Action and Being – Verbs

In this episode, we’ll learn about verbs. Verbs are words that describe actions or states of being. They are the heart of every sentence!

1. What is a Verb?

A verb tells us what the subject of a sentence does or is.

• Actions: run, jump, eat, sleep, read, write
• States of being: is, am, are, was, were, feel, seem

Examples in Sentences:

• The dog runs fast. (Action)
• I am happy. (State of being)
• She reads a book. (Action)
• They are friends. (State of being)

2. Basic Verb Forms (Simplified)

For now, let’s focus on three basic verb forms:

• Base Form: This is the basic form of the verb. We often use it with “I,” “you,” “we,” and “they.”
  • Examples: eat, play, go, walk
• -s Form: We usually add “-s” to the base form when the subject is “he,” “she,” or “it.”
  • Examples: eats, plays, goes, walks
• Past Tense: This form tells us about actions that happened in the past. Many verbs add “-ed” to form the past tense, but there are also many irregular verbs with different past tense forms.
  • Examples: walked, played, ate (irregular), went (irregular)

Examples in Sentences:

• I walk to school. (Base form)
• He walks to school. (-s form)
• I walked to school yesterday. (Past tense)
• She eats apples. (-s form)
• She ate an apple yesterday. (Past tense – irregular)

3. Action Verbs and Linking Verbs (Simplified)

• Action Verbs: These verbs describe actions.
  • Examples: run, jump, eat, read, write, paint, sing
• Linking Verbs: These verbs connect the subject to a description. The most common linking verb is “to be” (am, is, are, was, were). Other linking verbs include feel, seem, look, become.
  • Examples:
    • She is tall. (“Is” connects “she” to the description “tall.”)
    • He feels tired. (“Feels” connects “he” to the description “tired.”)
    • The food smells delicious. (“Smells” connects “food” to the description “delicious.”)

Examples in Sentences:

• The cat chased the mouse. (Action verb)
• The cat is black. (Linking verb)
• He runs every day. (Action verb)
• He seems happy. (Linking verb)

What We Skipped (For Now):

• Infinitive, past participle, present participle, gerund: These are more complex verb forms.
• Transitive and intransitive verbs: This distinction is too complex for absolute beginners.
• Auxiliary and modal verbs: These are also more advanced topics.

Why are Verbs Important?

Verbs are essential because they tell us what is happening in a sentence. Without verbs, we couldn’t express actions or states of being.

Other Useful Links
| Introduction to English Grammar | Noun | Pronoun | Adjectives | Verbs | Adverb | Preposition | Conjunction | Interjection | Articles | Phrases | Clause | Modal Verbs | Tenses | Passive Voice |