# Kinds of Verbs: Rules and Examples | SwaVid

Kinds of verbs: rules, worked examples and a quick check for Class 6 to 12 English grammar, CBSE and ICSE. Free practice on SwaVid.

Canonical: https://www.swavid.com/english-grammar/the-verb/kinds

Source: https://www.swavid.com/english-grammar/the-verb/kinds

# Kinds of verbs: rules and examples

## The rule, step by step

## Check yourself

## Common mistakes

## Frequently asked questions

## Keep practising

### Quick reference

### What is the rule for kinds of verbs?

### Can you give examples of kinds of verbs?

### What mistakes do students make in kinds of verbs?

### Free English grammar test

### More in The Verb

Short answer. An action verb shows what someone does. A linking verb joins the subject to a word that names or describes it. A helping verb comes before a main verb and helps it.

1 . Pick the kind of verb "grew" is. The baby grew sleepy after lunch.

2 . Pick the main verb. The boys have been flying kites.

Action verb: does something. Linking verb: joins. Helping verb: helps another verb.

An action verb shows what someone does. A linking verb joins the subject to a word that names or describes it. A helping verb comes before a main verb and helps it.

Dadi stirs the dal. (stirs is an action verb) Tanya has painted a pot. (has helps; painted is the main verb) Ravi is cooking. (is: primary helper)

Wrong: The soup smells nicely. Right: The soup smells nice. (Adjective, not adverb)

Your child's level and 3 topics to fix first.

All the topics in this chapter, one rule at a time.

- Action verbs . An action verb shows something a person, animal or thing does. Often you can see or hear the action.
- Linking verbs . Be (am, is, are, was, were) is the commonest linking verb. Seem, look, taste, smell, feel, become, grow, turn, get and appear can link too.
- Helping verbs . A helping verb comes before a main verb. Helping verbs are forms of be, have and do, and modals such as can, will, shall, may, might, must and should.
- Same verb, two jobs . Look at what the verb does in its sentence. If the subject does something, it is an action verb. If the verb only joins the subject to a describing word, it is a linking verb.
- Main verb and helping verb . In a verb group like has gone or is reading, the last verb is the main verb: it carries the meaning. The verbs before it are helping verbs.
- Dadi stirs the dal. stirs is an action verb
- Tanya has painted a pot. has helps; painted is the main verb
- Ravi is cooking. is: primary helper
- Ravi can cook. can: modal
- The well is deep. deep is the complement
- The soup smells nicely. → The soup smells nice. Adjective, not adverb

## Key Links

- [English grammar](https://www.swavid.com/english-grammar)
- [The Verb](https://www.swavid.com/english-grammar/the-verb)
- [Start free →](https://www.swavid.com/signup)
- [Practise 30 more questions free →](https://www.swavid.com/signup)
- [15 Free English grammar test Your child's level and 3 topics to fix first.](https://www.swavid.com/english-grammar/test)
- [More in The Verb All the topics in this chapter, one rule at a time.](https://www.swavid.com/english-grammar/the-verb)