VERBS

Verbs are words that describe an action or talk about something that happens. They take many different forms depending on their subjects, the time they refer to and other ideas we want to express.

We use different tenses to talk or write about different times:

We usually use present tense verb forms to talk about states, events or actions that happen or are happening in the present time. Examples: I usually go to the gym in the morning. I’m working on a new project now.

We usually use past tense verb forms to talk about past time, to describe events, states or actions that have finished. Examples: She was here yesterday. I have bought everything we need for the party.  

There is no future tense form of verbs in English. We refer to future time in several different ways for different functions, for example, using the present tense or be going to or will. The train departs at 9 p.m. I’m going to London on Saturday. I will buy the present for him tomorrow. 

The meaning of the verb is often in the whole pattern, not just in the verb. For example, some verbs can stand alone, (They laughed). Others have to be followed by an object (They loved it). Other verbs are followed by objects + prepositions (Put it on the table), or verbs in other forms (I hate waiting, I prefer to walk)…

Some verbs can change their meaning or function depending on how they are used and what they combine with. Some verbs, such as get, make and take have many different meanings. Others, such as be, do or have can be used as main verbs or auxiliary verbs. Auxiliary verbs come before main verbs. Most verbs in English are main verbs. Main verbs have meanings related to actions, events and states.

Main verbs in English have five different forms:

The base form, also known as the infinitive, e.g. work, take;

The past form, e.g. worked, took;

The past participle form, e.g. worked, taken (in regular verbs this takes the same form as the past, but in irregular verbs it can be different, e.g. took, taken.);

The -ing form, e.g. working, taking;

The third person singular present simple, or -s form, e.g. works, takes

An action verb, also called an event verb, is a word that shows what someone or something is doing. Event verbs refer to events—happenings that begin and end at a definite time.  Examples: write, cook, work, jump…We can use the simple or continuous form of action verbs. Examples: I read a book every month. Now I’m reading The Lord of the Rings. 

State or stative verbs refer to a state. State verbs do not normally have continuous forms probably because continuous forms are mainly used to talk about temporary situations, and states, on the other hand, tend to be permanent or long lasting. The most common state verbs are be and have. Other common verbs referring to states are: know, believe, like, love, hate, remember, suppose, understand, want, wish etc. Examples: I have a brother. He is a vet. He loves animals.