What are 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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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Here's a list of verbs.

This list of verbs will help you understand verbs a little better. Do you remember that verbs are words that show actions or states of being? It's true!

There are two types of main verbs (action and linking), and there's one extra type that can help either of those main verbs. These helpers are called helping verbs. 

On this page, we'll learn more about these verbs and see examples of all of them. Here we go! 

Action Verbs

These are one of the types of main verbs. (Every sentence needs to have a subject and at least one main verb.) As their name implies, action verbs show action.

I walked around the lake.

We learned grammar.

Now it's your turn! Try thinking of three action verbs right now. Did you do it?

You probably picked verbs that showed movement that could be easily seen or heard (ran, jumped, shouted, skipped, cooked, wrote, etc.) That's great, but just keep in mind that there are many actions that can't be easily perceived with our eyes and ears (thought, contemplated, learned, etc. ) 

There are many, many action verbs out there, and we can further categorize them into three groups. Here are the three types of action verbs along with a list for each kind. Keep in mind that these lists aren't exhaustive. 

List of Transitive Active Verbs

Transitive active verbs are action verbs that transfer their action to something called a direct object. 

Joe kicked the ball. 

Kicked is the transitive active action verb. It's transferring its action to ball, which is the direct object. Notice that ball is receiving the action. It's the thing that's getting kicked.

Transitive Active List

A accept, adopt, anticipate

B borrow, blame, buy

C carry, change, celebrate

D declare, develop, drive

E earn, edit, extend

F fix, forgive, forget

G gather, give, grip

H help, hug, hum

I identify, ignore, influence

J jerk, jog, juggle

K keep, kiss

L leak, lead, lift

M magnify, maintain, measure

N name, notice, nurture

O obliterate, offend, open

P pay, play, practice

Q question, quarantine

R rake, read, raise

S sing, steal, store

T teach, test, try

U unravel, unpack, use

V visit, volunteer, vote

W weigh, wrangle, write

X x-ray, xerox

Y yank, yell, yield

Z zest, zip

List of Transitive Passive Verbs 

Transitive passive verbs are action verbs that transfer their action to the subject.  

My car was stolen.  

Stolen is the transitive passive verb (was is a helping verb). It is transferring its action to car, which is the subject. Notice that car is receiving the action. It's the thing that's getting stolen. 

Transitive passive verbs are always in verb phrases, and they are always made with the past participle form of the verb. 

Transitive Passive List
To create a transitive passive verb, add is, am, are, was, were, be, being, or been in front of the past participles listed below.

A accepted, adopted, anticipated

B borrowed, blamed, bought

C carried, changed, celebrated

D declared, developed, driven

E earned, edited, extended

F fixed, forgave, forgiven

G gathered, given, gripped

H helped, hugged, hummed

I identified, ignored, influenced

J jerked, jogged, juggled 

K kept, kissed

L leaked, led, lifted

M magnified, maintained, measured

N named, noticed, nurtured

O obliterated, offended, opened

P paid, played, practiced

Q questioned, quarantined

R raked, read, raised

S sung, stolen, stored

T taught, tested, tried

U unraveled, unpacked, used

V visited, voted

W weighed, wrangled, written

X x-rayed, xeroxed

Y yanked, yelled, yielded

Z zested, zipped

Intransitive Complete

Intransitive complete verbs are action verbs that don't transfer their action to anyone or anything. They are complete all by themselves! 

The dog barked.

Notice that the dog didn't bark something. It just barked. It's not transferring its action to a receiver. 

Intransitive Complete List

A accelerated, acted, ate

B barked, biked, blinked

C changed, chewed, cooked

D dominated, drooled, drove

E endured, exercised

F fished, flashed, forgot

G grinned, grumbled, grunted

H helped, hid, hurried

I improved, invaded, investigated

J jaywalked, joked, jumped

K kayaked, kicked, kidded

L laughed, learned, looked

M migrated, moped

N navigated, nested

O observed, overpaid

P paid, painted, posed

Q quacked, quarreled, quipped

R ran, read, rose

S sang, shouted, swam

T testified, twisted, typed

U understood, unpacked, unwound

V volunteered, voted

W waddled, winked, worked

Y yawned, yelled, yodeled 

Z zipped

Linking Verbs

You just learned that action verbs are one of the types of main verbs. Now, we'll look at the other kind: linking verbs. Linking verbs don't show action. They link the subject of a sentence with either a noun that renames it (called a predicate noun) or an adjective that describes it (called a predicate adjective).

