Verbs

What are Verbs?

Verbs are words that refer to actions or states of being. The three verb categories are action verbs, linking verbs, and helping verbs. Verbs are modified by tense—past, present, and future—and have singular and plural forms.

Action verbs

Action verbs convey an action that a noun is taking.

• Example: Ron throws the ball.

In the above example, Ron is the noun and throws is the verb.

Here are some additional examples of action verbs:

• Example: Julie will watch the movie.
• Example: Hans and Sammy played in a band.
• Example: I ran to third base and then stole home plate.

Linking verbs

Linking verbs convey a state of being.

• Example: Jason is tall.

In the above example, Jason is the noun and is is the verb. Jason is not engaging in an action in the sentence—he is not throwing, or jumping, or running. The verb is conveys his state of being tall. As a linking verb, is connects the noun Jason to the adjective tall.

Here are some additional examples of linking verbs:

• Example: You are very smart.
• Example: Jason was short for his age.
• Example: He seemed like a nice person.
• Example: I became interested in watercolor painting.
• Example: Jamie has been a novelist for many years.

Helping verbs

Helping verbs, also known as auxiliary verbs, are words that help other verbs in a sentence.

• Example: Nathan is writing an essay.

In the above example, is functions as a helping verb to the action verb writing. Notice that is can also function as a linking verb, as in the sentence Julie is a doctor.

Here are some additional examples of helping verbs:

• Example: After all that hard work, I could go for a cup of lemonade.
• Example: I must study for my exam.
• Example: Julie should clean her room; it’s very messy.
• Example: I need to get a haircut.

A sentence can consist of a subject and a helping verb if there is an implied action verb that is being omitted.

• Example: I can help with the project.
• Example: I can.
• Example: I can, since I have enough free time.

Verb tense

Tense refers to the period in time in which verbs occur. The three primary tenses are past tense, present tense, and future tense. Each of these tenses can also be further categorized into simple, continuous, perfect, and perfect continuous aspects.

In English, the continuous aspect is also called progressive or imperfect.

Past tense

Past tense refers to verbs that already occurred. Many—but not all—past tense verbs end in -ed.

• Example: I walked to the store last week.
• Example: I was sleepy last night.
• Example: I needed to get a haircut.

Present tense

Present tense refers to verbs as they occur.

• Example: Frodo travels to Mordor.
• Example: Frodo is brave.
• Example: Frodo must travel to Mordor.

Future tense

Future tense refers to verbs that will occur. Verbs in the future tense generally require the word will to precede them.

• Example: King Arthur will return from Avalon.
• Example: Sam will be tall when he’s older.
• Example: Julie will help plan your wedding.

Continuous aspect

The continuous aspect refers to verbs that occur over a duration of time and may repeat or continue to occur. Verbs in the continuous aspect generally end in -ing and require the past, present, or future form of the verb to be to precede them.

• Example: Aiden was playing Pokémon yesterday.
• Example: Aiden is playing Pokémon today.
• Example: Aiden will be playing Pokémon tomorrow.

Perfect aspect

The usage of perfect in this term comes from its Latin meaning of “completed.” The perfect aspect refers to verbs that occur over a duration of time but have been completed, are completing, or will be completed. Verbs in the perfect aspect generally use their past tense spelling and require the past, present, or future form of the verb has to precede them.

• Example: Julie had spoken to the man once before.
• Example: Alfonse has trained all his life for this violin concerto.
• Example: Starting February, Frankie will have worked at the company for thirty years.

Perfect continuous aspect

The perfect continuous aspect refers to verbs that occur over a duration of time and formerly occurred continuously, currently occur continuously, or will eventually occur continuously. Verbs in the perfect continuous aspect generally end in -ing and require the past, present, or future form of the verb phrase has been to precede them.

• Example: Megan had been practicing soccer three times a week until she hurt her ankle.
• Example: The oldest pub in town has been operating since the 1600s.
• Example: By the time you get into town, I will have been sleeping at the hotel for three hours.

Verb Tense Table

	Past	Present	Future
Simple	Amy spoke to the man.	Amy speaks to the man.	Amy will speak to the man.
Continuous	Amy was speaking to the man.	Amy is speaking to the man.	Amy will be speaking to the man.
Perfect	Amy had spoken to the man.	Amy has spoken to the man.	Amy will have spoken to the man.
Perfect Continuous	Amy had been speaking to the man.	Amy has been speaking to the man.	Amy will have been speaking to the man.

 

Verb Pluralization

Refer to the Pluralization section for rules on pluralizing verbs.