Smart Note: English Verbs
Verbs
Introduction
'Verb' is a word or group of words that tell us action, state/condition/feelings...
Verbs are very essential/basic part of speech; without verb, we can't construct meaningful sentence.
They are bases for all other topics such as tense, active and passive voices, subject verb agreement, conditional sentence, to construct sentence, uses of modal verbs...
Verbs could be categorized in various types, depending on speaker's /writer's purposes or context.
Verbs could be divided into two, as main verbs and auxiliary verbs (helping verbs).
Main verbs are verbs that have their own independent meanings (e.g., run, write, speak...).
Auxiliary verbs (helping verbs) are types of verbs that are used to support/help main verbs. But sometimes, auxiliary verbs could be used as main verbs if there is no other main verbs or when context needs.
Attention Please!
8 sentences: Dear students, in the above explanation (introduction), generally, there are 8 sentences.
22 verbs: Totally, there are 22 verbs in these sentences; look all underlined words in each sentence!
1. Smart Note-1. : On Main Verbs
Main verbs could also be divided into various types.
1.1. Action Verbs vs State Verbs:
Main verbs could be divided into two, as action verbs and state verbs.
Action verbs are verbs that are used to express an action/situation/event that could be seen by our eyes directly. Examples: play, drink, wash, clean....
State verbs are verbs that are used to express states/conditions that may not be seen by our eyes directly: mental activities. Examples: love, hate, see, hear, know, understand...
1.2. Transitive Verbs vs Intransitive Verbs:
Main verbs could also be divided into two, as transitive verbs and intransitive verbs.
Transitive verbs are verbs that have both 'doer' (subject) and 'receiver' of an action (object). Examples: write, speak, clean....
Intransitive verbs are verbs that don't have 'receiver' of an action (object); they have only 'doer of an action'/subject. Examples: sleep, sit, go, come, live....
Attention Please!
7 sentences: Dear students, in the above explanation (smart note-1: 1.1. &1.2.), generally, there are 7 sentences.
26 verbs: Totally, there are 26 verbs in these sentences; look all underlined words in each sentence!
Tip!
To decide whether a given verb is transitive verb or intransitive, take the given verb and check whether is has both 'doer' (subject) and 'receiver' of an action (object).
If it has both 'doer of an action' (subject) and 'receiver' of an action (object), that verb is transitive verb.
If it has only 'doer of an action' (subject), that verb is intransitive verb.
Let's take the verb 'write', and check.
There is a writer ('doer'/subject) who writes; there is also 'receiver' of an action (object) or thing to be written.
1.3. Regular vs Irregular Verbs
Main verbs could be divided into regular and irregular verbs based on how they are changed from verb1 to verb2/verb3.
Regular verbs: Regular verbs take 'ied/ed/d' when we change them from verb1 (present) to verb2/verb3.
Their verb2 (past) and verb3 (past participle) are the same!
We add 'ied' on main verb if the last letter of a given verb is 'y' and there is consonant before 'y' (c+y). Examples: study = studied, try = tried, cry = cried
We add 'ed' on main verb if the last letter of a given verb is not 'y' (c+y) and also not 'e'. Examples: need = needed, ask = asked, open = opened
- If the last letter of a given verb is 'e'/'ee', we add only 'd'. Examples: charge = charged, change = changed, live = lived
Irregular verbs: Irregular verbs are verbs that we change some of their letters or all of their letters to change them from verb1 (present) to verb2/verb3.
Their verb2 (past) and verb3 (past participle) are NOT the same!
E.g.: write - wrote - written, speak - spoke - spoken, go - went...
Note: There are some exceptional verbs that are not changed; their verb1 (present), verb2 and verb3 are the same. e.g.: cut - cut - cut, put -put - put
Attention Please!
9 sentences: Dear students, in the above explanation (regular vs irregular verbs), generally, there are 9 sentences.
21 verbs: Totally, there are 21 verbs in these sentences; look all underlined words in each sentence!
