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English Grammar - Verbs
A verb is a word that expresses an occurrence, act, or mode of being. Finite verbs, sometimes called main verbs, are limited by time (tense), person, and number.
Verbs are sometimes described as "action words". Many verbs give the idea of action, of "doing" something. For example, words like run, fight, do and work all convey action:
The bear
caught a salmon in the stream.
Who ate the pie?
Stop!
But some verbs do not give the idea of action; they give the idea of existence, of state, of "being". For example, verbs like be, exist, seem and belong all convey
state:
I am fine.
She
likes me.
A verb always has a subject. (In the sentence "She likes English",
She is the subject and likes is the verb.) In simple terms, therefore, we can say that verbs are words that tell us what a subject does or is; they describe:
action (David plays football.)
state (Ann seems ok.)
A nonfinite verb form - such as a participle, infinitive, or gerund - is not limited by by time (tense), person, and number.
Verb Tenses: