Chapter 7: Verbs – Action and Being Words

Every sentence you speak, write, or read contains at least one essential element: a verb. Understanding what is a verb is fundamental to mastering English grammar because verbs are the engines that drive sentences forward. Without verbs, we cannot express actions, describe states of being, or communicate complete thoughts. A verb tells us what someone or something does or what someone or something is. Whether you’re describing a runner sprinting across a field or simply stating that the sky is blue, you’re using verbs to bring meaning to your words.

1. What is a Verb?

I. The Definition and Purpose of Verbs

A verb is a word that expresses an action or a state of being. In simpler terms, verbs tell us what someone or something does (action) or what someone or something is (state of being). Verbs are the most essential part of any sentence—they carry the core meaning and make it possible to communicate complete thoughts.

Consider these examples:

• The dog barks. (action)
• Children play. (action)
• She is happy. (state of being)
• I am a student. (state of being)
• They run quickly. (action)
• The flowers are beautiful. (state of being)
• He writes stories. (action)
• We are ready. (state of being)
• Birds fly south. (action)
• The cake tastes delicious. (state of being)

In each sentence above, the verb tells us either what action is happening or what state of existence is being described. Without the verb, each sentence would be incomplete and meaningless.

II. Why Every Sentence Needs a Verb

Verbs are absolutely essential because they create the core meaning of sentences. Even the shortest complete sentence must contain a verb. Try removing the verb from any sentence, and you’ll immediately see that the meaning disappears:

• Complete: “The baby sleeps.” → Incomplete: “The baby…” (What about the baby?)
• Complete: “Rain falls.” → Incomplete: “Rain…” (What does rain do?)
• Complete: “I am tired.” → Incomplete: “I…” (What are you?)

Verbs work together with nouns (the subjects of sentences) to create meaningful communication. The subject tells us who or what, and the verb tells us what that subject does or is.

III. The Two Main Categories of Verbs

All verbs fall into two main categories:

i. Action Verbs

Action verbs describe actions—things that people, animals, or objects do. These can be physical actions (run, jump, eat) or mental actions (think, believe, understand). Action verbs answer the question “What is happening?” or “What does the subject do?”

Examples:

• She dances beautifully.
• The cat climbs the tree.
• We study English grammar.
• He thinks about the problem.
• They laugh at the joke.

ii. Being Verbs (Linking Verbs)

Being verbs describe a state of existence rather than an action. They connect the subject to information about the subject. The most common being verbs are forms of “be”: am, is, are, was, were. Being verbs answer the question “What is the subject?” or “How is the subject?”

Examples:

• I am a teacher.
• She is intelligent.
• They are friends.
• The soup was hot.
• We were excited.

2. Action Verbs – Words That Show Movement and Activity

I. Physical Action Verbs

Physical action verbs describe actions that you can see or observe. These are movements or activities performed by people, animals, or things. Physical action verbs are often the easiest verbs to understand because they represent visible actions.

Common Physical Action Verbs:

• run: The athletes run around the track.
• jump: Children jump on the trampoline.
• eat: We eat dinner at six o’clock.
• play: They play soccer every weekend.
• write: She writes in her journal daily.
• read: He reads books before bedtime.
• swim: Fish swim in the ocean.
• dance: The performers dance on stage.
• walk: I walk to school every morning.
• talk: Students talk during lunch break.
• sing: Birds sing in the morning.
• cook: Mom cooks delicious meals.
• sleep: Babies sleep most of the day.
• drive: Dad drives to work.
• fly: Airplanes fly high in the sky.
• throw: The pitcher throws the ball.
• catch: The player catches the football.
• climb: Monkeys climb trees easily.
• draw: Artists draw beautiful pictures.
• paint: She paints colorful landscapes.
• build: Workers build new houses.
• clean: We clean our room on Saturdays.
• wash: He washes the dishes after dinner.
• pull: The horse pulls the cart.
• push: Children push the swing.
• kick: Soccer players kick the ball.
• carry: She carries her backpack.
• lift: Athletes lift weights at the gym.
• open: Please open the window.
• close: Close the door quietly.

II. Mental Action Verbs

Mental action verbs describe actions that happen in the mind. You cannot see these actions, but they are still actions—they represent thinking, feeling, understanding, and other mental processes. Mental action verbs help us express thoughts, emotions, and cognitive activities.

Common Mental Action Verbs:

• think: I think about my future plans.
• believe: She believes in herself.
• know: We know the correct answer.
• understand: They understand the lesson.
• remember: He remembers his childhood.
• forget: I sometimes forget people’s names.
• imagine: Children imagine wonderful adventures.
• wonder: She wonders about the stars.
• hope: We hope for good weather.
• wish: He wishes for happiness.
• dream: I dream about traveling the world.
• worry: Parents worry about their children.
• consider: They consider different options.
• decide: She decides what to wear.
• plan: We plan our vacation carefully.
• recognize: I recognize that song.
• realize: He realizes his mistake.
• learn: Students learn new concepts daily.
• study: We study for our exams.
• concentrate: She concentrates on her work.
• focus: Focus on the important details.
• solve: They solve math problems.
• analyze: Scientists analyze the data.
• compare: We compare different products.
• doubt: He doubts the story.

