What is a Verb? Definitions, Examples, and Comprehensive List

A verb is a part of speech (POS), and parts of speech are incredibly important in writing. Each part of speech fulfills a purpose in a sentence, and not all parts of speech are created equal. Some parts of speech make our writing stronger while others make it weaker. So we must be careful using them.  

In this blog post, we will discuss the definition of a verb, provide examples, and list them so that you can start using them in your own writing.

So, what exactly is a verb? Let's find out!

Verbs Definition

A verb is a content word that shows the action a character is taking in a sentence. It expresses an action or a state of being. Verbs are the most important words in a sentence, and without them, you wouldn't be able to communicate your thoughts and ideas.

Verbs can be divided into two categories: action verbs (strong verbs) and state of being verbs (also called linking verbs). Action verbs describe what the subject of a sentence is doing, while state-of-being verbs describe the condition or quality of the subject.

A verb shows an action, occurrence, or state of being. In English, verbs are the only kind of word that changes to show past or present tense. Most verbs have both a regular (or base) form and an irregular form. The regular form usually ends in -ed (walk – walked), but many irregular verbs, such as write – wrote – written, do not follow this pattern.

The main verb in a sentence is called the lexical verb or main verb. This is the most important verb in the sentence and carries the most meaning. The other verbs in the sentence are called auxiliary verbs (or helping verbs). These include words like be, have, do, will, shall, would, should, can, could, may, and might.

Why Are Verbs Important to Understand?

Verbs matter because they show the action in a sentence. This can help you understand what is happening and who is doing it. For example, consider the sentence: “I am writing a book.” In this sentence, the verb “to write” shows the action that “I” (the subject of the sentence) is doing.

Here are some other examples of sentences with different verbs:

• She is singing a song.
  • In this sentence, the verb “to sing” shows that the subject, “she,” is performing the action.
• They are eating breakfast.
  • In this sentence, the verb “to eat” shows that the subject, “they,” are performing the action.
• We will go to the park.
  • In this sentence, the verb “to go” shows that the subject, “we,” will perform the action in the future.)

As you can see, verbs are essential for communicating your thoughts and ideas. Without them, it would be difficult to understand what is happening in a sentence.

Now that you know a little bit more about verbs, let's take a look at some examples of different types of verbs.

What Are Transitive Verbs?

A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object. A direct object is a noun or pronoun that receives the action of the verb. For example, consider the sentence: “I am reading a book.” In this sentence, the verb “to read” is followed by the direct object “book.”

This means that the verb “to read” is a transitive verb.

Here are some other examples of sentences with transitive verbs:

• She is eating breakfast.
  • The verb “to eat” is followed by the direct object “breakfast.”
• They are drinking milk.
  • The verb “to drink” is followed by the direct object “milk.”
• We are listening to music.
  • The verb “to listen” is followed by the direct object “music.”

As you can see, transitive verbs are common in English.

What Are Intransitive Verbs?

An intransitive verb is a verb that does not require a direct object. This means that the action of the verb does not affect any noun or pronoun. For example, consider the sentence: “I am laughing.” In this sentence, the verb “to laugh” is not followed by a direct object. This means that the verb “to laugh” is an intransitive verb.

Here are some other examples of sentences with intransitive verbs:

• She is sleeping.
  • The verb “to sleep” does not have a direct object.
• They are arriving soon.
  • The verb “to arrive” does not have a direct object.
• We are leaving at noon.
  • The verb “to leave” does not have a direct object.

Intransitive verbs are less common than transitive verbs, but they are still important to know.

What Are Linking Verbs?

A linking verb is a verb that connects the subject of a sentence to a noun or pronoun. For example, consider the sentence: “I am a student.” In this sentence, the verb “to be” is connecting the subject “I” to the noun “student.” This means that the verb “to be” is a linking verb.

Here are some other examples of sentences with linking verbs:

• My sister appears happy.
  • The verb “appears” is connecting the subject “my sister” to the adjective “happy.”
• They act strangely.
  • The verb “to act” is connecting the subject “they” to the adverb “strangely.”
• We are not sure.
  • The verb “to be” is connecting the subject “we” to the adverb “not.”)

Linking verbs are common in English, and while they are not as strong as action verbs, they are nevertheless useful in providing descriptions.

What Are Helping Verbs?

A helping verb is a verb that provides additional meaning to the main verb in a sentence. For example, consider the sentence: “I am writing a book.” In this sentence, the helping verb “to be” is providing additional information about the main verb “to write.” This means that the verb “to be” is a helping verb.

Here are some other examples of sentences with helping verbs:

• She can eat breakfast.
  • The helping verb “can” is providing additional information about the main verb “eat.”
• They will drink milk.
  • The helping verb “will” is providing additional information about the main verb “to drink.”
• We could listen to music.
  • The helping verb “could” is providing additional information about the main verb “to listen.”

Helping verbs are common in English, and they can be very helpful in understanding the meaning of a sentence.

Now that you know a little bit more about verbs, you should be able to identify them in sentences.

Remember, if a verb is followed by a direct object, it is transitive. If a verb is not followed by a direct object, it is intransitive.

Verbs List (4,000+)

Click here for a comprehensive list of verbs.