A verb is a word that shows an action, an occurrence, or a state of being. It is the part of a sentence that tells you what someone or something does or is. Almost every complete sentence needs at least one verb.
What Is a Verb in Simple Terms?
A verb is the engine of a sentence. Words like “run,” “eat,” “think” and “sleep” are verbs because they describe what is happening. Without a verb, a group of words usually cannot form a complete sentence.
The Three Main Types of Verbs
- Action verbs describe something happening: run, eat, write, build.
- Linking verbs connect the subject to more information: is, are, was, seem. In “She is happy,” the verb is “is.”
- Helping verbs (auxiliary verbs) work with a main verb: have, will, can, must. In “They have finished,” “have” helps “finished.”
See the verb entry on Wikipedia for the full grammatical picture.
How to Spot the Verb in a Sentence
Ask what the subject is doing, or what state it is in. In “The dog chased the ball,” the verb is “chased.” In “They were tired,” the verb is “were.” Once you start checking for the doing-or-being word, you will find the verb in almost every sentence you read.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a verb in simple terms?
A verb is a word that shows an action, an occurrence, or a state of being – the word that tells you what someone or something does or is.
What are linking verbs?
Linking verbs such as is, are, was and seem connect the subject to more information instead of showing an action, as in “She is happy.”
Can a sentence have no verb?
A complete sentence normally needs at least one verb. A group of words without one is usually a fragment, not a full sentence.
What is the difference between action and linking verbs?
Action verbs describe something happening (run, eat), while linking verbs describe a state or connect the subject to a description (is, seem).
How do I find the verb in a sentence?
Ask what the subject is doing or what state it is in. The word that answers that question is the verb.
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