Examples of verbs list


Comprehensive list of verbs with examples

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Looking for a verbs list? Fret not. Here’s a quick guide on the list of verbs with illustrative examples. But before we get down to the list of verbs, let’s quickly brush through the definition of a verb. 

A verb in the simplest sense is a word that describes an action, an event or a state. It tells you what the subject of a sentence is doing. The verbs (like those in the verb list below) are usually the main words in a sentence and without them a sentence is incomplete. Having said that, how do you recognize a verb in a sentence?

Well, verbs (like those in the verbs list below) are typically used after a noun or a pronoun. The nouns or pronouns in such cases, are referred to as subjects. 

For example: 

  • Anthony went to the market. 

In this case the action of Anthony physically having went to the market is the verb. 

In this guide, verbs are categorized into a few different lists: 

  • action verbs list
  • linking verbs list
  • helping verbs list
  • irregular verbs list

Except for the linking verb list, the other categories break down into different types. The next list of verbs can be physical or mental. The list of helping verbs can be auxiliary or modal. The list of irregular verbs shows verbs in different tenses. 

Learning the words in each verb list can help you develop your English-speaking skills. To make comprehension easier, example sentences have been provided in the verb list sections.

List of Action Verbs

In an action verbs list, each verb can be used to state a subject’s action in a sentence. There are two types of action words you’ll find in this list of action verbs.

Type 1: Physical

The physical verb list features action words. In other words, the words within a physical action verb list usually describe an action that someone or something physically does. In a nutshell, a particular motion made using one’s body or a tool to complete an action is referred to as an action verb. For example, let’s start with a short list of action verbs: 

  • Walk
  • Open
  • Speak 

All of the words on this short action verb list describe physical actions. The verb list below is a much longer list of action verbs that are useful to know.

Physical Action Verb List:
Act Answer Approve Arrange
Break Build Buy Coach
Color Cough Create Complete
Cry Dance Describe Draw
Drink Eat Edit Enter
Exit Imitate Invent Jump
Laugh Lie Listen Paint
Plan Play Read Replace
Run Scream See Shop
Shout Sing Skip Sleep
Sneeze Solve Study Teach
Touch Turn Walk Win
Write Whistle Yank Zip

 

Hopefully you already recognized a few (or all) of the words on this action verbs list. They are all very useful! If you think you’ll need it, feel free to print this action verbs list for future reference.  

Before moving on from the physical action verb list and looking at the mental verbs list below, consider reading these resources explaining MLA format and APA format. They could help you understand how to format your next writing assignment. Or, if you’re ready, let’s move on to the next list of action verbs.

Type 2: Mental

The second type of action verbs list is for mental action words. Mental action words describe intellectual processes that don’t happen physically, but rather take place in your mind. Examples of mental action words (that are part of the action verb list below) include think, feel, and want.

List of Verbs Describing Mental Action:
Concern Decide Dislike
Doubt Feel Forget
Hate Hear Hope
Impress Know Learn
Like Look Love
Mind Notice Own
Perceive Realize Recognize
Remember See Smell
Surprise Please Prefer
Promise Think Understand

 

It’s important to understand that some mental action words on this action verbs list don’t refer to the literal use of the word. For instance, the mental list of verbs includes the words see, look, hear, and smell. These words could also be included on a list of action verbs describing physical motion. When you don’t use these words in the literal sense, they become mental action words. In other words, these words could be found on both a physical and mental action verbs list.  

Here are some examples showing the difference:

  • Action: I can see Paul jumping up and down.

In this example , you can literally see Paul jumping around.

  • Mental: Frank returned from Europe yesterday? I see.

However, in the above example you can’t literally see Frank returning from Europe. Instead, “I see” means to understand. Therefore, ‘see ’used in this context is a mental word.

  • Action: These roses smell wonderful.

This example refers to the physical action of smelling flowers and comments on their scent.

  • Mental: Something smells funny about this situation.

On the other hand, in this example, nothing literally smells funny. Instead, it means that there’s something strange and unusual about the situation.

To summarize, there are hundreds of words that could go on an action verbs list. The physical verbs list and the mental list of verbs only include a few basic words of each type. There are many more to learn and they’re all fun to use. In order to expand your vocabulary, it’s helpful to study another list of action verbs. For a PDF list of action verbs, visit this site. 

The next verbs list is a list of linking verbs. Even if you don’t know what they are yet, these words are very important! Pay close attention to the list of linking verbs below. You never know when a list of linking verbs might come in handy.

Linking Verbs List

There’s a list of verbs that do not describe any action. Instead, these words explain a state of being such as a condition or relationship. They are also commonly known as linking verbs, and they make up the linking verb list below. 

The words in the linking verbs list are words that connect the subject of a sentence to specific information about the subject. In other words, linking verbs connect the subject to a predicate noun or a predicate adjective. 

A list of linking verbs could also be called a ‘being verbs list.’ This is because the words within a linking verbs list show a state of being. You’ll notice that most verbs on the being verbs list are forms of ‘to be’. Other verbs like ‘become’ and ‘seem’ also belong on a being verbs list. 

These ‘being’ verbs (see the list of linking verbs/being verbs list below for examples) are used with subjects that are both in past and present tense. Being verbs like ‘was/were’ should be used instead of ’be’ in the past tense, and ‘is/am/are’ in the present tense. For instance: 

  • Amy was being cynical.
  • We are being noisy.
  • Andrew was afraid of Luna.
  • You appear to be scared.

The being/linking words in the sentences above are included in the being verbs list below. You can use words in the linking verbs list to connect the subject with other words in a sentence. There aren’t as many words on a linking verb list as there are on a verb list for mental and physical action words, but each word in the list of linking verbs is nonetheless important.

Linking Verbs List / Being Verbs List:
Am Appear Are
Be Become Been
Being Feel Grow
Is Look Remain
Seem Smell Sound
Stay Taste Turn
Was Were

 

As you can see on the linking verbs list above, all forms of to be are important linking words. It would be difficult to have a conversation about yourself without using any of the words on this linking verbs list. Want to remember all of these? Feel free to print and save this linking verb list for reference. You could also look for another linking verb list and examples to study.

Now that you’re well-versed with action words, and the linking verb list, let’s move on to helping words.

Helping Verbs List

Now that we’ve gone over the list of linking verbs let’s talk about helping verbs. A helping verb ‘helps’ or supports the main verb. There are two types of words within the helping verbs list: auxiliaries and modals. 

Both auxiliaries and modals add more meaning to the main action or the being word. They can also describe the period of a physical or mental action taking  place. They can also add emphasis to your sentences and indicate an event happening. 

Auxiliaries (like those in our helping verb list below) extend the main verb and help show time, tense or possibility.

Examples of auxiliary verbs:

  • Matthew is going out for lunch. 
  • I have finished my homework. 

Modals indicate possibility, ability or expectation. A list of helping verbs that are modal are further down this page, but let’s start with a few example sentences; they’ll help us understand how they’re used.

Examples of modals:

  • Wilson may want to talk to you again. 
  • Alexa must go to work today.

If you want to learn how to create complex sentences, then it’s important to study a helping verbs list. Here’s your first list of helping verbs.

List of Helping Verbs, Auxiliaries
Auxiliary Word And all its forms…
To Be Am, Are, Is, Was, Were, Be, Been
To Have Have, Has, Had
To Do Do, Does, Did

 

So, how do you know  that the words in this auxiliary helping verbs list are actually ‘helpful’ or act as standalone words? Simply look for other verbs (action or being words) in the sentence. If you notice any form of ‘to be, ‘to have’, or ‘to do’ before another action or being word, then you’re looking at a sentence with an auxiliary. 

Using the previous auxiliary helping verbs list, can you figure out which word is the auxiliary in the examples below?

  • Charlie’s mother is cooking breakfast for us tomorrow.
  • Tina hasn’t exercised today.

Both modals and auxiliaries can be found on a list of helping verbs. Modals are usually followed by the infinitive of another verb. Just like the list of linking verbs, the list of modals within the list of helping verbs is also small and therefore easy to remember. A verbs list with modal verbs is given below.

List of Helping Verbs, Modals
Can Could May
Might Must Ought to
Shall Should Will
Would

 

Here are some examples of how modals, from the above list of verbs, explain uncertainty, obligation, and possibility.  

  • I must go to school today.

There’s an obligation to go to school.

  • You could go to school today.

In this sentence, it’s possible that you will not go to school today.

  • Jennifer’s not sick and should go to school today.

And in this sentence, it’s possible that Jennifer doesn’t go to school.

  • If Tommy feels better tonight, he might go to school tomorrow.

Whereas in this sentence there’s a chance that Tommy may or may not go to school. 

Now that you are well versed with a linking verbs list, a list of verbs that are ‘helpful,’ and a verbs list for action words, let’s move on to the next section: a list of irregular verbs. 

Irregular Verbs List

The next verbs list you’ll look at is the list of action verbs that are irregular, thus they are part of the irregular verbs list. So what exactly are irregular verbs? Well, verbs that do not follow the normal rules for conjugation fall into the irregular verbs list.  

Basically, most ‘normal’ words in the past tense have an -ed at the end. Examples include jumped, skipped, and leaped

  • jump → jumped
  • skip → skipped
  • leap → leaped
  • walk → walked

This conjugation pattern applies to most words. However, irregular verbs — like those in the irregular verbs list below — don’t follow this normal pattern. For example:

  • Draw → drew, drawn

These verbs shift tenses according to its own set of rules, and thus belong on our list of irregular verbs. 

The words in the list of irregular verbs below are shown with their past simple and past participle versions. You could say, that it is also an irregular past tense verbs list. 

An irregular past tense verbs list generally includes words like brought, were, became, etc. The irregular past tense verbs list below presents English past tense verbs.

Irregular Past Tense Verbs List:
BASE FORM PAST SIMPLE PAST PARTICIPLE
Be Was or Were Been
Become Became Become
Bring Brought Brought
Build Built Built
Catch Caught Caught
Draw Drew Drawn
Fly Flew Flown
Get Got Got
Go Went Gone
Grow Grew Grown
Hold Held Held
Learn Learnt/Learned Learnt/Learned
Smell Smelt Smelt

 

Did you come across any new verbs in this irregular verbs list? There are many other words that could be added to this irregular past tense verbs list, but this list of verbs is a good start. Hopefully, this list of irregular verbs (or irregular past tense verbs list) will help you write your assignments with greater precision. Once you’re done studying the list of irregular verbs, visit this informative site for further learning.

Congratulations on reviewing many verb list types! Now that you have finished reading  a comprehensive linking verbs list and studied a helpful list of verbs along with an irregular verbs list, why not get some help on your next English assignment? The paper checker from Citation Machine Plus lets you make citations in APA format and more citation styles. Try it out today!

 


Published March 5, 2019. Updated April 16, 2020.

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229 Common English Verbs With Examples

Verbs are one of the eight main parts of speech, and we can't form sentences without them. A verb explains the action of a sentence, but that’s just one part of what verbs do.

Use this guide to familiarize yourself with the types of verbs and what they do, and peruse this list of nearly 300 common verbs. There are over 1000 possible verbs you can use in the English language, and I’m sure you’ll recall using some verbs on these lists more than others. This verbs list includes example sentences to help you expand your vocabulary and gain a better understanding of verb words and what they do.

 

What Is a Verb?

A verb is a word used to describe an action, state, or occurrence and forming the main part of a predicate of a sentence. Remember, a predicate is the part of a sentence or clause containing a verb that says something about the subject. All sentences must have a verb, though a sentence doesn't have to have all eight parts of speech. Verb words dictate the action that's taking place, so they're necessary for a sentence to make sense.  

 

Types of Verbs and Verb Examples

There are three types of verbs: action verbs, linking verbs, and helping verbs. Action verbs are verbs that express action or possession. Action verbs can be transitive or intransitive. Transitive verb words always have a noun that receives the action of the verb, known as a direct object. They can sometimes also have an indirect object, which is a noun or phrase that occurs in addition to a direct object. Below are verb definitions and verb examples in a sentence.

Transitive verb example: I washed the dishes yesterday. The verb is washed, and the direct object is dishes, since they’re the noun being acted upon.

Transitive verb example 2: Send her the book. The verb is send, and the direct object is book; the indirect object is her. Intransitive verbs do not address an object or an indirect object. It has a modifier, but not an object.

Intransitive verb example: I went outside to enjoy the fresh air. The intransitive verb is went. There is not a direct object that is received by went. Some verbs are always intransitive, like go, lie, sneeze, sit, die, and arrive. Others like eat, can be either intransitive or transitive.

Linking verbs connect the subject of a sentence to a noun or adjective that describes it.

Linking verb example: This oatmeal tastes bland. In this sentence, oatmeal is the noun/subject, and bland is the adjective. Tastes is the linking verb that connects them.

Linking verb example 2: All the kittens are adorable. The subject is kittens, and the adjective is adorable. The linking verb is are.

Helping verbs are used before action or linking verbs to convey additional information. The main verb with an accompanying helping verb is called a verb phrase.

Helping verb example: The kids will help with the new puppy. In this sentence, kids is the subject, help is the main (action) verb, and will is the helping verb.

 

Verbs List

These verb examples lists contain just some of the most commonly used verbs in the English language. There are so many more verbs you can use, and you can utilize a Thesaurus to find words with similar meanings. All of the examples on this verbs list are given in present tense, but the examples may be in past or present tense.

The list is separated into action, helping, and linking verbs. You may notice that some words like am, appear, was etc. can act as multiple types of verbs. When you see verbs that are on multiple lists, refer to the descriptions of the types of verbs above, and notice how the words differ in meaning in the examples. 

 

Action Verbs

Achieve The student achieved a high score on her SATs.
Assemble The Avengers and their friends assembled for one last battle against Thanos.
Accelerate You can accelerate your progress on the SAT prep by signing up for tutoring.
Administer The doctor administered several tests.
Allow This restaurant doesn't allow smoking.
Apply Most students apply to several colleges.
Appear She appeared out of nowhere.
Appoint The mayor will appoint a new fire chief in the coming weeks.
Analyze My co-worker analyzes tons of data every day.
Budget We budgeted for a new couch this month.
Buy They bought dinner three nights in a row.
Balance She balanced carefully on the beam at the start of her routine.
Bring Make sure you bring dessert to Thanksgiving this year.
Build We're building a new bookshelf.
Chase The cat chased the mouse around the yard.
Check My neighbor will check my mail when I go on vacation.
Choose You have to choose your meal for the reception.
Close Close the door when you leave the room.
Collaborate In order to collaborate on this project, our team met twice a week.
Collect Collecting coins is one of my favorite hobbies.
Comment I always make sure to like and comment on my friends' posts.
Communicate With family overseas, we're lucky that we can communicate through video chats.
Compare It's hard not to compare yourself to your classmates, but you should focus on achieving your own goals.
Convince I convinced my friend to start a study group.
Continue The team continued to the finals.
Coordinate You have to coordinate the food, music, and guest list for the upcoming event.
Cut I cut my finger while chopping vegetables.
Debate I'm excited to watch the presidential candidates debate each other in the primaries.
Defend Are you prepared to defend your thesis?
Decide He finally decided on what watermelon to buy.
Discover Marine biologists have discovered a new shark species.
Eat Eating brunch with my friends is one of my favorite weekend activities.
Encourage My favorite teacher encouraged me to take more creative writing courses.
Establish We established the company as a leader in our industry.
Earn I earned an A on my last biology test.
Examine You should really get that pain in your knee examined.
Expect I expect results by the end of tomorrow.
Experiment My team is ready to experiment with different marketing strategies.
Explain Please explain the instructions again.
Explore She loves exploring the coves down by the ocean.
Fall Be careful you don't fall when walking on the icy sidewalk.
Feed I know a man that feed the pigeons every morning.
Fry It's so hot that you could fry an egg on the sidewalk.
Fight Growing up, my sister and I fought all the time.
Fit This dress fits really well.
Follow The ducklings follow the mother duck wherever she goes.
Go We went to my favorite restaurant for my birthday.
Give My teacher gave me great advice.
Grow The tree I planted grew so much over this past year.
Gain She gained several new friends in his first year at school.
Generate We need to think of strategies to help us generate more clients.
Hang Hang the painting on the wall in the hallways.
Happen What happened to your ankle?
Hate I hate how nervous I get before taking a test.
Hear She heard her phone ring in the theater, but she ignored it.
Howl Some dogs howl to get attention.
Hop Hop on one foot while you jump rope to improve your workout.
Hug My niece loves to hug her stuffed animals.
Help I helped make the brownies for the school bake sale.
Hold She held onto her water bottle while they waited in line.
Hurt I tripped and hurt my knee.
Hide She always hides her Halloween candy from her siblings.
Identify The witness identified the defendant in the trial.
Ignore Ignore the loud music playing in the dorm next door while you're studying.
Imply The story implied that the characters thought that their lives were unfair.
Illustrate Mary GrandPré illustrated the U.S. editions of the Harry Potter books.
Inform Please inform the class about your findings on Great White Sharks.
Include They included all the information in the report.
Introduce I"m pleased to introduce our new student!
Invest I invested in some stocks for the first time.
Irritate Don't irritate your siblings.
Jog She jogged past the duck pond and over the bridge.
Joke You shouldn't joke about sensitive topics.
Jump Jump over this log on the hiking trail.
Judge Do you judge a book by its cover?
Keep I kept my favorite childhood stuffed animals when I moved out.
Knock I knocked lightly on the door.
Kick She loved kicking the punching bag during a workout.
Kill In writing, some people advise you to "kill your darlings."
Laugh My friends and I laugh together all the time.
Learn We're learning about cell function in my biology class.
Lay He laid down on the couch for a quick nap.
Leave Don't leave without your lunch.
Lie He lied on his resume and got caught.
Live I live in the United States.
Lose He lost all of the pens he bought before school even started.
Listen Listen carefully to lectures and take notes.
Lift Together we listed the heavy package and carried it into the house.
Love I love both my dogs equally.
Like I like my new coffee table.
Make He made a collage to show his family history.
Manage I manage all the fundraising efforts for our volunteer group.
Maintain She maintains a busy schedule.
Measure Measure out one cup of flour and a half cup of sugar for this recipe.
Meet I'm meeting with my team members Wednesday for our final project.
Mix Mixing and matching your suits can help create a fun professional look.
Mention She mentioned that she is applying to college this fall.
Melt The cheese melted on the bread as soon as it went into the oven.
Move My family and I moved last year.
Need I need a new jacket this winter.
Negotiate The agent is negotiating the player's contract.
Observe He observed several stars through his telescope.
Obtain We obtained some information to help with our report.
Order The doctor ordered more blood tests following the appointment.
Offer She offered her tutoring services.
Open Open the door for the cat.
Own I owned a horse when I was a kid.
Paint Painting with watercolors is a relaxing hobby.
Pass The team passed the ball to each other.
Pay We paid for lunch for the whole team.
Performed The students performed a short play that they wrote.
Persist Though the work is hard, you have to persist and get it done.
Promise The couple promised lifelong commitment at their wedding.
Play The kids played outside all day in the summer.
Pinch I pinched my arm to make sure I wasn't dreaming.
Parse He read the report carefully and parsed out all the relevant information.
Participate All of the students participated in the graduation ceremony.
Provide They provided a solid alibi.
Put Put your coat on the coat rack.
Pull Pull the audio data into the report.
Quit I quit band last year.
Quack All the ducks quacked as soon as they saw I had leftover bread.
Qualify A nursing degree qualifies you to take the board exams.
Raise The shelter raises orphaned baby animals.
Read I read a fantastic book last week.
Realize He realized that staying home for college was the right decision.
Revere The family reveres their personal traditions around the holidays.
Reflect The water is so clear that it reflects the trees around it.
Recommend My teacher recommended me to a top college.
Reduce Our company is reducing waste by printing less and doing more digitally.
Relate I relate to my favorite book characters.
Report Please report back promptly at 7pm.
Require All of my top college choices require personal essays.
Reset Rest your wifi if it doesn't work.
Renew Did you renew your subscription to the magazine?
Retire My grandparents were happy to finally retire.
Resist She resisted the urge to watch TV while studying.
Reach I reached under the couch for my missing sock.
Roar The lions in the new movie look so real when they roar.
Ride We love riding the trolley in San Francisco.
Roast Roast the marshmallows slowly so you don't burn them.
Run They all ran the charity 5K this year.
Say He said he will get back to me within the week.
Sing Singing in front of an audience is a lot of fun.
Sit Sit in this chair while you wait.
Send Send the invitations in the mail.
Shake It's considered polite to shake hands when you meet someone.
Shower Showering after a long day feels great.
Show I showed everyone how to new presentation software works.
Shame Shaming people online is a common occurrence these days.
Shock The kids shocked their parents with elaborate gifts.
Shrink I accidentally shrunk my favorite dress in the dryer.
Speak She spoke clearly and intelligently during the debate.
Solve The famous character Sherlock Holmes solves crimes by using his unique skills.
Specify You need to specify which character is the protagonist in your essay.
Steal Bonnie and Clyde famously stole from banks.
Serve The tennis player served the ball.
Stop The car stopped suddenly.
Stretch The dog stretched when he woke up.
Stick Joyce is concerned that her magnets won't stick to the fridge.
Submit I finally submitted my college applications last week.
Suggest She suggested that I apply to more than three colleges.
Strike The miners struck gold.
Study Studying for the GRE is a long process.
Snuggle The girl wanted a stuffed bear to snuggle with.
Surprise His aunt surprised him by coming to his concert.
Swim We all took the day off and swam at the local pool.
Take My friend took the book back from me when I was done reading it.
Talk We talked for hours about all the details for the surprise party.
Taste After hours of preparation, he finally tasted the fresh tomato sauce.
Tear I tore the cardboard in half to make it easier to recycle.
Trap I trapped the spider in a cup and took it outside.
Tell He told the teacher that he was sick.
Tend A shepherd's job is to tend to a flock of sheep.
Teach I want to teach myself Spanish this summer.
Think My guidance counselor thinks I have a good shot at my first choice school.
Throw They were excited when the girl threw the ball for the first time.
Understand I understand the difference between action, linking, and helping verbs.
Value I'm glad I go to a school that values extracurriculars.
Volunteer She volunteers at an after-school program twice a week.
Wait We waited for over an hour.
Walk He walked the dog around the lake.
Warn We warned them to stay away from the haunted house.
Warm She warmed up by the fire after playing outside in the snow.
Want He wants a puppy for Christmas.
Win They won the big tournament.
Wish She wished her friend a happy birthday.
Write I wrote four practice essays.
Watch We all watch the same TV show on Saturday nights.
Wave Wave goodbye when you leave.
Wear Wear a hat when you go to the beach to keep the sun out of your eyes.
Yearn Though the new laptops are beautiful, some people yearn for the old design.

 

Linking Verbs

Is Mom is excited about our family trip this summer.
Am I am worried that I'm not studying enough for my SATs.
Are The puppies are so playful.
Was She was so happy to finally see the show on broadway.
Were They were disappointed that we had to leave early.
Be I will be excited to see how this show ends next year.
Been I've been open-minded about my next job opportunity.
Being He is being stubborn.
Appear He appears to be feeling better.
Become He became fond of pasta after visiting Italy.
Feel He felt tense after his meeting with his boss.
Grow The tree in my backyard grows taller each year.
Look You look tired from your trip.
Remain She remained optimistic about getting into her top colleges.
Seem You seem distracted today.
Smell This dinner smells incredible.
Sound Your cello sounds magnificent.
Stay The baseball player stayed calm in a 3-2 count.
Taste The apple pie tasted delicious.
Turn Her fingers turned blue after being out in the cold for so long.
Prove Her efforts proved worthwhile when she saw her report card.

 

Helping Verbs

Is Everyone is wondering if we have an extra day off for the holiday weekend.
Am I am hoping to get a positive response on this job application.
Are They are following the teacher's instructions on the project.
Was I was involved with the fundraising campaign last year.
Were They were looking for the car keys for nearly an hour.
Be He had to be lying since he kept scratching a nostril, an obvious tell.
Been She was nervous to go away to school, since she had never been that far from home before.
Has She has wandered off before.
Have We have always stayed in the same cabin at the lake.
Had I had worked on the campaign for clean water before working for the National Parks Service.
Does My brother does know the Netflix password, he just won't tell me what it is.
Do I do understand the different parts of speech, but I need to practice identifying them.
Did I did remember to buy a new toothbrush, but left toothpaste off my shipping list.
Can We can run the 5K and then go to the picnic.
Will When we go hiking, we will hike the most difficult trail.
Shall We shall eat breakfast promptly at 8am tomorrow.
Could I could volunteer for the food drive again, or try something different.
Would My class would participate more if we got participation points as an incentive.
Should I should begin my homework, but I'm way too into this book right now.
Must You must check to make sure you're fulfilling all of the credits you need.
May I may treat myself this year for my birthday.
Might I might take a computer science class this semester.

 

As you can see from this list, there are a ton of verbs you can use to form sentences and to strengthen your speech and writing. Making sure you have a multitude of verb examples in your vocabulary will make it easier to identify parts of speech, and will ensure that your writing is specific, concise, and non-repetitive. Make sure you consider what type of verb you’re using, even when you don’t think you have to pay attention to it. Verbs are all around us, and especially after reading this list, you’ll start seeing them everywhere.

 

What's Next?

If you're looking for more teaching tools, check out these awesome games to learn English and alphabet games.

Love teaching the parts of speech and thinking about a teaching career? Read about how to get a teaching degree, and about getting an early childhood education degree. 

 

Need more help with this topic? Check out Tutorbase!

Our vetted tutor database includes a range of experienced educators who can help you polish an essay for English or explain how derivatives work for Calculus. You can use dozens of filters and search criteria to find the perfect person for your needs.

 

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About the Author

Carrie holds a Bachelors in Writing, Literature, and Publishing from Emerson College, and is currently pursuing an MFA. She worked in book publishing for several years, and believes that books can open up new worlds. She loves reading, the outdoors, and learning about new things.

140 regular verbs in English

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April 3, 2019

2 min. read

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Hey, what's up? Verbs in English are divided into two groups: regular and irregular. Irregular have a special second and third form of the past tense. This list just needs to be learned, and a huge number of collections and tables can be found on the Internet. We also had an article about them .

Article content:

  • Rules for adding endings
  • List of regular verbs

And today we'll talk about the correct ones, those to which 9 is added in the past tense0020 ending ed .

Rules for adding endings

In all cases, the ending ed is added. But this is not always enough. There are several options.

1. The simplest case - the ending is simply added at the end after the consonant. Brush - brush ed . Consider - consider ed .

2. If there is already an "e" at the end (or even two), we just add d. Arrive - arrive d . Agree-agree d .

3. In verbs that end in "y", this letter is changed to "i". Study - stud ied . Cry - cr ied . But if there is a vowel before "y" in the infinitive, then the substitution is cancelled. Play - pla yed .

4. If the verb ends with one hard consonant preceded by one vowel, then the consonant is doubled if the last syllable is stressed. Drop - drop ped . Refer - refer red . The rule may seem complicated, but over time you will begin to feel it intuitively.

5. If the last letter is "l", then in British English it is always doubled, but in American it is only doubled when the last syllable is stressed. Cancel - cancel led /cance lled .

6. And if the last "x" is not doubled anywhere and never. Fix - fix ed .

There are many rules, but they are very important, and it is imperative to remember them.

Read also

What is the difference between do and make

List of regular verbs

Of course, not all verbs are on this list. We have only selected a few of the main examples.

Infinitive Past tense Translation
abolish abolished cancel
accompanying accompanied accompany
add added add
admire admired admire
admit admitted allow
agree agreed agree
approve approved approve
arrive arrived arrive
ask asked ask
attack attacked attack
believe believed believe
borrow borrowed occupy
brush brushed clean
call called call
cancel canceled cancel
carry carried carry
celebrate celebration celebrate
check checked check
close closed close
collect collected collect
compare compared compare
complete completed finish
concentrate concentrated concentrate
connect connected connect
consider considered consider
consist composite consist of
continue continued continue
contribute contributed donate
cook cooked cook
cope coped handle
correct corrected fix
count counted count
cover covered cover
cry cry cry
damage damaged damage
deny denied deny
detect detected discover
die died die
discover discovered explore
discuss discussed discuss
display displayed show
divide divided divide
drop dropped lower
edit edited edit
enter entered enter
escape escaped run away
evaluate evaluated evaluate
explain explained explain
fill filled fill
finish finished finish
form formed form
gain gained receive
greet welcomed welcome
guess guessed guess
happen happened happen
hate hated hate
hire hired hire
hurry hurried hurry
include included include
indicate indicated indicate
inspire inspired inspire
intend intended intend
invite invited invite
join joined join
kill killed kill
kiss kissed kiss
lack lacked miss
laugh laughed laugh
like liked love
limit limited limit
link linked bind
lock locked close
look looked watch
love love love
manage managed handle
marry married marry
miss missed miss
mix mixed mix
move moved move
need needed need
notice noticed notice
offer offered offer
organize organized organize
open opened open
pack packed pack
paint painted beauty
pause paused suspend
play played play
practice practiced practice
pretend pretended pretend
produce produced produce
provide provided supply
publish published publish
pull pulled pull
punish punished punish
raise raised lift
reach reached reach
receive received receive
recognize recognized recognize
reduce reduced lower
regard regarded regard
reject rejected reject
relax relaxed rest
remain remained stay
repair repaired repair
reply replied answer
research researched study
respect respected respect
save saved save
search searched look for
seem seemed seem
serve served serve
shout shouted scream
sigh sighed sigh
sign signed sign
smile smiled smile
stay stayed stay
stop stopped stop
study studied study
suggest suggested offer
suppose supposedly assume
surprise surprised wonder
survive survived survive
talk talked talk
tend tended look after
thank thanked thank
tie tied bind
translate translated translate
travel traveled travel
trust trusted trust
use used use
wait waited wait
walk walked walk
want wanted want
waste wasted waste
wish wanted want
work worked work
worry worried worry

That's all. If you've read the entire list, we're proud of you!

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55 English verbs you need to know to "survive"

This collection will be extremely useful for everyone who starts learning English on their own, and for those whose level of knowledge of the language is somewhere at the initial step. I tried to choose the most necessary English verbs. Of course, this list can and should be expanded, but that's a completely different story. Everything has its time.

My task was to prepare for you a list of English verbs for "survival" - ie. to help you understand basic English.

If you are just starting to learn English, this list will be more than ever helpful. All verbs are given in their initial form - the infinitive. Many verbs have more than one meaning, so I give only the very first one, you can look up the rest of the meanings in the dictionary if you are interested.

Fundamental English verbs

  • Be - be
  • Have - have
  • Do - do
  • Make – make
  • Get - get
  • Take - take
  • Try - try
  • Know - know
  • Think - think
  • Feel - feel
  • See
  • Give - give
  • Bring
  • Buy - buy
  • Cost - cost (about the price)
  • Break - break
  • Put
  • Eat - eat (eat)
  • Sleep - sleep
  • Drink - drink
  • Understand
  • Write - write
  • Read - read
  • Speak - speak
  • Tell - tell
  • Meet - meet
  • Teach
  • Learn
  • Send - send

Article in the topic:
How to say "I like" or "I don't like" in English in different ways

  • Forget - forget
  • Dream - dream
  • Pay - pay
  • Sell – sell
  • Call – call
  • Play – play
  • Drive - drive
  • Travel - travel
  • Start - start
  • Stop - stop
  • Need
  • Use - use
  • Can - be able (be able)
  • Clean - clean
  • Help - help
  • Run - run
  • Cook - cook food
  • Open
  • Close - close
  • Move – move
  • Sing - sing
  • Swim - swim
  • Dance - dance
  • Work - work

Having learned these English verbs and set phrases, you will be able to understand everyday English in an elementary way, that is, you will need these basic knowledge at first. Further it is worth deepening knowledge and learning more English verbs.

Article in the topic:
How to learn to write in a foreign language and learn the alphabet on your own: useful tips

Necessary set phrases

  • Tell the time –03
  • Start the car - start the car
  • Speak fluently - speak fluently (in some language)
  • Do best - do your best
  • Get drunk - get drunk
  • Work hard - to work (hard and work hard)

There are times when self-study of a language comes to a standstill, you simply cannot force yourself to sit down and open a book, or some material remains incomprehensible.

In this case, I advise you to contact tutors who know how to help you learn a new language, give you the right direction, explain difficult material.


Learn more