Types of Verbs

Broadly, we have two groups of main verbs, action and no-action, which further break down
into four types of main verbs.

Action Verbs
1. Transitive verbs are those action verbs that can have a noun attached directly to them, as in
write book, hit ball, or answer questions.
2. Intransitive verbs are those action verbs that cannot attach directly to a noun; they need the
help of a preposition, as in walk to the store, comply with the regulations, proceed with the
inquiry.

No-Action Verbs
3. The verb to be can serve either as a main verb or as an auxiliary verb. When it acts as a main
verb, it typically couples a grammatical subject with an adjective (predicate adjective), as in
John is big or The sunset is beautiful. Or it couples a grammatical subject with another noun
(predicate noun), as in Mary is president or War is hell.

Or it might couple a grammatical subject with a phrase, as in

The book is on the table
or
He is from the South.
When it acts as an auxiliary verb, the verb to be forms the progressive tense, as in We are
studying grammar, or the passive voice, as in The ball was hit by John.

4. Linking verbs are non-be verbs that link a grammatical subject to an adjective (Watermelon
tastes good), to a noun (She seems an honest woman), or to a phrase (He looks out of sorts).
Those are the four types of main verbs: (1) action transitive, (2) action intransitive, (3) no‑action
to be, and (4) no‑action linking.
5. The fifth kind of verb is not a main verb, but an (5) auxiliary verb, also called a helping verb. It
does not form a sentence all by itself. Instead, it hooks up with a main verb and helps it show
various tenses or conditions or states, as in By the time I arrived, he had completed the
assignment.
Now it’s time to take a look at the various forms of a verb, particularly its infinitive, finite, and
two participial forms.

A List of Verbs
Finites and Non-finites

This list of verbs gives us all the possible finite verbs and verbals (non-finite verbs) that can be
formed from a single verb to eat.

For self-learners of English grammar, help is needed in the form of tables and lists for ready
reference. This list is one such resource. The end of this page explains why this list is useful.

A List of Finite Verbs

of the Verb "to eat"

The finite verb phrases may have as helping verbs either primary auxiliaries or modals. Finite
verbs are those that are essential in a sentence and have to follow rules of subject-verb
agreement and tense.

The Active Forms With Primary Auxiliaries

as Helping Verbs.

 eat / eats - used in the simple present tense. (Both these verbs use the dummy primary
auxiliary 'do' in negative and interrogative (question) sentences.)

 am / is / are + eating - present continuous tense.

 has / have + eaten - present perfect tense.
 has / have + been + eating - present perfect continuous.
 ate - simple past tense.
 was / were + eating - past continuous.
 had + eaten - past perfect.
 had + been + eating - past perfect continuous.

The Passive Forms With Primary Auxiliaries

as Helping Verbs.

 am /is / are + eaten - simple present.

 am / is / are + being + eaten - present continuous.
 has / have + been + eaten - present perfect.
 was / were + eaten - simple past.
  was / were + being + eaten - past continuous.
 had + been + eaten - past perfect.

The Active Forms Using Modals

as Helping Verbs.

The modals are: can, could, may, might, must, shall, should, will, would, ought to, used to, dare
(to), need (to).

In the examples below I have used shall / will to illustrate the finite verb phrases using modals.

Most of the modals above can replace shall / will in the phrases below to give us meaningful
English.

 shall / will + eat

 shall / will + be + eating
 shall / will + have + eaten
 shall / will + have + been + eating

The Passive Forms Based on Modals

as Helping Verbs.

The passive forms are fewer than the active. Here too most of the other modals can replace
shall / will.

 shall / will + be + eaten

 shall / will + have + been + eaten

A List of Non-finite Verbs (Verbals)

Infinitives, Gerunds and Participles are Non-Finite Verbs. They are not bound by rules of
subject-verb agreement and tense.

Infinitive

to eat - infinitive
(as in 'He likes to eat slowly.')

Gerund

eating - gerund
(as in 'Eating too much spoils your health.')
Participles

Three types of Participles...

 eating - present participle

(as in 'I saw him eating those mangoes.')

 eaten - past participle

(as in 'The sweets eaten just now are a gift from our neighbour.')

 having eaten - perfect participle

(as in 'Having eaten the sweets, we decided to send a thank-you note to our
neighbour.')

Types of sentences
Declarative sentence
Imperative sentence
Interrogative sentence
Exclamatory sentence