Learn English Verbs

Learn English Verbs

Let's learn English
verbs. And as usually, let's start from the beginning.



What is a verb?


A verb is a word, or a group of words, which describe an action or a
state.
For example:




Now, sing,
drive
and write
are all verb because they are actions.
But a verb can also be a state.

For example:




Love,
know
and have
are not actions, they are states.
And they are verbs too.

A verb can be a word, or a group of words.
For example, in the sentence "I will
win this time!", the verb is made of 2 words.

The word "verb" originally comes from the Latin word verbum, which means
"word".



Another important subject that will help you learn English verbs is the
subject of person.

Now, what do we mean by that?

Each action (or state) has someone connected with it. In other
words: Who? Who is doing it? Or, who is in that state?

We call it the "person".

When the verb shows an action or a state of the person speaking, we say
the verb is in the first
person.

In
the following sentences the verbs are in the first person:

I go to
school.

I like
pasta.

We drink
water.


When the verb shows an action or a state of the person you are speaking
to, we
say the verb is in the second
person.

In
the following sentences the verbs are in the second person:

You look
pretty.

You sleep
too much.

You play
golf.


When the verb shows an action or a state of someone else, which is not
present, we say the verb is in the third
person.

In
the following sentences the verbs are in the third person:

He is a
good guy.

She has a
garden.

It works
fine.

They sing
together.


Of course, just because we call it a "person" it does mean it has to be
a real person! The action can be connected to an object, an animal, etc.

For example: The phone
rings.

"Rings" is a verb in the third
person.




In addition to person, each verb also has a certain time. In
other
words, when does it happen? Past, present or future? Is it complete or
in progress? We call this the tense
of the verb.

For the
complete, step by step, guide of English Tenses visit this section.

In short, English has 12 different tenses, which show when the
action or state take place.

In
the following sentences the verbs are in the PAST tense:

In 1999 I lived
in Toronto.

Yesterday we met
on the beach.

He left an
hour ago.


In the following sentences the verbs are in the PRESENT tense:

They visit
us often.

I feel
great.

You have a
car.


In
the following sentences the verbs are in the FUTURE tense:

The cat will catch
the mouse.

Father will be
here soon.

We will come
to the party.


Sometimes just saying when the action or state take place is not
enough. We might also want to mention whether the action is complete,
or in
progress. This is called the aspect.

In
other words, a verb can indicate any of the following:
1) When the action takes place, with no additional information.
2) When the action takes place, and that it is in progress.
3) When the action takes place, and that it is complete.
4) When the action takes place, that it was in progress and
that it is finally complete.



Now, don't faint just yet! Some examples follow...

1)
When + no additional data (simple tenses):

Kate walked
home.
(only shows
when: in the past, no extra data)

Kate walks
home every day.
(only shows
when: in
the present,
no extra data)

Kate will walk
home tonight.
(only shows
when: in
the future,
no extra data)


2)
When + in progress (progressive tenses):

Yesterday at 5 o'clock Kate was
walking home.
(shows when: in the past, and also indicates the action
was in progress)

Kate is walking
home right now.
(shows when: in the present, and also indicates the action
is in progress)

Tonight at 9 o'clock Kate will
be walking home.
(shows when: in the future, and also indicates the action
will be in progress)


3)
When + completion (perfect tenses):

Kate had
already walked
before 8 o'clock.
(shows when: before something in the past, and also indicates the action
was complete)

Kate has walked for
a long time.
(shows when: before the present, and also indicates the action
is complete)

By midnight, Kate will
have walked home.
(shows when: before the future, and also indicates the action
will be complete)


4)
When + in progress + completion (perfect progressive tenses):

Kate had been walking
for 2 hours before she got home.
(shows when: before something in the past, and also indicates the action
was in progress and later it was complete)

Kate has been walking
for 2 hours.
(shows when: before the present, and also indicates the action
was in progress and now it is complete)

By the time Kate gets home, she will
have been walking for 2 hours.
(shows when: before the future, and also indicates the action
will be in progress and then it will be complete)

Learn English
Verbs – Final Words


English verbs are an important part of English. Learn
English verbs well, and you are well on your way to mastering the
English language.

But how can you do that?

In order for you to learn English verbs, you first need to underatand
the basics of the subject, like the ones we covered in this section.

Then you should practice them until you know them very well.

Continue that way and gradually increase your vocabulary. Learn English
verbs that are new to you and practice them in real life sentences!



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