Learn about verbs - action words that make sentences work! Perfect for Class 4-7 students. Understand what verbs are and their different types with simple examples.
1. What are Verbs?
Verbs are action words that tell us what someone or something is doing, being, or experiencing.
| Sentence | Verb | What It Shows |
|---|---|---|
| Rohan plays cricket. | plays | Action |
| She is happy. | is | State of being |
| They eat lunch at 1 PM. | eat | Habit/Regular action |
| The cat sleeps on the sofa. | sleeps | Current action |
Remember: Every complete sentence must have at least one verb. Without a verb, it's not a complete sentence!
2. Main Types of Verbs
| Type | Definition | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Action Verbs | Show physical or mental action | run, think, write, jump, speak |
| Linking Verbs | Connect subject to description (not action) | am, is, are, was, were, seem, become |
| Helping Verbs | Help main verbs show tense or possibility | am, is, are, was, were, have, has, had, will, can, could |
3. Action Verbs - Doing Words
Action verbs tell us what the subject is doing. They can be physical (things you can see) or mental (things in the mind).
| Physical Actions | Example Sentence | Mental Actions | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| run | He runs fast. | think | I think about my future. |
| write | She writes stories. | believe | We believe in honesty. |
| jump | The frog jumps high. | understand | They understand the lesson. |
| eat | Children eat apples. | remember | I remember your name. |
| build | They build a house. | dream | She dreams of becoming a doctor. |
4. Linking Verbs - Being Words
Linking verbs don't show action. They connect the subject to a word that describes or renames it.
| Linking Verb | Example Sentence | What It Connects |
|---|---|---|
| am, is, are | I am a student. She is tall. | Subject to identity/quality |
| was, were | He was late. We were friends. | Past state of being |
| seem, appear | She seems happy. It appears easy. | Subject to impression |
| become, grow | He became a doctor. Plants grow tall. | Subject to change |
| feel, look, sound | I feel tired. You look nice. | Subject to sense/feeling |
5. Helping Verbs - Support Words
Helping verbs (also called auxiliary verbs) work with main verbs to show time, possibility, or necessity.
| Helping Verb | Use | Example with Main Verb |
|---|---|---|
| am, is, are | Present continuous | I am playing. She is reading. |
| was, were | Past continuous | He was studying. They were eating. |
| have, has, had | Perfect tenses | I have finished. She has written. |
| will, shall | Future tense | I will go. We shall see. |
| can, could | Ability | She can swim. He could run fast. |
| may, might | Possibility | It may rain. They might come. |
| must, should | Obligation/advice | You must study. We should help. |
6. Quick Practice (5 Questions)
7. Common Mistakes to Avoid
| Wrong ❌ | Right ✅ | Why? |
|---|---|---|
| She good at math. | She is good at math. | Missing linking verb "is" |
| They playing football. | They are playing football. | Missing helping verb "are" |
| I can to swim. | I can swim. | No "to" after helping verbs like can/could |
| He look tired. | He looks tired. | Add 's' for he/she/it in present tense |
| We must studies hard. | We must study hard. | After helping verbs, use base form of verb |
🎯 Verb Spotter Game
Find all verbs in this paragraph:
"Rohan wakes up early every day. He brushes his teeth and eats breakfast. Then he walks to school with his friends. In class, he listens carefully to the teacher. After school, he plays cricket in the park. In the evening, he does his homework and reads storybooks. Before bed, he thinks about his day."
How many verbs did you find?
(Answer: wakes, brushes, eats, walks, listens, plays, does, reads, thinks)
8. Memory Aids
Verb Finder Trick:
Ask "What is happening?" or "What is the subject doing/being?"
The answer is usually the verb!
Action vs Linking Test:
Can you DO it? If yes → Action verb
Can you BE it? If yes → Linking verb
Example: "run" (can do it) = Action
"is" (can be it) = Linking
Helping Verb Check:
If a verb comes before another verb, it's probably helping!
Example: "is going" (is helps going)
"have eaten" (have helps eaten)
Exam Tip: First find the verb, then decide its type.
No sentence = no verb!
Look for -ing forms → often need helping verbs
Look for descriptions after verb → might be linking verb
📝 Practice Verbs
Test with our 20-question worksheet on verbs!
Download Verbs WorksheetIncludes answer key • Printable PDF