You might find it helpful to think of linking verbs as equals signs between subjects and predicate nouns or predicate adjectives.

I am a teacher. 

I = teacher

As you know, there are many, many action verbs. However, there are only a handful of verbs that can function as linking verbs. Here they are:

Linking Verbs List

be, am, is, are, was, were, been, being

appear, become, feel, grow, look, seem, remain, smell, sound, stay, taste, turn

Helping Verbs

You have just learned about the two types of main verbs: action verbs and linking verbs. It's time to learn about helping verbs! 

These do just what their name implies. They help the main verb in the sentence by telling us more about its tense and the subtleties of its meaning. Remember that the main verb will be either an action verb or a linking verb. 

The dog will bark. 

Bark is the main verb. It's an action verb. Will is the helping verb. 

The helping verb(s) and the main verb come together to form a verb phrase.

Danny will be an artist.

Be is the main verb. It's a linking verb. Will is the helping verb. Both words together (will be) form a verb phrase.

Here is a list of 24 common helping verbs. You can sing these to the tune of Witch Doctor ("Ooh ee ooh ah ah..."). I sing it for you here if you'd like to listen to me! :) 

Helping Verbs List

be, am, is, are, was,

were, been, being, have, has, had,

could, should, would, may, might,

must, shall, can, will, do, did,

does, having

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6 usages + list of verbs

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Let's start with what this "gerund" is. In English, there is a special non-personal form of the verb that names an action and has the properties of both a verb and a noun.

Many Russian-speaking students do not fully understand how to use the gerund, but all because there is no corresponding form in Russian.

Today we will look at 6 cases of using a gerund in English and get acquainted with English verbs that require a gerund after themselves (i.e. a word with the ending - ing ).

Now, with examples, I will show you in what roles the gerund can appear in sentences.

1. Subject - subject

For example: Running is good for your health.

2. Object - addition

For example: She hates waking up early .

3. Subject complement - that which is used with a linking verb

For example: What I hate most is repeating myself. In this case, the gerund " repeating ", as it were, gives additional information about what exactly "I hate most of all", i.e. complements the subject.

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4. Object complement

For example: We saw Tim riding his bike . It is correct to translate this sentence into Russian in the form of a complex sentence, i.e. “We saw as Tim rode his bike.”

5. Object of a preposition

For example: I’m interested in improving myself . That is, "I am interested in ... (what exactly) - improving myself."

By the way, let me tell you a little secret: if you see a preposition in a sentence, always use a gerund after it.

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90 English phrasal verbs for all occasions

• Avoid - avoid
• Admit - accept, recognize
• Advise
• Allow - allow, allow
• Appreciate - appreciate, be grateful
• Be worth - to be worthy, deserve
• Consider - consider, consider
• Celebrate
• Feel like - want to do something
• Enjoy - enjoy

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Simple tips for increasing English vocabulary

• Explain
• Finish - finish
• Escape - escape
• Discuss
• Dislike
• Dispute - argue, argue
• Miss - miss, miss
• Keep - continue
• Postpone
• Suggest - suggest
• Imagine - imagine, imagine

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• Fear
• Forgive - Forgive
• Mind ( don ’ t mind ) - be against (not against), object
• Complete - complete
• Omit - skip (not include), skip
• Permit - allow, allow
• Practice
• Prevent
• Recall - recall
• Recommend - recommend
• Resist
• Resume - resume, sum up
• Support - support

Your task: come up with an example for each verb. In this way, you will practice remembering these words, which require the use of a gerund in English after them.

See you soon!

Bye-bye for now!

