These are some common types of verbs:
Main Verbs
Main verbs—also known as lexical verbs—are the principal verb in a sentence. The great majority of verbs are main verbs, except auxiliary verbs.
It has been a sunny summer so far. (Here there is a combination of two verbs: “has” and "been". “Has” is the auxiliary for the perfect tense form, and “been” is the main verb.)
Action Verbs
Action verbs can be recognized because they express an action of the subject.
The dog bit his tail. (“Bit” is the action of the subject, dog.)
Transitive Verbs
These verbs usually have as a complement an object that completes their meaning.
The dog bit his tail. (“Bit” is a verb that needs an object (“his tail”) to complement the meaning of the sentence. If you write just “the dog bit” your sentence won’t be complete, and it won’t make sense to your reader.)
No objects follow an intransitive verb.
I am going to sleep. (“Sleep” is a verb that doesn’t need an object. It makes sense alone in a sentence)
Non-action Verbs
Non-action verbs typically express emotions, mental states, wants, preferences, senses, perceptions, appearance, possession, or relationship, and they are not used in the continuous tense.
Irregular verbs don’t follow the pattern for the past tense and past participle form. They follow an alternative pattern.
Phrasal verbs are a combination of two or more words (verb + preposition OR verb + adverb) that when used together change the meaning of the original verb.
Examples of auxiliary verbs are: be, do, have
ATTENTION 2: Don’t get confused when using the auxiliary as a main verb, for example:
a) In the Present or Past Simple tenses, if you use “do” as a main verb, you still must use the auxiliary verb “do” to make questions or negative sentences. The first “do” marks the tense, the second “do” is the main verb: Do you do exercises? I don’t do exercises. He doesn’t do exercises. I didn’t do exercises last year.
b) In the Present or Past Continuous tenses, if you use “be” as a main verb, you still must use the auxiliary verb “be” to make affirmative, questions or negative sentences. The first “be” marks the tense, the second “be” is the main verb: Why is he being like that? He is just being friendly. He is just not being friendly.
c) In the Present or Past Perfect tenses, if you use “have” as a main verb, you still must use the auxiliary verb “have” to make affirmative, questions or negative sentences. The first “have” indicates the tense, the second “have” is the main verb: Have you had dinner? I have had dinner; I haven’t had dinner.
Modal Verbs
Modal verbs are auxiliary verbs that are used to express abilities, possibilities, permission, and obligations. They don’t work as a main verb; they require a base verb after them.
Modal verbs are: can, may, must, should, will, would, could, might, shall, ought to
Linking verbs connect the subject and a word that describes or renames the subject.
Common linking verbs are: be, appear, feel, look, become, seem, sound, taste, smell, remain, get
Causative verbs are used to indicate that something or someone helped to make something happens.
Some example of causative verbs are: cause, allow, help, have, enable, keep, hold, let, force, require, make
Non-action verbs typically express emotions, mental states, wants, preferences, senses, perceptions, appearance, possession, or relationship, and they are not used in the continuous tense.
I wish I were rich. (“Wish” is a verb that expresses wants, and not an action of the subject)Irregular Verbs
Irregular verbs don’t follow the pattern for the past tense and past participle form. They follow an alternative pattern.
I am happy. (present of verb “be”)
I was happy. (past of verb “be”)
I have been happy. (past participle of verb “be”)Phrasal Verbs
Phrasal verbs are a combination of two or more words (verb + preposition OR verb + adverb) that when used together change the meaning of the original verb.
Can you pick me up after school? (“pick up” is a phrasal verb [verb + preposition] that means “to collect somebody”)Auxiliary Verbs Auxiliary verbs, also known as helping verbs, are used together with a main verb to show the verb’s tense or to form a question or negative sentence. Auxiliary verbs can work as a main verb as well.
Examples of auxiliary verbs are: be, do, have
I am going home now. (“Am” is the verb “be”, and it is acting as an auxiliary verb to the verb “go” to show the continuous tense of the sentence)
She didn’t go home yet. (“Didn’t” is the verb “do”, and it is acting as an auxiliary verb to the verb “go” to show the past tense and negative form of the sentence)
She has gone home. (“Has” is the verb “have”, and it is acting as an auxiliary verb to the verb “go” to show the present perfect tense of the sentence)ATTENTION 1: These verbs can be used as a main verb. When it happens, the meaning is different. I am a writer (the verb “be” shows what kind of job I do); I do exercises every day (the verb “do” shows that I perform exercises); I have a car (the verb “have” shows that I own a car).
ATTENTION 2: Don’t get confused when using the auxiliary as a main verb, for example:
a) In the Present or Past Simple tenses, if you use “do” as a main verb, you still must use the auxiliary verb “do” to make questions or negative sentences. The first “do” marks the tense, the second “do” is the main verb: Do you do exercises? I don’t do exercises. He doesn’t do exercises. I didn’t do exercises last year.
b) In the Present or Past Continuous tenses, if you use “be” as a main verb, you still must use the auxiliary verb “be” to make affirmative, questions or negative sentences. The first “be” marks the tense, the second “be” is the main verb: Why is he being like that? He is just being friendly. He is just not being friendly.
c) In the Present or Past Perfect tenses, if you use “have” as a main verb, you still must use the auxiliary verb “have” to make affirmative, questions or negative sentences. The first “have” indicates the tense, the second “have” is the main verb: Have you had dinner? I have had dinner; I haven’t had dinner.
Modal Verbs
Modal verbs are auxiliary verbs that are used to express abilities, possibilities, permission, and obligations. They don’t work as a main verb; they require a base verb after them.
Modal verbs are: can, may, must, should, will, would, could, might, shall, ought to
You must go home now. (“Must” is a modal verb that is used to express obligation)Linking Verbs
Linking verbs connect the subject and a word that describes or renames the subject.
Common linking verbs are: be, appear, feel, look, become, seem, sound, taste, smell, remain, get
She seems happy. (If you write just “She seems”, your reader will be confused. You need to include a word that will complement the linking verb to add meaning to your sentence. Question yourself with a WH-Question: How does she seem? She seems happy.)Causative Verbs
Causative verbs are used to indicate that something or someone helped to make something happens.
Some example of causative verbs are: cause, allow, help, have, enable, keep, hold, let, force, require, make
His parents let him sleep at his friend’s house. (“Let” is a verb used to show permission)
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