Understanding Verbs in

English
• good - better - the best
bad - worse - the worst
many - more - the most
• Ali has more cars than Ahmad.
• Ali has the most beautiful eyes in the family.
• Ali has the most colorful pens in the class.
• little - less - the least
much - more - the most
• Teacher Fatima has the most power in the class.
• I have the most reading of Quran in Ramadan.
• Excited (for people)
• exciting (for movies , running, swimming …..)
• I am Interested in learning English.
• I’m interested in reading short stories.
• I’m excited about visiting my friends in a café tonight.
• This movie is interesting.
• Bored (people)= I was bored when I watched the same movie
again.
• I feel bored because I’m alone now.
• boring = the same view is boring.
Reading books is boring.
• Playing basketball is boring.
What are Verbs?
Definition: Verbs are fundamental
components of sentences that show the
action taken by the subject, the state of
being, or the occurrence of an event. They
are crucial for conveying complete thoughts
and enable communication about actions,
experiences, and conditions.
Action Verbs
Definition: Action verbs are words that represent
physical movements or mental actions. They
describe what the subject is actively doing and are
vital for expressing dynamic activities in both writing
and speech.
Examples:
Run: "She runs every morning to stay fit."
Explanation: Here, "runs" indicates a physical
activity performed by the subject, illustrating a
specific action taking place.
Think: "He thinks deeply about his future."
Explanation: In this case, "thinks" refers to a
mental action where the subject is engaged in
thought.
Further Explanation: Action verbs can be
categorized into two types: transitive, which require
a direct object (e.g., “She kicks the ball.”), and
intransitive, which do not (e.g., “He sleeps.”).
More examples
1.Run: She runs every morning to stay healthy.

2.Jump: The kids jump for joy at the

playground.

3.Dance: He dances beautifully at every

performance.

4.Write: I write articles for the school

newspaper.

5.Sing: She sings in the choir every Sunday.

6.Swim: They swim in the lake during summer.

7.Draw: He draws landscapes in his

sketchbook.

8.Build: They build sandcastles on the beach.

9.Cook: She cooks dinner for her family every

night.

10.Read: I read novels in my free time.

11.Play: The children play soccer in the park.

12.Run: She runs marathons every year.

13.Listen: He listens to jazz music every

evening.

14.Speak: She speaks three languages fluently.

15.Travel: They travel to different countries

each summer.
16.Explore: He explores new hiking trails on
weekends.

17.Paint: She paints stunning portraits for

galleries.

18.Lift: He lifts weights at the gym every

morning.

19.Ride: They ride bikes along the riverbank.

20.Shop: She shops for groceries every

Saturday.
Practice Exercises
Action Verbs
1.Fill in the blank:
My brother __________ every Saturday morning.
(run) Answer: runs

2.Choose the correct action verb:

She _______ a beautiful painting last week.
A) paint
Answer: C)
B) paints
painted
C) painted
3. True or False:
"To think" is an action verb.

Answer: True

4. Fill in the blank:

The cat __________ up the tree quickly. (climb)

Answer: climb
s
5. Choose the correct action verb:
They _______ soccer at the park.
A) plays
B) played Answer: C)
C) play play

6. Fill in the blank:

She __________ her favorite song on the piano. (play)

Answer: plays
7.Multiple Choice:
What is the action verb in the sentence: "He kicked
the ball into the goal."
A) kicked Answer: A) kicked
B) ball
C) goal

8.Fill in the blank:

I __________ my homework after dinner. (complete)

Answer: complete
9. True or False:
"To sleep" is not an action verb.

Answer: False

10. Choose the correct action verb:

They _______ a movie last night.
A) watch
B) watched
C) watches Answer: B) watched
Linking Verbs
Definition: Linking verbs are specific verbs that
connect the subject of a sentence to additional
information or a complement that describes it. Unlike
action verbs, they do not express an action but
rather serve to establish a relationship between the
subject and the information that follows.
Examples:
Be: "She is a teacher."
Explanation: "Is" links the subject (she) to the
noun (teacher), providing information about
what she is, not what she does.
Become: "They became friends after school."
Explanation: "Became" indicates a
transformation in state, linking the subject to its
new identity (friends).
Further Explanation: Common linking verbs
include various forms of "to be," such as am, is, are,
was, were, as well as sensory verbs like seem,
appear, and feel.
More examples
1.Be: He is a talented musician.

2.Seem: The project seems challenging but

exciting.

3.Become: She became an expert in her field.

4.Appear: They appear happy at the party.

5.Feel: I feel tired after the long meeting.

6.Taste: The soup tastes delicious today.

7.Smell: The flowers smell wonderful in spring.

8.Look: She looks content with her new job.

9.Remain: He remained calm despite the

chaos.