1.4 Linking verbs
Linking verbs are verbs that connect subject of a sentence to a noun/noun phrase or an adjective. Examples of linking verbs: am, is, are, was, were, appear, seem, become, feel, look, sound, taste, smell Examples:
Biden is our English teacher. Biden feels/seems/looks happy today.
2. Smart Note-2: On Auxiliary verbs (helping verbs)
There are 4 common categories of auxiliary verbs (in English Language)
Verb to be: is, am, are, was, were, be, being and been
Verb to do: do, does and did
Verb to have: has, have and had
Modal verbs: can, must, will, shall...
For more, read the next brief explanations!
'Verb to be'
'Verb to be', 'verb be' or 'be' are the same. These include is, was, am, are, were, be, being and been.
Note:
Verb to is one of words that most students (even high achiever students/top students) misuse (make BIG mistakes) while speaking and writing/making sentence. I hope after reading this brief note, anyone, who studies it, will be able to use verb to be properly!
'Verb to be' can be used as main verb & as auxiliary verbs.
These are briefly discussed with examples; read the next explanations!
A. Verb to be as a main verb
When 'verb to be' is used as a main verb, we use without other main verbs.
1. To show qualities/characteristics/behaviour
We use be to talk about permanent or temporary qualities or states
/characteristic or behaveour.
Examples:
He is very rich.
My father is old now.
The weather was terrible.
They are happy/I am happy.
2. To show jobs and professions
We can use verb to be to talk about a person’s job or profession.
Examples:
Both of my sisters are doctors.
My grandmother was a nurse.
I am student.
3. To talk about age
We use verb to be to talk about age:
Examples:
I am sixty or I am sixty years old.
She was seventeen last year.
How old is she?
How old are you?
4. To talk about relationships
We use verb to be to talk how people are related: Examples:
Million is my teacher.
I and Furdosa are best friends.
Are you her sister?
5. To talk about place or time
We can use verb to be to refer to where places and things are situated:
Examples:
Chercher Preparatory School is found in Chiro.
The shops are at the end of the street.
We use verb to be to talk about time and dates:
What time is it?
The match was at seven o’clock.
We are always late!
B. Verb to be as auxiliary verbs
When 'verb to be' is used as auxiliary verb, we use with main verb.
1. To show continues tense 'verb to be' is followed by main verb with 'ing'.
Present continues tense:
is/am/are + 'ing' = active voice
is/am/are + being +v3 = passive voice
Examples:
We are writing English note. (active)
I am washing clothes. (active)
English note is being written. (passive)
Clothes are being washed. (passive)
Past continues tense:
was/were + 'ing' = active voice
was/were + being +v3 = passive voice
Examples:
We were writing English note. (active)
I was washing clothes. (active)
English note was being written. (passive)
Clothes were being washed. (passive)
2. To show passive voice:
is/am/are +v3 = simple present
was/were +v3 = simple past
has/have+ been + v3 = present perfect
had + been + v3 = past perfect
Examples:
The exam is given.
The exam was given.
The exam has been given.
The exam had been given.
Note: the verb 'be' is used as it is with modal verbs to show passive.
The exam should be given.
The exam will be given.
The exam may be given.
Additional
1. 'is' and 'was' are used with singular subjects such as she, he, it, name of a person, singular noun (book, pen, school...), mass noun (water, air....) etc.
2. 'are' and 'were' are used wih plural subjects such as we, they, you, plural nouns (books, pens, schools..) etc.
3. 'be' is used as it is (be) with modal verbs such as may, can, will, shall....
4. 'being' is used for passive continues tense.
5. 'been' is used with has/have/had for present or past / future perfect tense.
has/have/had + been + v3 = passive
has/have/had + been + ing = perfect continues
2.2. Verb to "Have"
As auxiliary verb, verb to "have" (has, have and had) is used with verb3 (past participle forms of the main verb) to form 'perfect tenses'.
Present perfect tense: has/have + verb3: I have written a letter.