List of verbs that require an infinitive after them

Conventions:
1 – the verb can be followed by an infinitive or optional noun + infinitive;
2 - after the verb, the gerund or infinitive can follow, but the meaning changes;
3 - after the verb, the gerund or infinitive can follow, the meaning changes only slightly.

Verb	Example
agree agree	Tom agreed to help me. Tom agreed to help me.
appear	His health appeared to be better. His health seemed to have improved.
arrange arrange, arrange, arrange	Naomi arranged to stay with her cousin in Miami. Naomi did her best to stay in Miami with her cousin.
ask [1] ask, ask	She asked to leave . She asked to leave.
begin [2] begin	He began to talk . He started talking.
can't bear [3] 0323	He can't bear to be alone. He hates to be alone.
can't stand [3]	Nancy can't stand to work the late shift. Nancy hates working night shifts.
care wish	He doesn't care to participate in the activity. He does not wish to take part in this activity.
cease [3]	The government ceased to provide free healthcare. The government stopped providing free health care.
choose [1] choose prefer	I chose to help . I decided to help.
claim claim	She claimed to be a princess. She claimed to be a princess.
continue [3] continue	She continued to talk . She kept talking.
decide decide	We decided to go to Hawaii. We decided to go to Hawaii.
demand demand	He demanded to speak to Mr. Harris. He demanded to speak to Mr. Harris.
deserve deserve	He deserves to go to jail. He deserves jail.
expect [1] expect	They expect to arrive early. They expect to arrive early.
fail0323	He failed to get enough money to pay for the new project. He failed to raise enough money for a new project.
forget [2] forget to do something	I forgot to lock the door when I left. I forgot to lock myself when I left.
get (be allowed to)	Debbie gets to go to the concert next week! Why can't I? Debbie can go to the concert next week, but I can't! Why?
happen happen	She happened to be at the bank when it was robbed. She happened to be at the bank when the robbery happened.
hate [3] hate	He hates to clean dishes. He hates washing dishes.
hesitate hesitate	She hesitated to tell me the problem. She hesitated to tell me about the problem.
hope hope	I hope to begin college this year. I hope to go to college this year.
intend intend	We intend to visit you next spring. We are going to visit you next spring.
learn learn	I learned to speak Japanese when I was a kid. I learned to speak Japanese when I was a child.
like [3] like	Samantha likes to read . Samantha enjoys reading.
love [3] love, adore	We love to scuba dive . We love scuba diving.
manage manage	He managed to open the door without the key. He managed to open the door without a key.
need [1,2] need	I need to study . I need to study.
neglect [3] to miss, not to do something necessary	She neglected to tell me the date of the meeting. She didn't tell me the date of the meeting.
offer offer, volunteer to do something	Frank offered to drive us to the supermarket. Frank offered to take us to the supermarket.
plan plan	We plan to go to Europe this summer. This summer we are planning to go to Europe.
prefer [3] prefer	He prefers to eat at 7 PM. He prefers to eat at 7 pm.
prepare [1] prepare, prepare	They prepared to take the test. They were preparing for the test.
pretend pretend	The child pretended to be a monster. The child pretended to be a monster.
promise [1] promise	She promised to stop smoking. She promised to quit smoking.
propose [3] propose	Drew proposed to pay for the trip. Drew offered to pay for the trip.
refuse refuse, refuse	The guard refused to let them enter the building. The guard refused to let them into the building.
regret [2] regret (about what the speaker is going to say)	I regret to inform you that your application was rejected. I regret to inform you that your application has been rejected.
remember [2] remember, remember to do something	Did you remember to lock the door when you left? Did you forget to lock yourself when you left?
seem seem	Nancy seemed to be disappointed. Nancy seemed upset.
start [3] start	Marge started to talk really fast. March started talking very quickly.
swear promise, swear	She swore to tell the truth. She swore to tell the truth.
tend tend to	He tends to be a little shy. Learn more How to spell easily Fairy tales for bedtime Sun compound words English stories for kids to read Teach your child to be kind Learning colours for preschoolers Matching activity for preschoolers Spelling website for kids Preschool activities letter s Giant gold homer Positive kids songs