JANDKNCERT | Grammar & Composition
Grammar | Verb and its Kinds
Learning Keywords: verbs, kinds of verbs, definition of verb, transitive verb, intransitive verb, auxiliary verb, main verb, linking verb, action verb examples, English grammar
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Verb and its Kinds | Definition, Examples, and Exercises
Definition:
A verb is a word that shows action, state, or possession. It tells us what a person, animal, or thing does, is, or has.Example: He runs fast. (runs shows action)
Kinds of Verbs:
There are mainly five kinds of verbs in English grammar.
(i) Main (Principal)
Verbs
These verbs express the main action or state of being in a sentence.
Examples: Eat, go, read, play, write
Sentence: She writes neatly.
(ii) Auxiliary
(Helping) Verbs
These verbs help the main verb to form tenses, questions, or negatives.
Examples: is, am, are, was, were, has, have, do, does, will, shall
Sentence: She is reading a book.
(iii) Transitive
Verbs
A verb that requires an object to complete its meaning.
Examples: buy, make, see, love, eat
Sentence: He eats an apple. (object = apple)
(iv) Intransitive
Verbs
A verb that does not need an object to make complete sense.
Examples: sleep, go, run, cry, sit
Sentence: The baby sleeps. (no object needed)
(v) Linking Verbs
These verbs connect the subject to more information about it. They do not show
action but a state or condition.
Examples: is, am, are, was, were, seem, become
Sentence: She is happy.
More Definitions
Linking
verbs connect the subject of a sentence to a word or phrase that
describes or identifies the subject. They usually express a state,
condition, or change of state rather than an action.
Common Linking Verbs: is, am, are, was, were, seem, become, feel, look, appear,
remain
Examples:
She
is happy.
Here, is links the subject She with the adjective happy.
The
sky became dark.
Here, became links the subject The sky with dark.
He seems
tired.
Here, seems links the subject He with tired.
Note:
Words such as is, am, are, was, and were can also work as helping
(auxiliary) verbs when they are used with another verb.
Example:
She is reading a book.
Here, is is a helping verb, while reading is
the main verb.
Important Notes:
(i) A verb must agree with its subject.
(ii) Every sentence must have at least one verb.
(iii) Verbs change form to show time (tense).
Examples in Sentences:
1. He
plays football every day. (Action verb)
2. They
are my friends. (Linking verb)
3. She
has finished her homework. (Auxiliary + Main verb)
4. The
dog barked loudly. (Intransitive verb)
5. He
wrote a letter. (Transitive verb)
Test Exercises on Verb and Its Kinds
A. Identify the type of
verb used in each sentence:
1. The
sun rises in the east.
2. She
is dancing beautifully.
3. He
bought a new car.
4. The
children laughed loudly.
5. They
are teachers.
B. Fill in the blanks
with suitable verbs:
1. He
____ (run) fast.
2. The
baby ____ (sleep) in the cradle.
3. She
____ (write) a letter.
4. They
____ (be) late for school.
5. We
____ (do) our work on time.
Answers
A.
1. Intransitive
Verb
2. Auxiliary
+ Main Verb
3. Transitive
Verb
4. Intransitive
Verb
5. Linking
Verb
B.
1. Runs,
2. Sleeps, 3. Writes, 4. Are, 5. Do
Conclusion:
Verbs
are the heart of every sentence, as they express what the subject does,
feels, or is. Understanding different kinds of verbs helps us write and speak
English correctly and effectively.