Verbs
Verbs are used to give a state of action or being. There are three kinds of verb: action, auxiliary and linking. For more help in finding the proper use of verbs you can seek the help of an online grammar checker.
Action verbs
Action verbs are used to express an action. Use this verb type to tell what someone or something is doing or has done.
Examples
Birds build nests in trees. ‘Build’ describes what the birds do.
The ball rolled down the hill. ‘Rolled’ tells what the ball has done.
To decide if a word is an action verb, just work out whether or not it is something you can do. You can build but you cannot bird, nor can you tree.
Linking verbs
These are used to link a subject in a sentence with information that concerns it. Another way to label linking verbs is as “state of being verbs”.Examples
The strawberries taste sweet.
The baby is sleepy.
In the first example ‘taste’ gives information about the strawberries. It tells us that they are sweet. This is their state of being. In this instance ‘taste’ is used as a linking verb but it can also be used as an action verb.
In the second sentence ‘is’ links information about the baby to the fact that it is sleepy. This also is a state of being.
Auxiliary Verbs
These go with other verbs. They can also be called “helping” verbs, because they can help out or introduce the main verb.
Examples
The teacher is reading to the class.
The students should learn how to read.
In the first example the auxiliary verb would be ‘is’. ‘Is’ tells us that the action is happening at the moment.
In the second sentence ‘should’ is the auxiliary verb. The main verb in the sentence is ‘read’.
Some of the more commonly used auxiliary verbs include ‘be’, ‘have’ and ‘do’.
Check the function
Sometimes in the English language the same word is used for different functions. A word can be a noun when used as a person, place or thing. It could be a verb if used to indicate an action. The same word could even be an adjective in some cases, so it is wise to seek the help of an online grammar checker if you are at all unsure.
Examples
The children fish from the harbour wall.
Catching a huge fish is very exciting for the fisherman.
In the first sentence ‘fish is a verb. It is an action the children take when they are sitting on the harbour wall. In this case ‘fish’ is something you can do. In the second sentence ‘fish’ is a noun – it is an object.
You can find more information and examples of verbs by using online grammar checkers or English writing or grammar software.
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