III. Using Action Verbs in Sentences

Action verbs can appear in different positions in a sentence, but they always express what the subject does. Here are patterns for using action verbs effectively:

i. Simple Subject + Action Verb

• Dogs bark.
• Babies cry.
• Leaves fall.
• Stars shine.
• Water flows.

ii. Subject + Action Verb + Object

• Maria reads books.
• The chef prepares delicious food.
• Students complete homework assignments.
• The gardener waters the plants.
• Birds build nests.

iii. Subject + Action Verb + Additional Information

• The train arrives at nine o’clock.
• She speaks clearly and confidently.
• They traveled to Paris last summer.
• The baby sleeps peacefully in the crib.
• We exercise every morning before breakfast.

3. Being Verbs – Words That Show Existence and State

I. What Being Verbs Do

Being verbs, also called “linking verbs,” do not show action. Instead, they connect the subject of a sentence to information about that subject. Being verbs tell us what something is or what state it is in. They link the subject to a noun, pronoun, or adjective that describes or identifies the subject.

The most common being verbs are forms of the verb “to be”:

• Present tense: am, is, are
• Past tense: was, were
• Future tense: will be
• Present perfect: have been, has been

In this chapter, we focus primarily on the present tense forms (am, is, are) with a brief introduction to past tense (was, were).

II. The Forms of “Be”

The verb “be” has different forms depending on the subject of the sentence. Understanding which form to use is essential for correct English:

Present Tense Forms:

• am – used with “I”
• is – used with he, she, it, or singular nouns
• are – used with you, we, they, or plural nouns

Past Tense Forms (Brief Introduction):

• was – used with I, he, she, it, or singular nouns
• were – used with you, we, they, or plural nouns

III. Examples with Being Verbs

Being verbs connect subjects to descriptions or identities:

Connecting to Adjectives (Descriptions):

• I am happy.
• She is tall.
• They are tired.
• The sky is blue.
• The cookies are delicious.
• You are kind.
• He is smart.
• We are excited.
• The water is cold.
• The flowers are beautiful.

Connecting to Nouns (Identities):

• I am a teacher.
• She is a doctor.
• They are students.
• He is my brother.
• We are friends.
• You are a musician.
• It is a cat.
• These are books.
• That is my car.
• Those are apples.

Connecting to Locations:

• I am at home.
• She is in the classroom.
• They are at the park.
• The keys are on the table.
• He is at work.

4. Using “Am” – The First-Person Form

I. When to Use “Am”

The verb form “am” is used ONLY with the pronoun “I.” This is the first-person singular form of the verb “be.” Whenever you are talking about yourself, use “am.”

Pattern: I + am + [description/identity/location]

Examples:

• I am happy.
• I am a student.
• I am at school.
• I am ready to learn.
• I am ten years old.
• I am from New York.
• I am interested in science.
• I am proud of my work.
• I am good at math.
• I am the oldest child.
• I am hungry right now.
• I am excited about the trip.
• I am tired after exercise.
• I am confused about the question.
• I am certain of the answer.

II. Contractions with “Am”

In casual speaking and informal writing, we often use contractions—shortened forms where two words combine. With “am,” the contraction is formed by combining “I” and “am” into “I’m.”

Contraction: I + am = I’m

• I am happy → I’m happy.
• I am a student → I’m a student.
• I am ready → I’m ready.
• I am here → I’m here.
• I am working → I’m working.
• I am learning → I’m learning.

5. Using “Is” – The Singular Form

I. When to Use “Is”

The verb form “is” is used with third-person singular subjects. This includes the pronouns he, she, and it, as well as singular nouns (one person, place, or thing).

Use “is” with:

• He: He is a good student.
• She: She is my friend.
• It: It is a beautiful day.
• Singular nouns: The cat is black.

II. “Is” with Different Subjects

Examples with “He”:

• He is tall.
• He is a doctor.
• He is at home.
• He is my brother.
• He is very intelligent.

Examples with “She”:

• She is kind.
• She is a teacher.
• She is in the kitchen.
• She is my sister.
• She is very talented.

Examples with “It”:

• It is hot today.
• It is a cat.
• It is on the table.
• It is raining outside.
• It is my favorite book.

Examples with Singular Nouns:

• The dog is friendly.
• The car is red.
• The teacher is helpful.
• The book is interesting.
• The apple is fresh.
• Maria is happy.
• The sun is bright.
• The movie is exciting.
• The baby is sleeping.
• My mother is cooking.

Contractions with “Is”:

The contraction for “is” adds an apostrophe and “s” to the subject:

• He is → He’s
• She is → She’s
• It is → It’s
• The dog is → The dog’s (less common)

6. Using “Are” – The Plural Form

I. When to Use “Are”

The verb form “are” is used with plural subjects and with the pronoun “you” (both singular and plural). Understanding proper subject-verb agreement helps you choose the correct form.

