Verbs

Simple explanation

A verb is a word that shows an action or a state of being. Every sentence must have one. Without a verb, a sentence is incomplete.

Think of a verb as the engine of a sentence. It makes everything move.

Why it matters

A sentence without a verb is just a list of words. Adding the right verb is the difference between a fragment and a complete thought. Getting verbs right is the single biggest step a beginner can take.

Two kinds of verbs

1. Action verbs — show what someone does

| eat | run | write | talk | cook | think | call | buy |

2. Being verbs (also called linking verbs) — show what something is or feels like

| am | is | are | was | were | seem | feel | look |

Both are verbs. Both are equally important.

Wrong vs right

This is one of the most common mistakes Indian English speakers make. Always include the verb is, am, or are — even when it feels obvious.

Daily life usage

1. Action verb: I cook dinner every evening.
2. Action verb: She called me this morning.
3. Being verb: He is my best friend.
4. Being verb: I am very tired today.
5. Both in one sentence: The food smells amazing and tastes even better.

Subject-verb agreement at a glance

The verb must match the subject. This is where many learners make mistakes.

The pattern for most action verbs is simple: add -s or -es when the subject is he, she, or it. So it is I run but she runs. We watch but he watches. This one small rule fixes a huge number of everyday errors.

Common mistakes

Memory trick

Practice quiz

Quick summary

• Verbs show action (eat, run, write) or being (is, am, are).
• Every sentence must have a verb — without one, it is not a sentence.
• The verb must match its subject (she goes, not she go).