English Grammar
Verbs as Parts of Speech
Level: B1 (Intermediate) | CEFR
What Is a Verb?
A verb is a word that describes an action, a state, or an occurrence. Verbs are one of the most important parts of speech in English. Every sentence must have at least one verb to be complete.
Simple definition: A verb tells us what someone or something does, is, or experiences.
The Three Main Types of Verbs
1. Action Verbs — describe something a person or thing does physically or mentally.
Examples: run, eat, think, write, jump, read
2. Linking Verbs — connect the subject to a description. They do not show action.
Examples: be (am, is, are, was, were), seem, become, feel, look, appear
3. Auxiliary (Helping) Verbs — come before the main verb to create tenses, questions, or negatives.
Examples: have, has, had, do, does, did, will, would, can, could, should, must
Key Rules for Using Verbs
Rule 1: Verbs Must Agree with the Subject
| Subject-Verb Agreement Use -s or -es at the end of the verb when the subject is he, she, it, or a singular noun in the present simple tense. |
Correct: She works every day.
Incorrect: She work every day.
Rule 2: Verbs Change Form for Different Tenses
| Verb Tenses English verbs change to show when something happens: in the past, present, or future. |
Past: I walked to school yesterday.
Present: I walk to school every day.
Future: I will walk to school tomorrow.
Rule 3: Regular vs. Irregular Verbs
| Regular Verbs Add -ed to make the past tense: walk → walked, play → played, talk → talked |
| Irregular Verbs These verbs do not follow the -ed rule. You must memorize them: go → went, eat → ate, see → saw, have → had, run → ran |
Rule 4: Negative Sentences Use ‘Do Not’ or ‘Does Not’
Correct: He does not like coffee.
Incorrect: He not likes coffee.
10 Examples of Verbs in Sentences
In the examples below, the verb in each sentence is in bold and underlined. Read each sentence and the explanation carefully.
| # | Example Sentence | Explanation |
| 1. | She runs five kilometres every morning. | Action verb – describes physical movement. |
| 2. | The children are playing in the park. | Auxiliary verb ‘are’ + action verb ‘playing’ (present continuous). |
| 3. | He seems very tired today. | Linking verb – connects subject to a description. |
| 4. | I have finished my homework. | Auxiliary verb ‘have’ + past participle (present perfect tense). |
| 5. | The dog ate all the food. | Irregular past tense action verb. |
| 6. | We will travel to Japan next year. | Auxiliary verb ‘will’ for future tense. |
| 7. | They do not understand the question. | Auxiliary ‘do not’ for a negative sentence. |
| 8. | The teacher explained the lesson clearly. | Regular past tense action verb (-ed ending). |
| 9. | It is very cold outside today. | Linking verb ‘is’ (the verb ‘to be’). |
| 10. | Can you help me with this task? | Modal auxiliary verb ‘can’ in a question. |
Quick Reference Summary
| Verb Type | What It Does | Example |
| Action Verb | Shows an action | She sings beautifully. |
| Linking Verb | Connects subject to description | He is happy. |
| Auxiliary Verb | Helps the main verb | They have arrived. |
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