answersLogoWhite

0

What is a verb?

Updated: 4/25/2024
User Avatar

Wiki User

6y ago

Best Answer

Verbs describe (i) an action, (ii) a state or (iii) an occurrence:-

  1. As an action word, it is something that you do, like walk or play or eat.
  2. As a state of being: "My name is John. I am 20 years old. I am Caucasian and my girlfriend looksgorgeous! And she has a heart of gold!"
  3. As an occurrence/happening: "The snow glistened on the trees tops."

1. ACTION VERBS are something that someone or something is doing, such as run, talk, play, go, cook, speak, etc.

For example, in the phrase: "He is running", the two words 'is running' is the present continuous form of the verb 'to run'.

Here are a few more examples:

  • They slept late that day.
  • It slid off the shelf.
  • Safa played with her toys.
  • She screamed as loudly as she could.

2. 'STATE' VERBS

Examples:

  • Ice is cold. Puppies need a lot of care and attention. Bananas are yellow. Some people preferwinter to summer. Does life exist on other planets? Do you know what I mean?

3. 'OCCURRENCE' VERBS

Examples:

  • The centenary of Florence Nightingale's death fell on Monday 10th May, 2010.
  • William becomes six on Tuesday.
  • A completely happy day? It happens, sometimes!

REGULAR AND IRREGULAR VERBS

With regular verbs, the past and perfect forms end with '~ed', e.g. talk/talked.

Irregular verbs do not end their past and perfect forms with '~ed'. They change quite differently e.g. speak/spoke/spoken, sing/sang/sung.

AUXILIARY VERBS are words that "help" the verb. e.g.

  • In the sentence "I will run", 'will' is the helping verb, making it into a future form of the verb to run.
  • In the sentence "I have run", 'have' is the helping verb, changing the main verb 'run' into it's present perfect form.

The verbs to be, to have and to do are used as auxiliary verbs. Their present, past, singular and plural forms all being used as appropriate.

MODAL AUXILIARY VERBS: can, could, may, might, would, shall, should, must, ought to.

Examples:

  • I must visit my grandmother.
  • You ought to do more exercise.
  • Ben can ride a bike.
  • My Uncle might come on Sunday.
  • I could help you with your homework, but I don't know if I should (help you with your homework.)

Note that Modal Auxiliary Verbs have no infinitives.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

For more information about verbs, see 'Related links'below this box.

User Avatar

Wiki User

6y ago
This answer is:
User Avatar
User Avatar

denricka malcolm

Lvl 1
2y ago
What is a noun
More answers
User Avatar

AnswerBot

2w ago

A verb is a word that expresses an action, occurrence, or state of being in a sentence. It is often used to show what the subject of the sentence is doing or experiencing. Verbs can be in different tenses and forms depending on the context.

This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Thashiana Noel

Lvl 2
4y ago

verb is an action like when your body is moving its a verb

Example: im going for a walk

1.im going to brush my teeth

2:im going to do some exercise

This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Katie Lun

Lvl 4
3y ago

a word or phrase that describes an action, condition, or experience

This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Nishtha Saparia

Lvl 2
2y ago

an action

This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Tennessee Davis

Lvl 2
3y ago

a verb is an action

This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Anonymous

Lvl 1
3y ago

A verb, from the Latin verbum meaning word, is a word that in syntax conveys an action, an occurrence, or a state of being. In the usual description of English, the basic form, with or without the particle to, is the infinitive. In many languages, verbs are inflected to encode tense, aspect, mood, and voice.

This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Anonymous

Lvl 1
4y ago

a verb is a doing word for example:

I am going to have a WALK

I want to EAT

HELP me

Should I WRITE for you

Verbs can be used at the beginning, middle and end of a sentence

This answer is:
User Avatar

Add your answer:

Earn +20 pts
Q: What is a verb?
Write your answer...
Submit
Still have questions?
magnify glass
imp
Related questions

What part of speech is ending -tch?

Examples of words ending in -tch with their corresponding parts of speech:batch = verb, nounblotch = verb, nouncatch = verb, nounclutch = verb, noun, adjectivecrutch = nounditch = verb, nounDutch = noun, adjectivedutch = adverbfetch = verb, nounglitch = verb, nounhatch = verb, nounhutch = nounitch = verb, nounlatch = verb, nounmatch = verb, nounpatch = verb, nounpitch = verb, nounscratch = verb, noun, adjectivesketch = verb, nounstitch = verb, nounstretch = verb, noun, adjectiveswitch = verb, nounthatch = verb, nountwitch = verb, nounwatch = verb, nounwitch = verb, noun


Is 'is' a verb or noun?

The noun 'is' is a verb, a form of the verb 'to be'. The verb 'is' functions as an auxiliary verb and a linking verb.


Is raised a linking verb or a action verb?

It is an action verb.


Is are a main verb action verb helping verb or linking verb?

It is a Linking Verb. The word are is a conjugation of the verb "to be."


What kind of verb is 'is'?

The verb 'is' is a form of the verb 'to be', a being verb as opposed to an action verb. The verb 'is' also functions as an auxiliary (helper) verb. The verb 'is' also functions as a linking verb.


Is a verb a verb?

yes part of the verb "to be" I am he is she is it is you are we are they are


Is were a main verb or a helping verb?

It is not a helping verb. It is a be verb, a past tense plural be verb.


Is does is a verb?

Yes, it is a verb. Does is a form of the verb "to do" and acts as an auxiliary verb.


What kind of verb is 'be' a helping verb or a linking verb?

The verb 'be' can function as both a linking verb and a helping verb. As a linking verb, it connects the subject with a subject complement that describes or renames it. As a helping verb, 'be' is used in progressive tenses and passive voice constructions to indicate the tense of the main verb.


Is am a helping linking or action verb?

"Am" is a linking verb. Linking verbs connect the subject of a sentence to a noun or an adjective that describes or renames the subject. In this case, "am" links the subject to a description of identity or state.


Is began a linking verb or a action verb?

began is an action verb, not a linking verb.


What kind of verb is 'sneaks' a helping verb action verb or linking verb?

I call it a main verb, but action verb is also correct.