Verb | What is the Verb?

Verb | Types of Verb

A verb is a word that describes an action,  an event or a state of being. Along with nouns, verbs are also the main part of a sentence. Verb always comes after the subject. 

E.g. -  Play, go, write, sing etc. 

Now let's form some sentences :

He told me an interesting story. 

(The verb 'told' is describing an action) 

She is a doctor. 

(The verb 'is' is describing a state of being. It is used to describe the subject what she is.) 

This boy seems tired.

(The verb 'seem'  is describing a state of boy.) 

A Verb can be one word or more than one word.  It comes after the subject. 

Examples - 

He writes a letter. 

                     (Simple Present) 

He is writing a letter.

                    (Present Continuous)

He has been writing a letter for an hour.    

                    (Present Perfect Continuous) 

He will have been writing a letter for an hour.         

                   (Future Perfect Continuous) 

   
                                   

Types of Verb - 

There are mainly two types of verbs - 

1) Finite Verb

2) Non-finite verb

Finite verb - 

Finite verb is the main verb that changes its forms according to the tense(present and past) of the sentence, the number and person of the subject. If there is only one verb in a sentence, it will be finite. 

There are mainly there types of Finite verbs:  Principal verbs,  Linking verbs & Auxiliary verbs. 

Non-Finite Verb -

The verb that is not affected by person or number of the subject and the tense of the sentence is known as non-finite verb. 

It functions as noun, adjective and adverb.

There are mainly there types of non-finite verbs : Infinitives, Gerunds & Participles. 

Example -  

 I like reading books. 

(Finite verb - like, non-finite verb - reading) 

(There are two verbs in this sentence: like & read. The verb 'like' which is nearest to the subject is the finite verb. It can be changed according to the number & person of the subject & the tense of the sentence and 'reading'  is a non-finite verb which is not affected by person, number & the tense.)

I want to go to Agra to see the Taj Mahal.

(Finite verb - want,  non-finite verb - to go, to see) 

Finite verbs - 

There are mainly three types of finite verbs:

1) Principal / lexical / main verb - 

 The verb that provides information and is used to express action or state is known as Principal verb. 

It functions as the main verb of the sentence or a clause. 

Examples - 

He gave me a book. 

He wrote me a letter. 

The child weeps. 

They laugh. 

2) Linking / copular verb / a verb of incomplete predication - 

A linking verb connects the subject of the sentence to a word or a phrase and gives information about the subject. That word or phrase is known as Complement of the verb. It gives the information about the subject so it is known as Subjective Complement. 

A linking verb always requires a word or phrase to make it meaning clear.

Subject + Linking verb + subjective Complement. 

• As a subjective complement we use Noun/adjective/participle. 

• Linking verb is used as a link to connect the subject with its complement. 

Some linking verbs are :

Be (is,  are,  am,  was,  were),  become,  look,  seem,  grow,  taste,  appear,  feel,  get etc.

Now let's form some sentences using linking verbs :

They are students. 

(They - subject, are -linking verb, students - complement) 

 ( The word 'students'  is a noun which is used as a subjective complement. The verb 'are' is used to connect the subject with its complement so it is a linking verb.) 

He looks happy.  

[Linking verb - look, Subjective Complement- happy  (adjective)] 

Sugar taste sweet.     

[Linking verb - taste, Subjective Complement- sweet (adjective)] 

They seem tired.      Past participle

[Linking verb - seem, Subjective Complement- tired (past participle)] 

This table is broken.    Past participle

[Linking verb - is, Subjective Complement- broken (past participle)] 

3) Auxiliary verb / helping verb - 

The verbs that are used to help the main verb to express it's meaning in accordance with tense or mood are known as Auxiliary verbs. 

There are two types of Auxiliary verbs : 

Primary Auxiliary verb - 

Be(is,  are,  am,  was,  were), do(do,  does,  did),  have(has,  have,  had)

These verb can be used in both types along with the main verb or as a main verb. When these verbs are used along with main verbs, are known as auxiliary verbs. 

Examples - 

They are playing. 

I have finished my work. 

I do my work. 

He is a doctor. 

Modal auxiliary verb-

A modal verb is verb that is used with the main verb to indicate mood or tense. 

Can,  could,  May,  might,  will,  would,  shall,  should,  must,  ought to,  need,  used to etc are the examples of modal auxiliary verbs.

Now let's form some sentences using these verbs:

I will do it. 

You can jump. 

It may rain today. 

Non Finite verbs-

There are three types of non - finite verbs:

Infinitive - 

An infinitive is a verb form that acts as a noun,  an adjective or an adverb in a sentence. It is form with

To + Base form of the verb. 

E.g. -  To play, To eat, To write,  to buy etc.

Now let's form some sentences using Infinitives:

To walk is useful. 

('To walk' is a non - finite verb which is used in place of a noun.)

To advise others is easy. 

('To advise' is a non - finite verb which is used here in place of noun) 

Here is a house to let.  

('To let' is a non - finite verb which is used here in place of an adjective) 

Give me a book to read.  

('To read' is a non - finite verb which is used here in place of an adjective) 

I like to swim.  (noun)

('To swim' is a non - finite verb which is used here in place of noun) 

Gerund -

Gerund is the word that is found with a verb (by adding ing) and acts as a noun. 

E.g. -  Playing (Play + ing),  swimming,  dancing,  learning, walking etc. 

Now let's form some sentences using Gerund:

Walking is a good exercise.  

(The verb 'walking' is a Gerund form of the verb which is used as a subject & acts as a noun) 

I like swimming.  

(The verb 'swimming' is a Gerund form of the verb which is used as an object & acts as a noun) 

Sometimes when an infinitive (to+ Base form of the verb) acts as a noun,  we can use gerund (verb+ing) in place of infinitive. 

Examples - 

Walking is useful.    (Gerund) 

To walk is useful.    (Infinitive) 

I like swimming.      (Gerund) 

I like to swim.           (Infinitive) 

Participle-

A Participle is a word that is formed from a verb &  acts as a verb, an adjective or an adverb.  

There are three types of Participle:

a) present Participle - 

Base form of the verb + ing. 

E.g. -  Hearing,  jumping,  seeing,  walking,  playing,  swimming. 

Now let's form some sentences using present participle:

They are playing.                       (acts as verb) 

I saw a burning Hut.          (acts as adjective) 

b) Past Participle -

3rd form of the verb is known as past participle. 

A past participle is a word that is formed from a verb &  acts as an adjective, to form perfect tense or to form passive. 

• The past participle is used to form passive. 
• The past participle is used to form perfect tense along with auxiliary verb. 

E.g. -  Broken, lost, wounded etc

There is a broken chair.       

(Here V3 'broken' is used as an adjective.) 

I have finished my work.  

(Here past participle 'finished'  is used to form perfect tense.)

c) Perfect Participle -

Having + 3rd form of the verb

The combination of these two is known as perfect participle. It is used to define time gap between actions. 

Example - 

Having taken food, he went to school. 

(It means first he took his food then he went to school.)