Verb

 

A verb is a word that shows an action, an occurrence, or a state of being in a sentence. In simple terms, a verb tells what someone or something does or what happens.

Common verbs: run, eat, play, write, is, am, are, was, were.

Verbs in sentences:

• She runs every morning. (action)
• The baby cried loudly. (action)
• They are happy. (state of being)

Before we get into a broad classification, let us first have a look at how verbs can be classified generally according to what kind of action they signify.

Types of Verb

Types of verbs tell us the different ways verbs are used in sentences, such as showing action, helping another verb, or linking the subject to more information.

1. Action Verbs

This type of verb expresses physical as well as mental actions.

• Physical action: run, eat, dance
  Example: "She runs every morning."
• Mental action: think, believe, understand
  Example: "I believe in myself."

2. Linking Verbs

These verbs form a bridge between the subject of a sentence and a noun, pronoun, or adjective that either gives it a new name or describes it.

• Common linking verbs: be, seem, appear
  Example: "He is a doctor."
• Sensory linking verbs: look, taste, feel
  Example: "The flowers smell delightful."

3. Helping Verbs (Auxiliary Verbs)

These verbs assist the main verb in a sentence, expressing tense, mood, or voice.

• Tense auxiliary verbs: have, be, do
  Example: "She has finished her homework."
• Modal auxiliary verbs: can, may, must
  Example: "You must study for the test."

4. Transitive Verbs

The meaning of these verbs requires a direct object for clarification.

Example: "She bought a new book."

5. Intransitive Verbs

These verbs do not require a direct object to complete their meaning.

Example: "The bird flew."

6. Regular Verbs

These verbs form their past tense and past participle by adding "-ed" or "-d" to the base form.

Example: "He walked to the park."

7. Irregular Verbs

These verbs have irregular forms for their past tense and past participle.

Example: "She swam in the pool."

8. Phrasal Verbs

These are verb phrases that consist of a main verb combined with a preposition or an adverb.

Example: "They turned off the lights."

9. Modal Verbs

These verbs express possibility, necessity, ability, or permission.

Example: "You should go to bed early."

Verb Agreement Rules

Rule 1:

When two subjects are joined by “and”, the verb is usually plural because the subject becomes plural.

Example : My friend and his father are in Japan

Rule 2:

When two singular nouns joined by “and” refer to the same person or the same thing, the verb is singular.

Example:

• The district magistrate and collector is on leave today.
• The secretary and the president have been given a warm welcome.

Rule 3:

If two different nouns joined by “and” express one single idea, the verb should be singular.

Example:

• Bread and milk is good for breakfast.
• Rice and curry is my favourite dish.

Rule 4:

When two singular subjects are preceded by “each” or “every”, the verb should be singular.

Example:

• Every boy and girl was present in the class yesterday.
• Every man and every woman has the right to apply for the job.

Rule 5:

The word “none” can take either a singular or plural verb depending on the noun that follows it.

Example:

• None of the counterfeit money has been found.
• None of the students have finished the exam yet.

Rule 6:

Expressions such as “a lot of,” “a great deal of,” “plenty of,” “most of,” and “some of” take a singular or plural verb depending on whether they refer to an amount or a number.

Example:

• A lot of people were present at the party.
• A lot of work has to be completed before we leave.

Rule 7:

The words few, many, several, and both are always treated as plural and therefore take plural verbs.

Example:
Several are absent.

Rule 8:

Collective nouns such as team, committee, family, jury, and class may take either singular or plural verbs depending on whether the group acts as a single unit or as individual members.

Example:

• The team is winning the match.
• The team are arguing among themselves.

Rule 9:

The words all, some, none, most, and half take singular or plural verbs depending on the noun that follows them.

Example:

• All the money is lost.
• All the students are present.

Rule 10:

When subjects are joined by either…or or neither…nor, the verb agrees with the nearest subject.

Example:

• Either the manager or the employees are responsible.
• Neither the employees nor the manager is responsible.

Rule 11:

The expression “a number of” takes a plural verb, while “the number of” takes a singular verb.

Example:

• A number of candidates are absent.
• The number of candidates is increasing.

Rule 12:

When a gerund (verb + ing) is used as the subject of a sentence, the verb is singular.

Example:
Smoking is injurious to health.

Rule 13:

When an infinitive (to + verb) is used as the subject of a sentence, the verb is usually singular.

Example:
To travel alone is risky.

Solved Questions on Verbs

Direction: Choose the correct verb in the sentence

Question 1: My brother and his friend ___ going to the market.

Options:
A. is
B. are
C. was
D. has

Answers: Option B (are)

Question 2: Every boy and girl ___ present in the class.

Options:
A. were
B. are
C. was
D. have

Answers: Option C (was)

Question 3: The number of applicants for the job ___ increasing every year.

Options:
A. are
B. were
C. is
D. have

Answers: Option C (is)

Question 4: Either the teacher or the students ___ responsible for the noise.

Options:
A. is
B. was
C. are
D. has

Answers: Option C (are)

Question 5: Swimming ___ good exercise.

Options:
A. are
B. were
C. is
D. have

Answers: Option C (is)