adverb.

Non-finite verbs are not actual verbs, the verbs include- infinitive, gerund, and participle.

Example:

Rahul went abroad to play.
Playing hockey is his only job.
I have a broken table.
This chair is broken.

Main Verb

The main verb is the verb that provides information and is used to express action. These are the action verbs that describe the actions of the subject. Main verb tells us about the subject’s action means what the subject is doing. These verbs are also called principle verbs or lexical verbs.

Example:

The sun shines.
Rohan eats his dinner quickly
He sings a song.
Ronny cooks food.
He ran across the street.

Linking Verb

This is a linking verb which connects the subject to a word or a phrase of the sentence and gives information about the subject.

Subject + Linking Verb + Subjective complement

Some linking verbs – is, am, are, was, were, become, look, seem, grow, taste, appear, feel, get, etc.

They are students.
She looks happy.
They seem tired.

Helping verb (Auxiliary Verb)

Helping verbs are the verbs that are used to help the main verb to express its meaning in accordance with tense or mood.

They are playing.
I have finished my work.
Anmol is reading a book.
She was waiting.

Modal Helping Verb (Modal Auxiliary Verb)

A modal verb is a verb that is used with the main verb to indicate mood or tense.

Ex- can, could, may, might, will, would, shall, should, must, ought to, need, used to.

You can jump
It may rain today.
You should call him.

Infinitive

An infinitive is a verb form that acts as a noun, an adjective, or an adverb in a sentence. It is formed with To + Base form of the verb.

Examples: to play, to eat, to write, to buy, etc.

I like to swim.
To walk is useful.

Gerund

A gerund is a word that is formed with a verb (by adding ing) and acts as a noun.

Example: playing, swimming, dancing, learning.

Walking is good exercise.
Swimming is good for health.

Read More: