Types of verbs- English Grammar Notes
Verbs are words in a phrase that describe a subject
Finite Verbs
-shows agreement with a subject and can be either present tense or past tense
-always just one word and carries primary meaning
-changes form based on the subject and tense of the sentence.
Action verb/physical verb: describes a physical action of a subject i.e. sit.
Mental verb: describes an action/process related to mental activities or cognitive
processes
i.e “believe”
Linking Verb /State of Being verb:
Connects the subject of the sentence with a subject complement
(noun/pronoun/adjective)
It does not show action; instead, it expresses a state of being: a condition or
relationship.
I.e The cake smells delicious.
Transitive Verbs
Expresses a doable activity that relates to or affects someone or something. in a
sentence with a transitive verb, someone or something receives the action of the verb,
followed by a direct object.
I.e Mary baked her mother a pie.
Intransitive verb
is a verb that does not have a direct object. In a sentence with an intransitive verb, the
verb typically stands alone or is accompanied by an adverb or preposition phrase.
I.e They laughed. - no direct object but still is a complete sentence.
We traveled to London= no direct object
Auxiliary Verb/Helping Verbs
-used together with a main verb to show the verb’s tense or to form a question or
negative to give some context to the main verb, when the action takes place.
● Can
● Did
Verbs are words in a phrase that describe a subject
Finite Verbs
-shows agreement with a subject and can be either present tense or past tense
-always just one word and carries primary meaning
-changes form based on the subject and tense of the sentence.
Action verb/physical verb: describes a physical action of a subject i.e. sit.
Mental verb: describes an action/process related to mental activities or cognitive
processes
i.e “believe”
Linking Verb /State of Being verb:
Connects the subject of the sentence with a subject complement
(noun/pronoun/adjective)
It does not show action; instead, it expresses a state of being: a condition or
relationship.
I.e The cake smells delicious.
Transitive Verbs
Expresses a doable activity that relates to or affects someone or something. in a
sentence with a transitive verb, someone or something receives the action of the verb,
followed by a direct object.
I.e Mary baked her mother a pie.
Intransitive verb
is a verb that does not have a direct object. In a sentence with an intransitive verb, the
verb typically stands alone or is accompanied by an adverb or preposition phrase.
I.e They laughed. - no direct object but still is a complete sentence.
We traveled to London= no direct object
Auxiliary Verb/Helping Verbs
-used together with a main verb to show the verb’s tense or to form a question or
negative to give some context to the main verb, when the action takes place.
● Can
● Did
