What is a verb?
This is usually a question any primary school pupil can answer. The answer is always obvious, teachers can attest.
A verb is an action word.
You go a step further to ask the pupil to identify a verb in a given passage or practice exercise and s/he cannot!
You may wish to ask why. Well, the reason seems obvious: a knowledge of the definition of a verb is not the same as knowing what a verb is.
What then is verb? A verb is that word that is can be used to give commands or instructions.
Well, someone may argue that not all English verbs fall in this category. Yes. But not all English verbs satisfies the definition that a verb is an action word, either.
My definition of a verb is that word that can be used to give commands or instructions. Examples include:
Go Push
Give Look
Stop Think
Stand Jump
Come Dance
Sit Read
Write Bring
Type Underline
Draw Swim
The list is endless. If you are a student reading this post, I am sure you can supply your own examples. Why not!
We can go on to use each of these verbs in a sentence.
1. Bring the children to school.
2. Go a step forward.
3. Read a poem.
However, it may be necessary to remind you that verbs can be used in five forms:
Present tense (plural) ......... bring
Present tense (singular) ..... brings
Continuous tense ................. bringing
Past tense ............................... brought
Past participle ....................... brought
1. They bring (them) their children to school themselves.
2. She brings her children to school herself.
3. She is bringing her children to school herself.
4. She brought her children to school herself.
5. She has brought her children to school herself.
Present tense (plural) ......... go
Present tense (singular) ..... goes
Continuous tense ................. going
Past tense ............................... went
Past participle ....................... gone
1. They (always) go a step forward.
2. He (always) goes a step forward.
3. They are going a step forward.
4. He went a step forward.
5. They have gone a step forward.
Can you try the third example on your own?
Present tense (plural) ......... read
Present tense (singular) .....
Continuous tense .................
Past tense ...............................
Past participle .......................
Recommended reading
The difference between the past tense and past participle
Sentence types
Have you found the posts helpful?
The blogger, Olabanji O. Odurombi, can be contacted via WhatsApp, voice call or SMS on 08037699294.
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