Use “are” with:

• You (singular or plural): You are smart.
• We: We are friends.
• They: They are students.
• Plural nouns: The cats are playing.

II. “Are” with Different Subjects

Examples with “You”:

• You are welcome.
• You are a great friend.
• You are at school.
• You are very helpful.
• You are doing well.

Examples with “We”:

• We are happy.
• We are students.
• We are at the park.
• We are ready to start.
• We are learning English.

Examples with “They”:

• They are kind.
• They are teachers.
• They are in the classroom.
• They are my friends.
• They are excited about the trip.

Examples with Plural Nouns:

• The dogs are barking.
• The cars are parked.
• The teachers are helpful.
• The books are on the shelf.
• The apples are fresh.
• My parents are at work.
• The students are studying.
• The flowers are blooming.
• The children are playing.
• My friends are coming over.

Contractions with “Are”:

• You are → You’re
• We are → We’re
• They are → They’re

7. Introduction to Past Tense Being Verbs

I. “Was” and “Were” – Basic Overview

While this chapter focuses primarily on present tense verbs, it’s helpful to know that being verbs also have past tense forms. We’ll cover these forms in more detail when we study past tense, but here’s a basic introduction:

“Was” – Used with singular subjects:

• I was happy yesterday.
• He was at school.
• She was tired.
• It was sunny.
• The cat was sleeping.

“Were” – Used with plural subjects and “you”:

• You were correct.
• We were friends.
• They were students.
• The dogs were barking.
• The children were playing.

These past tense forms follow similar patterns to present tense forms, but they describe states or conditions that existed in the past.

8. Finding the Verb in a Sentence

I. Questions to Ask When Identifying Verbs

Finding the verb in a sentence is a crucial skill for understanding sentence structure. Here are helpful questions to ask:

For Action Verbs, ask:

• “What is happening in this sentence?”
• “What is the subject doing?”
• “What action is taking place?”

For Being Verbs, ask:

• “What word connects the subject to a description?”
• “What word tells what the subject is?”
• “Is there a form of ‘be’ in the sentence?”

II. Practice Identifying Verbs

Let’s practice finding verbs in sentences. The verb in each sentence is highlighted in bold:

1. The children play in the park. (action verb)
2. She is a wonderful teacher. (being verb)
3. Birds sing in the morning. (action verb)
4. I am ready for school. (being verb)
5. The dog runs very fast. (action verb)
6. They are my best friends. (being verb)
7. He writes letters to his grandmother. (action verb)
8. The flowers smell sweet. (action verb)
9. We study English grammar. (action verb)
10. You are very talented. (being verb)
11. The baby sleeps peacefully. (action verb)
12. It is a beautiful day. (being verb)
13. Students learn new things every day. (action verb)
14. The sky is blue. (being verb)
15. She dances gracefully. (action verb)
16. I think about my future. (action verb)
17. They laugh at the joke. (action verb)
18. The book is on the table. (being verb)
19. We cook dinner together. (action verb)
20. The car is red. (being verb)
21. He understands the lesson. (action verb)
22. The cookies taste delicious. (action verb)
23. My parents are at work. (being verb)
24. She remembers her childhood. (action verb)
25. The water flows down the river. (action verb)
26. I imagine wonderful adventures. (action verb)
27. The movie was exciting. (being verb, past tense)
28. They build sandcastles at the beach. (action verb)
29. You are a good friend. (being verb)
30. The sun shines brightly. (action verb)

9. Common Mistakes with Verbs

As you learn about verbs, be aware of these common errors that beginners often make:

i. Using the Wrong Form of “Be”

ii. Forgetting the Verb Entirely

iii. Confusing Action and Being Verbs

Remember: action verbs show what someone/something does, while being verbs show what someone/something is.

• Action: She runs every morning. (shows action)
• Being: She is a runner. (shows identity)

iv. Using Double Verbs Incorrectly

Exercises

Practice your understanding of verbs with these exercises. Click “Show Answer” to check your work!

Test Your Knowledge

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

Congratulations! You’ve now mastered the fundamentals of understanding what is a verb—one of the most essential building blocks of English grammar. Verbs are the powerhouses of every sentence, expressing either the actions we perform or the states of being we experience. From physical action verbs like “run” and “jump” to mental action verbs like “think” and “believe,” and from being verbs like “am,” “is,” and “are” that connect subjects to descriptions, verbs bring language to life and make communication possible.

Remember that every complete sentence must contain a verb, and choosing the correct verb form (especially with am, is, and are) is crucial for clear, grammatically correct English. As you continue practicing, identifying verbs will become second nature. Pay attention to the verbs in the sentences you read and hear every day, and don’t be afraid to practice using different types of verbs in your own writing and speaking.

Understanding what is a verb opens the door to learning more advanced grammar concepts like verb tenses, which will allow you to express when actions happen and how they relate to each other in time. Keep practicing with the exercises provided, and soon you’ll be using verbs with confidence in all your English communication. The journey to mastering English grammar begins with understanding these fundamental parts of speech—and you’re well on your way!

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