Verbs for Kids: Fun Examples and Simple Definitions

Verbs are the action words of the English language! They tell us what someone or something is doing.

Understanding verbs is super important because they are the heart of every sentence. Without verbs, our sentences would be boring and wouldn’t make much sense.

This guide is designed especially for kids to learn about verbs in a fun and easy way. Whether you’re just starting to learn about grammar or want to become a verb expert, this article will help you master verbs with simple definitions, lots of examples, and fun practice exercises.

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• What is a Verb?
• Structural Breakdown of Verbs
• Types of Verbs
  • Action Verbs
  • Linking Verbs
  • Helping Verbs
  • Irregular Verbs
  • Transitive Verbs
  • Intransitive Verbs
• Examples of Verbs in Sentences
• Usage Rules for Verbs
• Common Mistakes with Verbs
• Practice Exercises
• Advanced Topics
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
• Conclusion

What is a Verb?

A verb is a word that shows an action, an event, or a state of being. It’s the most important part of a sentence because it tells us what the subject (the person, place, or thing) is doing. Verbs can describe physical actions, like running or jumping, or mental actions, like thinking or dreaming. They can also describe states of being, such as being happy or seeming tired. In simple terms, a verb is the word that makes a sentence “go.”

Think of verbs as the engines of sentences. Without an engine, a car won’t move.

Similarly, without a verb, a sentence doesn’t express a complete thought. Verbs are essential for communicating clearly and effectively, whether you’re telling a story, asking a question, or giving instructions.

Structural Breakdown of Verbs

Verbs can change their form depending on the tense (when the action happens), the subject (who or what is doing the action), and the mood (the attitude of the speaker). Understanding these changes helps us use verbs correctly in different situations.

• Tense: Verbs change to show when an action takes place. The main tenses are:
  • Present Tense: Describes actions happening now. Example: I walk to school.
  • Past Tense: Describes actions that happened in the past. Example: I walked to school yesterday.
  • Future Tense: Describes actions that will happen in the future. Example: I will walk to school tomorrow.
• Subject-Verb Agreement: Verbs must agree with their subjects in number. This means that singular subjects take singular verbs, and plural subjects take plural verbs.
  • Singular: She walks.
  • Plural: They walk.

Let’s break down how verbs change with different subjects and tenses using a table:

Subject	Present Tense	Past Tense	Future Tense
I	walk	walked	will walk
You	walk	walked	will walk
He/She/It	walks	walked	will walk
We	walk	walked	will walk
They	walk	walked	will walk

As you can see, the verb “walk” changes depending on the subject and the tense. In the present tense, it changes to “walks” when the subject is “he,” “she,” or “it.” In the past and future tenses, the form of the verb remains the same regardless of the subject.

Types of Verbs

There are several different types of verbs, each with its own specific function. Here are some of the most common types:

Action Verbs

Action verbs describe what someone or something does. They show physical or mental actions. These are the most common types of verbs.

Examples of action verbs include:

• Run
• Jump
• Sing
• Read
• Write
• Eat
• Sleep
• Think
• Dream
• Laugh

Here’s a table with example sentences using action verbs:

Sentence	Action Verb
The dog barks loudly.	barks
The bird sings in the morning.	sings
I read a book every night.	read
She writes a letter to her friend.	writes
The cat sleeps all day.	sleeps
We eat dinner together.	eat
They run in the park.	run
He jumps over the puddle.	jumps
She thinks about the problem.	thinks
I dream of flying.	dream
The baby laughs at the funny face.	laughs
The chef cooks delicious meals.	cooks
The students study for the test.	study
The artist paints a beautiful picture.	paints
The musician plays the guitar.	plays
The teacher teaches the students.	teaches
The farmer grows crops.	grows
The doctor helps the patients.	helps
The engineer builds bridges.	builds
The writer creates stories.	creates
The audience claps after the performance.	claps
The team wins the game.	wins
The child cries when he falls.	cries
The wind blows through the trees.	blows
The rain falls from the sky.	falls
The sun shines brightly.	shines
The river flows to the sea.	flows

Linking Verbs

Linking verbs connect the subject to a word that describes or identifies the subject. They don’t show action; instead, they link the subject to more information about it. The most common linking verb is “to be” (am, is, are, was, were, be, being, been).

Examples of linking verbs include:

• Is
• Are
• Was
• Were
• Be
• Being
• Been
• Seem
• Become
• Appear
• Look
• Feel
• Taste
• Smell
• Sound

Here’s a table with example sentences using linking verbs:

Sentence	Linking Verb
She is happy.	is
They are friends.	are
He was a doctor.	was
We were tired.	were
To be or not to be, that is the question.	be
The flower is blooming.	is
The soup smells delicious.	smells
The music sounds beautiful.	sounds
He seems sad.	seems
She became a teacher.	became
The sky appears clear.	appears
The cake tastes sweet.	tastes
The fabric feels soft.	feels
The answer is correct.	is
The children are excited.	are
The movie was interesting.	was
The cookies are baking.	are
The weather is pleasant.	is
The garden is colorful.	is
The story is captivating.	is
The idea seems promising.	seems
He is a talented artist.	is
They are dedicated students.	are
The project was successful.	was

Helping Verbs

Helping verbs (also known as auxiliary verbs) help the main verb express tense, mood, or voice. They come before the main verb and “help” it to complete its meaning. Common helping verbs include: be, do, have, can, could, may, might, must, shall, should, will, would.

Examples of helping verbs include:

• Is
• Are
• Was
• Were
• Be
• Being
• Been
• Have
• Has
• Had
• Do
• Does
• Did
• Can
• Could
• May
• Might
• Must
• Shall
• Should
• Will
• Would

Here’s a table with example sentences using helping verbs:

Sentence	Helping Verb	Main Verb
I am reading a book.	am	reading
They are playing soccer.	are	playing
He was watching TV.	was	watching
We were studying math.	were	studying
She has finished her homework.	has	finished
They have eaten dinner.	have	eaten
He had already left.	had	left
I do like ice cream.	do	like
She does her best.	does	does
They did their chores.	did	did
I can swim.	can	swim
He could run fast.	could	run
She may go to the party.	may	go
They might be late.	might	be
You must listen to the teacher.	must	listen
I shall help you.	shall	help
You should study hard.	should	study
I will go to the store.	will	go
She would like to dance.	would	like
We are going to the park.	are	going
They have been playing all day.	have	playing
He is studying for his exams.	is	studying
She has written a beautiful poem.	has	written
We will visit our grandparents next week.	will	visit

Irregular Verbs

Irregular verbs are verbs that do not follow the standard pattern of adding “-ed” to form the past tense and past participle. These verbs have unique forms that must be memorized.

Examples of irregular verbs include:

• Go (went, gone)
• See (saw, seen)
• Eat (ate, eaten)
• Run (ran, run)
• Write (wrote, written)
• Take (took, taken)
• Give (gave, given)
• Come (came, come)
• Begin (began, begun)
• Break (broke, broken)

Here’s a table with example sentences using irregular verbs:

Base Form	Past Tense	Past Participle	Example Sentence
Go	Went	Gone	I went to the store yesterday.
See	Saw	Seen	She saw a movie last night.
Eat	Ate	Eaten	We ate pizza for dinner.
Run	Ran	Run	He ran in the park this morning.
Write	Wrote	Written	She wrote a letter to her friend.
Take	Took	Taken	I took a picture of the sunset.
Give	Gave	Given	He gave her a flower.
Come	Came	Come	They came to the party.
Begin	Began	Begun	The movie began late.
Break	Broke	Broken	She broke the vase.
Find	Found	Found	I found my keys.
Sing	Sang	Sung	He sang a beautiful song.
Drink	Drank	Drunk	She drank a glass of water.
Swim	Swam	Swum	They swam in the pool.
Fly	Flew	Flown	The bird flew away.
Grow	Grew	Grown	The plant grew tall.
Know	Knew	Known	I knew the answer.
Speak	Spoke	Spoken	He spoke to the audience.
Steal	Stole	Stolen	Someone stole my bike.
Wear	Wore	Worn	She wore a beautiful dress.

Transitive Verbs

Transitive verbs are action verbs that take a direct object. A direct object is a noun or pronoun that receives the action of the verb. In other words, the action “passes over” to the object.

Examples of transitive verbs include:

• Kick
• Read
• Write
• Eat
• See
• Hear
• Build
• Paint
• Catch
• Throw

Here’s a table with example sentences using transitive verbs:

Sentence	Transitive Verb	Direct Object
The boy kicked the ball.	kicked	ball
She reads a book.	reads	book
He writes a letter.	writes	letter
We eat pizza.	eat	pizza
I see a bird.	see	bird
They hear music.	hear	music
The builder builds a house.	builds	house
The artist paints a picture.	paints	picture
The catcher catches the ball.	catches	ball
He throws the frisbee.	throws	frisbee
She buys groceries.	buys	groceries
I wash the car.	wash	car
They plant trees.	plant	trees
He cuts the grass.	cuts	grass
She feeds the birds.	feeds	birds
I teach English.	teach	English
They sell flowers.	sell	flowers
He drives a car.	drives	car
She plays the piano.	plays	piano
I use a computer.	use	computer

Intransitive Verbs

Intransitive verbs are action verbs that do not take a direct object. The action does not “pass over” to anything; it is complete in itself.