10.Sound: The music sounds beautiful from

this distance.
11.Grow: She grew anxious about her upcoming
exam.

12.Turn: The leaves turn yellow in the fall.

13.Stay: They stayed silent during the

presentation.

14.Prove: His actions proved he was trustworthy.

15.Become: The night became quiet as everyone

went to bed.
16.Date: The idea dates back to the 1800s.

17.Seem: He seems to be in a good mood

today.

18.Act: He acted surprised when he received

the gift.

19.Get: She got tired of the same routine.

20.Look: The cake looks amazing for the

celebration.
Practice Exercises
Linking Verbs
1.Fill in the blank:
She __________ a doctor. (become)
Answer: is

2.Choose the correct linking verb:

The ice cream _________ delicious.
A) taste
B) tastes Answer: B)
C) tasting tastes
3. True or False:
"Seem" is a linking verb.

Answer: True

4. Fill in the blank:

The weather __________ nice today. (be)

Answer: is
5. Choose the correct linking verb:
He _________ happy with his results.
A) is
B) are Answer: A) is
C) be

6. Fill in the blank:

They __________ excited about the trip. (feel)

Answer: feel
7. Multiple Choice:
What is the linking verb in the sentence: "She is my
best friend."
A) is Answer: A) is
B) best
C) friend

8. Fill in the blank:

The movie __________ boring. (seems)
Answer: seems
9. True or False:
"Grow" can be used as a linking verb.

Answer: True

10. Choose the correct linking verb:

The flowers ________ beautiful in spring.
A) are
B) is
C) was Answer: A) are
Auxiliary Verbs
Definition: Auxiliary verbs, also known as helping
verbs, are used in conjunction with main verbs to
form different tenses, moods, or voices. They add
grammatical precision to the main action and help
clarify the timing and aspect of the action taking
place.
Examples:
Have: "She has finished her homework."
Explanation: "Has" is an auxiliary verb that
helps form the present perfect tense, indicating
that the action of finishing is complete and
relevant to the present.
Is/Are: "They are playing soccer."
Explanation: "Are" helps to form the present
continuous tense, showing that the action is
currently happening.
Further Explanation: Auxiliary verbs include forms
of "to be," "to have," and "to do," which can be
combined with main verbs to create various tenses
More examples
1.Have: She has completed her report on time.

2.Be: They are studying for the final exams.

3.Do: He does not like spicy food.

4.Will: I will finish my homework later.

5.Was: He was playing soccer when it started

to rain.
6.Were: They were watching a movie at the
theater.

7.Has: She has been working here for five

years.

8.Is: She is learning to play the violin.

9.Are: We are going to the concert this

weekend.

10.Have: They have been to Europe twice.

11.Did: Did you see the latest episode?

12.Been: I have been studying all night for the

exam.

13.Being: She is being very helpful today.

14.Would: I would like to have a cup of tea.

15.Could: He could finish the project by tomorrow.

16.Might: We might go to the beach if the
weather is nice.

17.Shall: I shall return by 5 PM.

18.Must: You must be careful while driving.

19.Had: She had already eaten by the time I

arrived.

20.Will: They will be arriving at noon.

Practice Exercises
Auxiliary Verbs
1.Fill in the blank:
They __________ going to the concert tonight. (be)
Answer: are

2.Choose the correct auxiliary verb:

She _______ finished her project already.
A) have
B) has Answer: B)
C) had has
3. True or False:
"Do" can function as an auxiliary verb.

Answer: True

4. Fill in the blank:

I __________ seen that movie before. (have)

Answer: have
5. Choose the correct auxiliary verb:
He _______ be coming over later.
A) might
B) must Answer: A)
C) should might

6. Fill in the blank:

They __________ making dinner when I called. (be)

Answer: were
7. Multiple Choice:
What is the auxiliary verb in the sentence: "She is
reading a book."
A) is Answer: A) is
B) reading
C) book

8. Fill in the blank:

You __________ have met her before. (might)
Answer: might
9. True or False:
"Would" is used as an auxiliary verb.

Answer: True

10. Choose the correct auxiliary verb:

It ________ been a long day.
A) has
B) have Answer: A) has
C) was
Modal Verbs
Definition: Modal verbs are special auxiliary verbs
that express necessity, possibility, capacity,
permission, or obligation. They modify the meaning
of other verbs and indicate the speaker's attitude
toward the action.
Examples:
Can: "I can swim."
Explanation: "Can" expresses the ability of the
subject (I) to perform the action of swimming.
Must: "You must study for the exam."
Explanation: "Must" indicates an obligation or
necessity regarding studying for the exam.
Might: "It might rain later."
Explanation: "Might" suggests a possibility
about the future occurrence of rain, indicating
uncertainty.
Further Explanation: Other common modal verbs
include will, would, shall, should, may, and could,
each expressing different nuances and degrees of
Modal Verbs Table
Modal Verb Meaning Usage Example

Can Ability or permission Used to express ability or permission. She can swim very fast.

