Types of Verbs in English with Examples

In this blog post, you are going to learn the 16 types of verbs with examples in English. Verbs are essential words in the English language because they describe actions, states, or events. Understanding the different types of verbs is important for improving your grammar and making your writing and speech clearer. Verbs help us express what we do, what we feel, and what happens in the world around us.

Types of Verbs in English

In this section, you are going to learn all the verb types with their examples in English. Learning types of verbs helps us to express what we do, what we feel, and what happens in the world around us. All types of verbs are explained below; let’s learn…

Linking Verbs

Linking verbs connect the subject to a complement, which gives more information about the subject.

Examples:

• am, is, seem, become, appear.

Sentence Examples:

• She is a great dancer.
• The sky seems cloudy.
• He became a teacher.
• The cake looks delicious.
• The weather feels warm.

Auxiliary Verbs

Auxiliary verbs, also known as helping verbs, assist the main verb to show tense, mood, or voice.

Examples:

• be, have, do, will, can.

Sentence Examples:

1. She is reading a book.
2. They have finished their work.
3. He did not see the movie.
4. We will go to the park.
5. I can swim very well.

Intransitive Verbs

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

Examples:

• run, sleep, arrive, smile, cry.

Sentence Examples:

• She runs every morning.
• The baby cried all night.
• They arrived late to the party.
• He smiled at the joke.
• The dog barks loudly.

Phrasal Verbs

Phrasal verbs are a combination of a verb and a preposition or adverb, creating a new meaning.

Examples:

• give up, take off, look after, turn on, run out.

Sentence Examples:

• I gave up smoking.
• The plane took off at noon.
• Can you look after my dog?
• Please turn on the lights.
• We have run out of milk.

Modal Verbs

Modal verbs express possibility, necessity, or ability. They are used to show likelihood or permission.

Examples:

• can, could, should, must, may.

Sentence Examples:

1. You can borrow my bike.
2. She could come to the party.
3. You should study more.
4. He must finish the project.
5. It may rain later today.

Regular Verbs

Regular verbs follow a consistent pattern in their past and past participle forms, typically adding -ed.

Examples:

• play, walk, cook, talk, watch.

Sentence Examples:

• She played football yesterday.
• I walked to school.
• We cooked dinner together.
• He talked about his plans.
• They watched a movie last night.

Action Verbs

Action verbs describe physical or mental activities.

Examples:

• run, think, dance, read, write.

Sentence Examples:

• She runs every morning.
• He thinks deeply about the problem.
• They danced all night.
• She reads a book every evening.
• I write in my journal every day.

Stative and Dynamic Verbs

Stative verbs express a state of being, while dynamic verbs describe actions or processes.

Examples (Stative):

• know, believe, love, hate, own.

Examples (Dynamic):

• run, jump, eat, sing, paint.

Sentence Examples:

• I know the answer (Stative).
• He owns a car (Stative).
• She runs every day (Dynamic).
• We sing in the choir (Dynamic).
• They painted the house (Dynamic).

Irregular Verbs

Irregular verbs do not follow the regular pattern for creating the past or past participle forms.

Examples:

• go, come, see, drink, buy.

Sentence Examples: