Verb Definition | What is a verb?

A verb is a word that describes an action, a state of being, or the occurrence of an event. Simply put, a verb tells us what the subject does, is, or has. It always indicates either an action, a state, or a possession.

Verb Meaning | What does a verb mean?

The dictionary meaning of a verb is

• a word or group of words that expresses an action (e.g., write),
• an event (e.g., occur), or
• a state of being (e.g., exist).

Verb Categories with Examples

A verb expresses an action, a state of being, or possession related to the subject of a sentence.

Examples:

Category	Definition	Examples in Sentences
Action Verbs	Show what the subject does (physical or mental activity).	The magician performed tricks. / The children are swimming in the pool.
State Verbs	Show the subject’s condition or state of being.	The teacher is happy. / She feels tired.
Possession Verbs	Show what the subject has or owns.	My mother bought a new phone. / Her mobile made her happy.
Event Verbs	Show that something happens or occurs.	It rained yesterday. / The meeting occurred at noon.

Types of Verbs

How many categories of verbs are there? Verbs can be classified into several categories. Some important types include

• Transitive Verb
• Intransitive Verb
• Finite Verb
• Non-finite Verb
• Lexical / Main / Full Verb
• Auxiliary (Helping / Linking) Verb
• Modal Verb
• Phrasal Verb
• Regular Verb
• Irregular Verb

(We will study each type in detail in later lessons of Stepwise English. Show what the subject does (physical or mental activity).

(We will study each type in detail in later lessons of Stepwise English.)

Verb Forms

How many verb forms are there in English?
Generally, every verb has three main forms. However, English verbs can appear in several forms. For example, the verb “write” has five forms:

• write (base form – V1)
• wrote (past simple – V2)
• written (past participle – V3)
• writes (3rd person singular present)
• writing (present participle/gerund)
  Thus, the commonly used verb forms are
• Base form (V1)
• Past simple (V2)
• Past participle (V3)
• 3rd person singular present (V1 + s/es)
• Present participle (V1 + ing)

Note: Some verbs have more forms. For example, the verb “be” has eight forms: be, am, is, are, was, were, been, and being. Though it looks complex, usage is simple and will be explained step by step in the upcoming lessons.

“Be the writer of your life and reader of your mind. The more you know yourself, the less you need approval of others.”