Verbs are the core of every sentence. They express actions, states, or events, and they determine how time, meaning, and structure work together in English.
Verb
What Is a Verb?
A verb describes an action (run, build), a state (know, exist), or an occurrence (happen, change). Every complete sentence needs a verb because it shows what is happening or what condition exists.
Basic Forms of Verbs
English verbs change form to show tense, agreement, and aspect. These are the basic verb forms you will see most often:
| Form | Name | Description | Example (walk) |
|---|---|---|---|
| V1 | Base Form | The dictionary form of the verb | walk |
| V1 + s/es | Third Person Singular | Used with he / she / it in the present simple | walks |
| V2 | Past Tense | Shows a completed action in the past | walked |
| V3 | Past Participle | Used in perfect tenses and passive voice | walked |
| V-ing | Present Participle | Used in continuous tenses or as a gerund | walking |
The -ing form is called the present participle. It is not a tense by itself. It only forms a present tense when combined with be (e.g., is walking).
Regular vs. Irregular Verbs
Verbs fall into two main groups based on how they form the past tense and past participle.
| Type | Base | Past (V2) | Past Participle (V3) | -ing Form |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regular | walk | walked | walked | walking |
| Irregular | write | wrote | written | writing |
Irregular verbs do not follow a single pattern, so they must be learned individually. The past participle (V3) is especially important for perfect tenses and the passive voice.
Types of Verbs by Function
Action Verbs
- Describe physical or mental actions.
- She runs every morning.
Stative Verbs
- Describe states, feelings, possession, perception, or mental conditions.
- I know the answer.
Most stative verbs (such as know, believe, love, own, seem) are not normally used in continuous (-ing) forms. For example, “I know the answer” is correct, while “I am knowing the answer” is usually incorrect.
Linking Verbs
- Connect the subject to information that describes or identifies it.
- The sky became dark.
Auxiliary Verbs
- Be, do, and have help the main verb express tense, aspect, voice, or emphasis.
- She has finished her work.
Modal Verbs
- Express ability, necessity, permission, or possibility.
- You must wear a helmet.
Transitive vs. Intransitive Verbs
This distinction is especially useful in academic and formal writing because it affects sentence structure.
| Type | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Transitive Verbs | Require a direct object | She wrote the report. |
| Intransitive Verbs | Do not take a direct object | The baby slept peacefully. |
- Some verbs can be both transitive and intransitive, depending on how they are used.
- He runs every day. (intransitive) vs. He runs a company. (transitive)
List of Common Verbs
Below is a practical list of common verbs, arranged alphabetically, with example usage.
| Verb | Base | Past | Past Participle | Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Achieve | achieve | achieved | achieved | She achieved her goal. |
| Administer | administer | administered | administered | The nurse administered the medicine. |
| Assess | assess | assessed | assessed | The teacher assessed the exams. |
| Communicate | communicate | communicated | communicated | They communicate clearly. |
| Define | define | defined | defined | Please define the term. |
| Function | function | functioned | functioned | The system functions well. |
| Imply | imply | implied | implied | His tone implied doubt. |
| Invest | invest | invested | invested | They invested wisely. |
| Occur | occur | occurred | occurred | The accident occurred suddenly. |
| Validate | validate | validated | validated | The test validated the theory. |
Last Updated on February 4, 2026
