Verbs

VERBS
Topic/Course
Sub-Topic (Example: name of college)
MAIN VERBS :
Action verbs express specific actions and are used any time you want to
show action or discuss someone doing something. It’s important to
remember that the action does not have to be physical.
E.g.,
I run faster than David.
He does it well.
She thinks about poetry all day long
TRANSITIVE VERB
Transitive verbs are action verbs that always express doable activities that
relate or affect someone or something else. These other things are
generally direct objects, nouns or pronouns that are affected by the verb,
though some verbs can also take an indirect object, such as show, take,
and make. In a sentence with a transitive verb, someone or something
receives the action of the verb.
E.g.,
John punches him.
They sold the tickets.
INTRANSITIVE VERB
Intransitive verbs are action verbs that always express doable activities.
They are different from transitive verbs because there is no direct object
following an intransitive verb.
E.g.,
I sneeze in the morning.
He arrived with moments to spare.
Kathryn sat away from the others.
ACTION VERB
An action verb is a word that tells you what a person/ animal/ thing/ etc.
does. This type of verb is the strongest and signifies some tangible action
taking place.
E.g.,
John is knocking at the door.
Seeta is walking to the office.
Little Rahul is jumping over his hat.
LINKING / STATE OF BEING VERBS:
Linking verbs “link” nouns and / or pronouns to other information in the
sentence and they do not show action. Here are some examples.
E.g.,
I am a student.
We are circus performers.
Your supper smells delicious.
HELPING VERBS:
A helping verb comes before the main verb in a sentence. It cannot stand
on its own to mean an action. They are so called because they are a part of
a verb phrase that help the main verb in defining the tense or, sometimes
even changing the meaning of the main verb.
E.g.,
The teacher must tell this to students immediately.
If we start now, we could go there in time.
PRIMARY HELPING VERBS:
Primary helping verbs are used mainly to change the tense or voice of the
main verb, and in framing questions and negative constructions. The
variants of do, be and have are called primary helping verbs.
DO
The variants of primary helping verb do are used:

• In framing questions.
e.g., Do you know how to use this cellphone?
• For making negative constructions.
e.g., I do not know how to use this cell phone.
• To express emphasis:
e.g., I do know how to use this cell phone.
• For standing for a main verb (in some cases).
e.g., I know hoe to use this cell phone as well as he does.
BE
The variants of primary helping verb be are used:

• Show a state of being.
e.g., We are learning grammar now.
Where will you be at that time?
• For passive constructions.
e.g., She is being helped by her teacher now.
HAVE
The variants of primary helping verb have are used:

• To construct sentences using the perfect aspect of tenses.
e.g., We have come here before.
• For framing questions using the perfect aspect of tenses.

e.g., Have we come here before?
Question 1
Instructions 1-10:
Fill in the blanks with correct verb from the given choices:-
What ___________ the kids doing when you last saw them?
A) Was
B) Were
C) Are
D) Did
E) Been
Question 2
Carla ___________always wanted to try sky diving.
A) Was
B) Doesn’t
C) Has
D) Is
E) Have
Question 3
Why do you think she ___________call you like she said she would?
A) Didn’t
B) Is
C) Hasn’t
D) Has been
E) Have
Question 4
Mary __________going to be upset when she hears what happened.
A) Will
B) Don’t
C) Is
D) Didn’t
E) Has
Question 5
Where ___________you going when I saw you last night?
A) Were
B) Was
C) Is
D) Do
E) Did
MODALS:
Modals are used to change the mood of the main verb. Let us deal with
some common modals.
CAN
The modal can is used to:
• Express ability ( including being able to do something and knowing how
to do something).
e.g., I can talk English.
• Refer to theoretical possibility.
e.g., She can win the election if she works hard enough for it.
• Talk of what is permitted by conscience / feelings:
e.g., We can hardly blame the captain for the loss in the finals.
• Talk about permission (including asking permissions as well as being
allowed to do something.)
e.g., Can I use your phone to talk to my friend? Yes, you can.
COULD
The modal could is used to:
• Express an ability in the past.
e.g., Two years ago, I could touch my toes without bending my knees.
• Express a present possibility.
e.g., It could rain tonight.
• Express a conditional possibility or ability.
e.g., If he works hard, he could come out successful.
• Offer suggestions.
e.g., We could take this issue to the principal.
MAY
The modal may is used to:
• Talk about a possibility or uncertainty(more a formal usage).
e.g., There may come a time when we have a drug for all our ailments.
• Ask for / grant permission.
e.g., May I have 2 minutes of your time?
• Mean “although” in some clauses.
e.g., I may have come to your place too often; but, I haven’t been able to
play in the park near your house.
• Express contingency, purpose or result in clauses introduced by “that”
MIGHT
The modal might is used to:
• Talk about a possibility (the likelihood expressed being lesser than that
expressed by “may”).
e.g., He might tell the truth.
• Make a suggestion.
e.g., You might go for the blue shirt; it looks good on you.
• Ask permissions.
e.g., Might I borrow your pen for a while?
This example is pure British style and is less common.

WILL
The modal will is used to:
• Express a wish, request, and desire.(less polite usage than “ would” and
“could” in that order).
e.g., Will you help me with this?
• Make a prediction/ an assumption.
e.g., I think India will win this match.
• Give out an order.
e.g., You will clean your room before you leave for the day.
• Convey willingness/ promise.
e.g., I will help you finish your assignment.
WOULD
The modal would is used to:
• Express requests ( more polite )
e.g., Would you help me with this?
• Talk about past habits.
e.g., She would go to the temple everyday.
• Make offers / extend invites.
e.g., Would you like some biscuits?
• Convey desires politely.
e.g., I wish you would stay here for a week more.
SHALL
The modal shall is used to:
• In formal situations as passing orders, explaining processes, etc.
e.g., There shall be no expectations to this rule, said the President.
• When asking fro permissions/ offering suggestions, etc.
e.g., Shall we meet after lunch?
• To convey promises/ volunteerism.
e.g., I shall take care of that ; you needn't worry.
• To express the inevitable.
e.g., I shall not be present tomorrow. My deputy will take care of the
projects in my absence.
SHOULD
The modal should is used to:
• Convey a expectation or opinion.
e.g., Now that the exam duration has been increased, it should give more
time for students to plan their writing thoroughly.
• Give recommendations/ advice.
e.g., People with high cholesterol should avoid fried foods.
• Talk about obligations
e.g., We should be in time for this meeting.
• Dilute the intensity of insisting on something.
e.g., I should prefer to talk about it right now.
MUST
The modal must is used to:
• When expressing something you are sure about.
e.g., She must have told you that today is a holiday.
• To convey some strong necessity
e.g., She hasn’t talked to her parents for months. She must call them
immediately.
• When offering strong suggestions
e.g., You must take her with you or you will lose the way.
THANK YOU

Verbs

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VERBS

The variants of primary helping verb do are used:

The variants of primary helping verb be are used:

The variants of primary helping verb have are used:

• For framing questions using the perfect aspect of tenses.

This example is pure British style and is less common.

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