Present perfect continuous tense: has/have + been + ing: I have been writing a letter
Past perfect tense: had + verb3
Past perfect continuous tense: had + been + ing
Future perfect tense: will + have + verb3
Future perfect continuous tense: will + have + been + ing
Note: Sometimes, verb to "have" (has, have and had) could be used as main verb to show possession, to say ''take/eat/drink....".
Examples:
I have new mobile and new computer. (possession: present)
She had a car while she was in USA. (possession: past)
I am having my breakfast. (eating: present continuous).
Bilise is having shower (taking shower: present continuous)
2.3 Verb to "Do"
As auxiliary verb, verb "do" (do, does and did) is used with other main verbs:
To form negation (negative sentence/clause) with 'not'.
Form: do/does/did + not + verb1 (always the main verb after 'do/does/did' is verb1!)
Examples:
They don't know the difference between transitive and intransitive verbs.
Previously, they didn't know the difference between transitive and intransitive verbs.
To form question/interrogative sentence (yes/no question, tag question, wh-questions...).
Examples:
Do you/they know the difference between transitive and intransitive verbs?
What do you know about transitive and intransitive verbs?
Attention Please!
1. We use 'do/does/did' to foregative and also questions based on subject and tense.
If the tense is simple present tense, we use 'do' for plural subject and 'does' for singular subject.
If the tense is simple past tense, we use 'did' for both plural and singular subjects.
2. Verb 'do/does/did' could also be used as main verb to say 'work/perform'.
Examples:
I did my assignment last week.
I will do my assignment next week.
Practice Questions
Choose the best answer!
1. Which one of the following verbs is a 'main verb'?
A. may B. are C. study D. can
2. All of the following words are state verbs except one.
A. tell B. smell C. taste D. know
3. Which word is the main verb in the next sentence?
"Derartu lives in Germany with her boyfriend."
A. Germany B. her C. boyfriend D. lives
4. The other name of 'auxiliary verbs' is:
A. linking verbs B. helping verbs C. action verbs D. modal verbs
5. Which word is modal verb in the next sentence?
"Obama did not come yesterday; he will come next week."
A. will B. come C. did D. next week
6. How is used the word 'did' in the next sentence?
"Obama did not come yesterday; he will come next week."
A. It is used as action verb B. It is used as helping verb
C. It is used as main verb D. It is used as modal verb
7. Which word is used as state verb in the next sentence?
"Biden is working as the President of USA; I believe that he could solve our problems."
A. working B. believe C. could D. solve
8. State verbs usually describe:
A. actions B. future events C. states or conditions D. hope
9. Which of the following is an "action verb"?
A. Eat B. Believe C. Have D. Seem
10. Which of the following is a "transitive verb"?
A. run B. jump C. bring D. sit
11. Transitive verbs require:
A. A direct object B. An indirect object
C. A subject D. A preposition
12. Which sentence has a "transitive verb"?
A. She smiled at him. B. They gave him a gift.
C. He ran to the store. D. We laughed loudly.
13. In the sentence, "She has a new car," the verb "to have" is used to indicate:
A. Ownership B. An action C. A state D. A command
14. Which sentence uses the verb "to have" as an auxiliary verb?
A. I have a brother. B. She has completed the task.
C. They had fun. D. We have two options.
15. In the sentence, "You should call your mom," the modal verb "should" indicates:
A. Obligation B. Ability C. Permission D. Certainty
16. In the sentence, "Do you like coffee?" the verb "to do" is:
A. A modal verb B. An auxiliary verb
C. A linking verb D. A state verb
17. The verb "to do" can be used as:
A. A main verb only B. An auxiliary verb only
C. Both a main and an auxiliary verb D. State verb
18. Identify the sentence that contains modal verbs that express "possibility".
A. I must leave early.
B. She can speak Spanish.
C. You should eat more vegetables.
D. They might come later.
19. The modal verb "must" is used to express:
A. Permission B. Obligation
C. Ability D. Possibility
20. Which sentence contains a "modal verb"?
A. I can swim.
B. They have a car.
C. She is a teacher.
D. We do our homework.