Verbs

 
Verbs are the action words in a sentence that describe what the subject is doing
 
  There are three types of verbs:  
   
(a)   Stative verbs
(b)   Auxiliary verbs 
(c)   Irregular verbs
 
     

 

6.1  Stative Verbs
 
  Stative verbs  
  Verbs express a state which is usually related to thoughts, emotions, relationships, senses, states of being, and measurements. They are used in the simple present tense.   
     

 

Example of stative verbs:
 
STATIVE VERBS EXAMPLES
Verbs of emotion hope, need, want
Verbs of senses feel, hear, see
Verbs that express a state of mind believe, remember, imagine
Verbs of possession belong to, have
Other verbs be, cost, contain

 

Example of sentences:

(a) Amy hopes that she will get first place in the competition. 

(b) I feel dizzy because I don't have enough sleep. 

(c) She doubts that she will be the top scorer again this semester. 

 
6.2  Auxiliary Verbs
 
Auxiliary verbs are helping verbs
 
  Present Tense Past tense
Verbs 'to be' am/is, are was,were
Verbs 'to have' has, have  had
Verbs 'to do' does, do  did
 

Example of sentences:

(a) David is watering the flowers in the garden. 

(b) My family had planned to go to Hawaii next month.

(c) Do you want to drink tea or coffee?

 
6.3  Irregular Verbs
 
Infinitive Simple Past Past Participle
speak spoke spoken
bite bit bitten
know knew known
drink drank drunk
understand understood understood

 

Example of sentences:

(a) He bet me that I couldn’t get first place in that competition.

(b) I awoke to find that a spider had bitten me.

(c) The water balloon burst when it hit its target.