Examples of intransitive verbs include:

• Sleep
• Laugh
• Cry
• Smile
• Dance
• Swim
• Sing
• Arrive
• Leave
• Wait

Here’s a table with example sentences using intransitive verbs:

Sentence	Intransitive Verb
The baby sleeps soundly.	sleeps
She laughs a lot.	laughs
He cries when he is sad.	cries
They smile at each other.	smile
We dance at the party.	dance
I swim in the pool.	swim
She sings beautifully.	sings
He arrived late.	arrived
They leave early.	leave
We wait patiently.	wait
The sun shines brightly.	shines
The bird flies high.	flies
The river flows smoothly.	flows
The wind blows gently.	blows
The rain falls softly.	falls
The flower blooms beautifully.	blooms
The dog barks loudly.	barks
The cat purrs contentedly.	purrs
The clock ticks steadily.	ticks
The car stops suddenly.	stops

Examples of Verbs in Sentences

Here are more examples of verbs used in different contexts to help you understand how they function in sentences:

Sentence	Verb	Type of Verb
The children play in the park.	play	Action (Intransitive)
She is a doctor.	is	Linking
They are studying for the test.	are studying	Helping & Action
He wrote a book.	wrote	Action (Transitive)
I will go to the movies.	will go	Helping & Action
We ate dinner.	ate	Action (Transitive)
The dog barks loudly.	barks	Action (Intransitive)
She seems happy.	seems	Linking
They have been playing all day.	have been playing	Helping & Action
He reads a newspaper.	reads	Action (Transitive)
I can swim.	can swim	Helping & Action
We were tired.	were	Linking
The cat sleeps on the bed.	sleeps	Action (Intransitive)
She has finished her work.	has finished	Helping & Action
They will visit their family.	will visit	Helping & Action
He drives a car.	drives	Action (Transitive)
I must study.	must study	Helping & Action
We should exercise.	should exercise	Helping & Action
The flower smells sweet.	smells	Linking
She could dance.	could dance	Helping & Action
They might arrive late.	might arrive	Helping & Action
He would like to travel.	would like	Helping & Action
I do my homework.	do	Action (Transitive)
She does her best.	does	Action (Intransitive)
They did the dishes.	did	Action (Transitive)

Usage Rules for Verbs

Using verbs correctly involves following certain rules. Here are some important rules to remember:

• Subject-Verb Agreement: The verb must agree with the subject in number. Singular subjects take singular verbs, and plural subjects take plural verbs.
  • He walks. (Singular subject, singular verb)
  • They walk. (Plural subject, plural verb)
• Tense Consistency: Use the same tense throughout a sentence or paragraph unless there’s a reason to change.
  • Incorrect: I went to the store, and I will buy milk.
  • Correct: I went to the store, and I bought milk.
• Correct Verb Forms: Use the correct forms of irregular verbs.
  • Incorrect: I goed to the store.
  • Correct: I went to the store.
• Use Helping Verbs Correctly: Use the appropriate helping verbs to form different tenses and moods.
  • Incorrect: I be going to the store.
  • Correct: I am going to the store.

Let’s look at some examples of subject-verb agreement in a table:

Subject	Verb	Example Sentence
I	am	I am a student.
You	are	You are my friend.
He/She/It	is	He is tall.
We	are	We are happy.
They	are	They are playing.
The dog	is	The dog is barking.
The dogs	are	The dogs are barking.

Common Mistakes with Verbs

Here are some common mistakes people make with verbs and how to correct them:

Incorrect	Correct	Explanation
I goed to the store.	I went to the store.	“Went” is the correct past tense of “go.”
She don’t like pizza.	She doesn’t like pizza.	Use “doesn’t” with singular subjects like “she.”
They was happy.	They were happy.	Use “were” with plural subjects like “they.”
He be going to the party.	He is going to the party.	Use the correct form of “to be” (is, am, are, was, were).
I seen a movie.	I saw a movie.	“Saw” is the correct past tense of “see.”
She have finished her homework.	She has finished her homework.	Use “has” with singular subjects.
We was playing in the park.	We were playing in the park.	Use “were” with plural subjects.
He don’t know the answer.	He doesn’t know the answer.	Use “doesn’t” with singular subjects.
They is coming to the party.	They are coming to the party.	Use “are” with plural subjects.
I be going to the store tomorrow.	I will go to the store tomorrow.	Use “will” to indicate future tense.

Practice Exercises

Test your knowledge of verbs with these practice exercises

to see how well you understand the different types and rules. Complete the following sentences by filling in the blanks with the correct form of the verb provided.

Advanced Topics

Once you’ve mastered the basics of verbs, you can explore more advanced topics, such as:

• Verbals: These are words formed from verbs but function as nouns, adjectives, or adverbs (e.g., gerunds, participles, infinitives).
• Verb Mood: This refers to the manner in which a verb expresses its action or state of being (e.g., indicative, imperative, subjunctive).
• Phrasal Verbs: These are verbs combined with prepositions or adverbs to create new meanings (e.g., “look up,” “break down”).
• Active and Passive Voice: Understanding how to use verbs in the active and passive voice can make your writing more dynamic and clear.

These advanced topics will help you refine your understanding of verbs and improve your overall command of the English language.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Conclusion

Understanding verbs is essential for building strong sentences and communicating effectively. Verbs are the action words that bring sentences to life, and mastering them will significantly improve your reading, writing, and speaking skills.

By learning the different types of verbs, following usage rules, and practicing regularly, you can become a verb expert and express yourself with clarity and confidence. Keep practicing and exploring, and you’ll continue to improve your verb skills!