Verb Kind

What Is a Verb?

A verb is a word that describes what the subject of a sentence is doing. Verbs can indicate (physical or mental) actions, occurrences, and states of being.

Examples: Verbs in a sentence

Jeffrey builds a house.

Anita is thinking about horses.

True love exists.

Every sentence must have at least one verb.

There are many types of verbs, including:

Action verbs: Describe the actions of a person, place, or thing, whether physical or mental. For example, "jump", "hit", "sing", "think", "consider", or "memorize". 

Linking verbs: Link the subject of a sentence to the rest of the sentence. Many linking verbs are forms of "to be". 

Auxiliary verbs: Also called helping verbs, these verbs help other verbs and appear in front of action verbs and linking verbs. Examples include "am", "is", "are", "was", "were", "being", "been", "be", "have", "has", "had", "do", "does", "did", "will", "would", "shall", and "should". 

Modal verbs: Used along with another verb to express ability, permission, possibility, necessity, or obligation. Examples include "can", "could", "may", "might", "must", "ought", "shall", "should", "will", and "would". 

Transitive verbs: A type of main verb. 

Intransitive verbs: A type of main verb. 

Regular verbs: A type of verb. 

Irregular verbs: A type of verb. 

Phrasal verbs: A type of verb. 

Compound verbs: A type of verb.