Key Notes: Verb | English Grammar Basic - Class 10 PDF Download

Verbs

Verbs are a crucial part of speech that convey actions, states, or events. In simpler terms, verbs are words that indicate what someone or something is doing.

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Types of Verbs

Verbs can be classified into different types based on their function in a sentence. The primary categories include physical verbs (e.g., run), mental verbs (e.g., think), and state-of-being verbs (e.g., be). Additionally, verbs are further categorized as follows:

1. Action Verb

An action verb describes an activity that a person or thing performs.
Examples:

• Pinki eats cutlets.
• The tiger chased the rabbit in the shallow rapids.

In contrast, some verbs do not indicate a clear action but rather a state:

• Praveen likes cake.
• The cat is hungry.

2. Stative Verb

A stative verb represents a state rather than an action. It typically conveys existence, thoughts, or emotions.
Examples:

• I am at home.
• She believes in fairies.
• He feels elated.

3. Transitive Verb

A transitive verb requires a direct object to complete its meaning. You can identify the direct object by asking “what?” after the verb.
Examples:

• I saw the dog. (saw what? → the dog)
• Laxman ate the pie. (ate what? → the pie)
• The postman will give Sanoj the letter. (give what? → the letter)

4. Intransitive Verb

An intransitive verb does not require a direct object; it stands alone in meaning.
Examples:

• The rain fell.
• My throat hurts.
• The cat sneezed.

5. Auxiliary Verb (Helping Verb)

An auxiliary verb works with the main verb to indicate tense, voice, or mood. Common auxiliary verbs include be, do, and have in different forms.
Examples:

• Rahul has eaten all the fruits. (Tense)
• The table has been prepared. (Passive voice)
• If he were to arrive in the next 10 minutes, we would be on schedule. (Subjunctive mood)

6. Modal Verb

A modal verb, a type of auxiliary verb, expresses ability, possibility, permission, or obligation. The common modal verbs are can, could, may, might, must, ought to, shall, should, will, and would.
Examples:

• Leena can eat a lot of apples. (Ability)
• Leena might eat that apple before she gets home. (Possibility)
• Leena may eat as many apples as she likes. (Permission)
• Leena should share her apple with you since you bought it. (Obligation)

7. Phrasal Verb

A phrasal verb consists of a main verb and another word (a preposition or particle). It usually has a different meaning from the base verb.
Examples:

• A burglar will often break in by breaking a window. (break in = enter illegally)
• If you drop the baton, the team will drop back to last place. (drop back = fall behind)

8. Regular and Irregular Verbs

• Regular Verbs: Form their past tense and past participle by adding -ed or -dto the base form.
  • Examples: love → loved, move → moved
• Irregular Verbs: Do not follow a fixed pattern when forming the past tense.
  • Example: tell → told

Test: Verb

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Subject-Verb Agreement Rules

Rule 1: Singular & Plural Subjects

A singular subject takes a singular verb, while a plural subject takes a plural verb. Pronouns also follow this rule based on their person.

• Example:
  • Rachel spends her free time listening to music. (Singular)
  • Blaine and Kurt play the piano. (Plural)

Rule 2: Use of ‘Be’ Verbs

The ‘be’ verb changes based on the number and person of the subject.

• Example:
  • I am confident.
  • She is talented.
  • They are happy.

Rule 3: Use of ‘Has’ and ‘Have’

• Singular subjects take has, and plural subjects take have.
• Example:
  • Swetha has a pet dog.
  • I have a younger brother.

Rule 4: Compound Subjects with ‘And’

When two subjects are connected by ‘and,’ the verb is plural.

• Example: Krish and Radha are going to the airport.

Rule 5: Subjects Joined by ‘Or’

When subjects are joined by ‘or,’ the verb agrees with the closer noun.

• Example:
  • Your mom or dad has to be here.

Rule 6: Indefinite Pronouns as Subjects

Pronouns like anyone, everyone, nobody, something take singular verbs.

• Example: Nobody has understood the topic.

Rule 7: ‘Either…Or’ & ‘Neither…Nor’

The verb agrees with the noun closest to it.

• Example:
  • Neither Ricky nor Gina is here.
  • Either the teacher or the students have to clean the classroom.

Rule 8: Nouns That Are Plural by Default

Words like police, scissors, news, mathematics take plural verbs.

• Example: The police have arrested the thief.

Rule 9: Negative Sentences

The helping verb do/does must agree with the subject.

• Example: My father does not work at the bank.

Rule 10: Interrogative Sentences

The first verb in a question must match the subject.

• Example:
  • Does she know you?
  • Were you looking for me?

Rule 11: Sentences Starting with ‘Here’ or ‘There’

The subject follows the verb, so the verb must agree accordingly.

• Example:
  • Here is your book.
  • There have been many changes.

Rule 12: Uncountable & Abstract Nouns

Uncountable and abstract nouns take singular verbs.

• Example:
  • Honesty is the best policy.

Rule 13: Time, Distance, Money as Subjects

These are considered singular.

• Example: 10 years is a long time.

Rule 14: Collective Nouns

• If the group acts as one, use a singular verb.
• If the members act individually, use a plural verb.
• Example:
  • My family is from Australia.
  • The participants have arrived.

Rule 15: Words Like ‘All,’ ‘Some,’ ‘Lots of’

The verb agrees with the noun following these words.

• Example: Some of the books are missing.

Rule 16: Sentences with ‘Each’ or ‘Every’

Always take singular verbs.

• Example: Each student has submitted the form.

Rule 17: Expressing Wishes & Hypothetical Situations

The verb follows a special form.

• Example: I wish I were a bird.

Verbs: Finite and Non-Finite

• Finite Verbs : These verbs indicate grammatical tense, person, and number. They typically serve as the main verb in a clause or sentence and can change based on the subject. 
  Examples:
  1. She walks home.
  2. They are playing soccer.
• Non-Finite Verbs: These verbs do not change form based on the subject but can still convey time and action. 
  There are three main types of non-finite verbs:

Types of Non-Finite Verbs

• Infinitives: Formed by adding “to” before the base form of the verb, infinitives can function as the subject, object, or complement in a sentence. They often follow specific verbs like “want,” “need,” and “like” to indicate purpose. Examples:
  • To swim is my favourite activity.
  • I want to learn how to play the guitar.
  • She needs to finish her homework before going out.
• Gerunds: Gerunds are non-finite verbs ending in “-ing” that function as nouns in a sentence. They can also follow certain verbs like “enjoy,” “avoid,” and “admit” to describe actions. Examples:
  • Swimming is my favourite activity.
  • I enjoy reading books.
  • He admitted stealing the money.
• Participles: Participles are non-finite verbs that can act as adjectives. There are two types: present participles (ending in “-ing”) and past participles (ending in “-ed,” “-d,” or “-t”). Examples:
  • The running water is so refreshing.
  • The broken vase needs to be replaced.
  • The excited children ran to the playground.