Verb Forms Definition, Types, List with Examples In English

Verb forms are the different ways we use verbs in grammar. They help us talk about actions and when they happen. Verb Forms Examples, we can say “I walk” for something happening now or “I walked” for something that happened. We also use verb forms to show if something might happen, should happen, or could happen. Learning about these forms helps us speak and write clearly so others understand us. It’s like learning how to use the right pieces to finish a puzzle. Understanding types of verb makes it easier for us to share our thoughts and ideas with others.

Verb Forms Definition, Types, List with Examples In English

What are Verb Forms?

Verb forms refer to the different variations or conjugations of a verb that indicate tense, mood, aspect, voice, and agreement with subjects and objects in a sentence.

Examples:

Base Form (Infinitive): I love to swim.
Present Tense: She dances beautifully.
Past Tense: He ran yesterday.
Present Participle (Gerund): They enjoy writing books.
Past Participle: The book was written by a famous author.

Types of Verb Forms:

Finite Verbs
Non-finite Verbs
Main Verbs
Auxiliary (Helping) Verbs
Regular Verbs
Irregular Verbs

Finite Verbs:
These are verbs that are conjugated to show tense, person, and number according to the subject in a sentence. They indicate the action or state of the subject.

Examples:

run
walk
write
is

Non-finite Verbs:
These are verb forms that do not show tense, person, or number. They cannot function as the main verb in a sentence and are often used as complements or modifiers.
Non-finite verb forms include infinitives, gerunds, and participles.
a. Infinitives:
The base form of a verb is usually preceded by “to”.

Examples:

to run
to eat
to sleep

b. Gerunds:
Verb forms that function as nouns, ending in “-ing”.

Examples:

Swimming is fun
I enjoy writing

c. Participles:
Verb forms that can function as adjectives or as part of verb phrases, with endings such as “-ing” (present participle) or “-ed,” “-en,” or irregular forms (past participle).

Examples:

the running water
the broken window

Main Verbs:
These are verbs that express the main action or state of being in a sentence. They can stand alone and carry the primary meaning of the sentence.

Examples:

run
eat
sleep
study

Auxiliary (Helping) Verbs:
These verbs are used in combination with main verbs to form verb phrases that convey tense, mood, voice, or aspect. They do not carry the main meaning of the sentence but provide grammatical information.

Examples:

have
be
do
will
can
may

Regular Verbs:
These are verbs that follow a consistent pattern in their conjugation, typically forming their past tense and past participle by adding “-ed” to the base form.

Examples:

talk-talked-talked
play-played-played

Irregular Verbs:
These are verbs that do not follow the standard conjugation patterns in English. They have unique forms for the past tense and past participle, which often need to be memorized.

Examples:

go-went-gone
sing-sang-sung
eat-ate-eaten

Verb Forms List:

Verb	1st Form	2nd Form	3rd Form
run	run	ran	running
jump	jump	jumped	jumping
walk	walk	walked	walking
talk	talk	talked	talking
eat	eat	ate	eating
sleep	sleep	slept	sleeping
write	write	wrote	writing
think	think	thought	thinking
sing	sing	sang	singing
dance	dance	danced	dancing
swim	swim	swam	swimming
fly	fly	flew	flying
drive	drive	drove	driving
speak	speak	spoke	speaking
climb	climb	climbed	climbing
think	think	thought	thinking
draw	draw	drew	drawing

Forms of verbs Definition, Types, List with Examples In English

Verb Form Examples:

She runs every morning before sunrise.
They were playing soccer in the park.
He will arrive at the airport at 3 PM.
We had dinner at a fancy restaurant last night.
The cat is sleeping peacefully on the couch.
I love to write books in my free time.
Sarah has finished her homework.
They are building a new house next door.
The children were laughing and playing together.
He plays the guitar beautifully.

Verb Form Exercise:

1. Which of the following sentences contains a verb in the present participle form?
a) She runs every morning.
b) They were playing soccer in the park.
c) He is swimming in the pool.
d) We had dinner at a fancy restaurant.
2. In the sentence “I have completed my homework,” what is the verb form of “completed”?
a) Present tense
b) Past tense
c) Present participle
d) Past participle
3. Which of the following is a linking verb?
a) The cat chased the mouse.
b) She is happy.
c) They will go to the concert.
d) He writes novels.
4. What is the auxiliary verb in the sentence “She has been studying for hours”?
a) has
b) been
c) studying
d) hours
5. Which verb form is used to form the simple past tense for regular verbs?
a) Base form
b) Present participle
c) Past participle
d) Future tense