Verbs

Verbs are words that express some action, existence or feeling.
For examples,
He cooks very delicious food.
She is a very kind woman.

The words “cooks” and “is” in the above sentences are verbs.

Verbs are broadly categorized as principal verbs and auxiliary verbs apart from transitive and intransitive verbs.

• The main verb, also called the principal verb refers to the important verbs that generally shows the action or state of being of the subject.
For example,
• She is laughing loudly.
• He works in a bank.

In the above sentences “working” and “going” are the main verbs.

The primary Auxiliary verbs are:
• Forms of to be: is, was, am, are, being, been, were.
• Forms of to have: has, had
• Forms of to do: does, did

“Modals” are also included in auxiliary verbs:
• May, might, can, could, shall, should, must, will and would.

In the sentence “You should help the poor.”, “should” is the helping verb while “help” is the principal verb.

• Transitive verbs are the verbs in which the action passes over or transfers from the doer to something or someone, usually called as the object.
For example:
• He (Doer) kicks (Transitive verb) the ball. (Object).

• An intransitive verb is one in which action stops with the doer and does not require an object.
For example:
• He (Doer) laughed (Intransitive verb).

Subject- verb agreement: Subject-verb agreement means that the subject and the verb in a sentence should agree with each other in number i.e. if the subject is plural, the verb should also be plural and vice-versa.
Examples,
• Jack and Jason are working very hard.
• Students are making a lot of noise.
• He has been to this place earlier.

Exercise

Fill in the blanks with the most suitable option.

1. Each of these products _______ its own benefits.
a. have
b. has
c. carry
d. provide

2. The furniture in your house ______ very elegant.
a. looks
b. are
c. appear
d. look

3. Most of my friends _______ abroad.
a. is
b. resides
c. stays
d. live

4. He is one of the men who never __________ anyone easily.
a. trusts
b. disrespects
c. believe
d. hurts

5. Few students ______ cleared this exam.
a. have
b. are
c. has
d. has been

6. Brick and stone ________ lying scattered on the floor.
a. are
b. have been
c. is
d. were

7. Neither she nor her parents ________ her to get married.
a. takes
b. want
c. desires
d. has ever wanted

8. My father along with his friends _______ gone for a walk.
a. are
b. have
c. were
d. has

9. A plenty of water _________ supplied to the villagers.
a. has been
b. have to be
c. were
d. have been

10. A group of boys _______ playing in the playground.
a. were
b. is
c. are
d. have been