Verbs Definition
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Definition:
Verbs are one of the major grammatical groups, and all sentences must contain one. Verbs refer to an action (do, break, walk, etc.) or a state (be, like, own).
The verb tense shows the time of the action or state. Aspect shows whether the action or state is completed or not. Voice is used to show relationships between the action and the people affected by it. Mood shows the attitude of the speaker about the verb, whether it is a declaration or an order. Verbs can be affected by person and number to show agreement with the subject.
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Related to 'Verbs'
Related English Articles
Continue to learn about verbs and tenses by browsing our articles on the topic.
Learner Articles
How to teach link verbs/copula verbs
How to teach verbs that take adjectives instead of adverbs, with linking verb games and other copula verb practice activities
How to teach verbs of senses
How to teach sense verbs/ verbs of sensation/ sensory verbs/ verbs of perception, including look like, smell like, etc and verbs of senses games
English Tenses and Aspects 7 - The Habitual Aspect
A look at the difficulties of classifying "used to"
English Tenses and Aspect 6 - The Prospective Aspect
A look at the use of the 'going to' form in English
English Tenses and Aspects 5 - The Retrospective Aspect
A look the the forms traditionally known as the perfect aspect
English Tenses and Aspects 4 - The Durative Aspect
A look at the form traditionally known as the continuous or progressive
English Tenses and Aspect 3 - The Marked Tense
This tense, the traditional 'past simple', sometimes referred to as the preterite, like the unmarked tense, can refer to past, present, future and general time.
English Tenses and Aspect 2 - The Unmarked Tense
It is true that the uses of the unmarked tense can present three major problems for the learner
English Tenses and Aspects 1 - Introduction
I believe the tense/aspect system of English verbs is far less complex than many suppose. There is an underlying logic to the system that, when understood, clears away most of the problems that have caused misery to many learners and their teachers.
Problems with the Past Perfect & Past Simple
Notes on why native speakers do not always use the past perfect when learners have been told they must, using questions and answers from our forum.
The Past Perfect
A look at how the Past Perfect is formed and used in English
Using 'Wish' in English
A look at how to use the verb 'wish'.
The Use of BY + Agent in the Passive Voice
A look at when to use BY with the passive.
Articles for Teachers
How to teach be used to and get used to
How to present and practise be and get used to for easy and difficult things to be accustomed to, including common student errors/ confusions and be/ get used to games.
How to teach reporting verbs
How to teach the meaning and grammar of verbs for reporting what other people said, including reporting verb games
How to teach present time expressions
Teaching tips, games and other classroom activities for "at the moment", "often", "once every two weeks" etc with Present Simple and Present Continuous.
How to teach past time expressions
Teaching tips and classroom activities for time expressions with narrative tenses and Used to.
How to teach There is & There are
Teaching tips and interactive classroom activities for "There is/ are" and its negative and question forms.
35 fun classroom practice activities for Present Continuous (Present Progressive)
Interactive games for speaking practice of am/ is/ are + ing.
Stimulating activities to practise the passive voice
Fun classroom speaking activities for be + past participle.
Video tasks to practice past tenses
Activities to teach past tenses using video
Fun video tasks to practise Present Simple and Present Continuous
Ways of practising the present simple and continuous with video
Fun video tasks to practice future tenses and conditionals
Video tasks that can be used when practising future tenses and conditionals
Related Language Quizzes
Test your understanding by taking our language quizzes related to verbs and tenses.
| Level | Quiz |
|---|---|
| Beginner | Am, Are & Is (15) |
| Beginner | Auxiliary Verbs (15) |
| Beginner | Don't & Doesn't (10) |
| Beginner | Have or Has (18) |
| Beginner | Imperatives (10) |
| Beginner | Need & Needn't (10) |
| Beginner | She's = is or has? (11) |
| Beginner | Simple or Progressive? (10) |
| Beginner | There is or There are (15) |
| Beginner | There Is or There Are ? (18) |
| Beginner | Was or Were (16) |
| Beginner | Will or Would (10) |
| Intermediate | Active or Passive (9) |
| Intermediate | Causative (21) |
| Intermediate | Needn't & Don't Need (8) |
| Intermediate | Passive (15) |
| Intermediate | Passive (2) (14) |
| Advanced | Reflexive Verbs (10) |
| Advanced | Tenses (10) |
| Advanced | Transitive & Intransitive Verbs (10) |
| Advanced | Verb Types (11) |
| Advanced | Verbs of seeing (10) |
| All Levels | Irregular Verbs- Past Participle (50) |
| All Levels | Passive (1) (59) |