The verb is perhaps the most important part of the sentence. A verb or compound verb asserts something about the subject of the sentence and expresses actions, events or states of being.
In each of the following examples, the verb or compound verb is highlighted.
| Example | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Dracula bites his victims on the neck. | The verb bites describes the action Dracula takes. |
| In early October, Giselle will plant twenty tulip bulbs. | Here the compound verb will plant describes an action that will take place in the future. |
| My first teacher was Miss Crawford, but I remember the principal Mr. Weatherbee more vividly. | The verb was identifies a particular person and the verb remember describes a mental action. |
This module describes the various types of verbs and verbals. It also discusses verbs tenses and moods.
The details
- Compound verbs - Next Page
- Auxiliary verbs
- Transitive and intransitive verbs
- Linking verbs
- Verbals
- Forming and using verb tenses
- Frequently confused verbs
- Using verb tenses
- Using verb tenses in sequence
- Using verb moods
- Review exercise: Transitive and intransitive verbs
- Review exercise: Linking verbs
- Review exercise: Verb tenses
- Review exercise: Frequently confused verbs
- Review exercise: Verb moods
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© Department of English, Faculty of Arts, University of Ottawa
A tool made available online by the Translation Bureau, Public Services and Procurement Canada
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