Past ability or polite Used for past abilities; polite suggestions When I was younger,
Could
request or requests. I could run fast.

Permission or Used to ask for or give permission; You may leave the
May
possibility suggest a possibility. table.

Suggests a lower Used to indicate a smaller chance than

Might It might rain later.
possibility "may."

Obligation or Used to express strong obligation or You must wear a

Must
necessity necessity. seatbelt.

You mustn’t smoke

Mustn’t Prohibition Used to express a strong prohibition.
here.

Advice or
Should Used to give advice or recommendations. You should see a doctor.
recommendation

Advice or moral Similar to "should," often used for moral

Ought to You ought to apologize.
obligation obligations.

Used in formal contexts for suggestions or

Shall Suggestion or offer to indicate future actions (mostly British Shall we dance?
English).

Future intention or Used to express future actions or

Will I will call you tomorrow.
promise intentions.
 Will (future intention / promise ‫) یعد‬

• I will travel to Yemen next month.

• I will see a doctor tomorrow.
• She will cook the dinner for the next party.
• I will wash the dishes.
• I will close the door.
• I will turn off the light.
• I will come to your wedding party. (promise)
• I will buy you this car next month.
• I will do business with you next month.
• I will call you soon.
 Shall (suggestion / offer ‫)اقتراح‬

• Shall we dance together?

• Shall we drink a cup of tea together?
• Shall we go to the park?
• Shall we go out tonight?
• Shall we fix the car?
 Should ( advice / recommendation)

• You should take your medicine.

• You should see a doctor.
• You should study tonight.
• She should help her mother.
• He should get up early.
• He shouldn’t drink alcohol when he is sick.
• You shouldn’t live here alone.
• She shouldn’t make a friendship with this boy.
He shouldn’t go to dance clubs in Ramadan.
 Mustn’t (prohibition)

• You mustn’t drink when you are on a fast.

• You mustn’t smoke here.
• You mustn’t park your car here.
• You mustn’t walk alone in this area late
at night.
 Must (necessary)

• You must study hard.

• You must fasten your seatbelt when you
drive.
• You must drive carefully when it snows.
• You must pray when you hear Adhan.
• You must eat when you are sick.
 May (permission and possibility)

• You may =can come with us.

• You may=can use my laptop.
• You may=can drive my car.
• You may take my bank card.
• May=can I use your car?
• May=can I take your phone?
• May/can I go/get through ?

• It may rain tonight. (possibility) it may not rain tonight.

• We may go to the party together. (possibility) not 100%
• I may visit you next week.
• He may come back late tonight.
• He may not come back late.
• He may not drive fast.
 Might (lower possibility)

• It may rain tonight. 80%

• It might rain tonight. 50%
• It might snow tomorrow. 50%
 Could (past form for can)

• I could run fast when I was a teenager. (past)

• I can’t run fast now.
• I could drive a car when I was younger.
• I can’t drive a car now because I’m old.
• I could play tennis 10 years ago. But now I can’t do it.
• I could visit my brother when I was in Yemen.
 Could (polite requests )

•Could you open the door, please?

•Could you please give me a cheese
burger?
•Could you please take the delivery?
More examples
1. Can: I can swim very well.

2. Could: She could help you if you ask her.

3. May: You may leave early if you finish your

work.

4. Might: It might rain later, so bring an

umbrella.

5. Must: You must submit your assignment by

Friday.
6.Should: He should exercise more frequently.

7.Would: I would travel if I had more time.

8.Shall: Shall we go for a walk after lunch?

9.Will: They will be there on time for the

meeting.

10.Can: She can cook dinner for the whole

family.
11.Could: I could help you with your homework.

12.Mustn't: You mustn't talk during the movie.

13.Might: We might see them at the party

tonight.

14.May: She may need some assistance with the

project.

15.Would: He would enjoy attending the concert.

16.Shall: Shall I open the window?

17.Can: He can finish the report by 3 PM.

18.Shouldn't: You shouldn't drive without a

license.

19.Could: They could join us for dinner.

20.Might not: She might not attend the

meeting after all.
Practice Exercises
Modal Verbs
1.Fill in the blank:
I __________ go to the party if I finish my work. (can)
Answer: can

2.Choose the correct modal verb:

She _______ study harder for the exam.
A) should
B) would Answer: A) should
C) could
3. True or False:
"Might" expresses strong certainty.

Answer: False

4. Fill in the blank:

You __________ take your medicine twice a day. (must)

Answer: must
5. Choose the correct modal verb:
They __________ have left already.
A) should
B) must Answer: B)
C) can must

6. Fill in the blank:

She __________ go to the gym after work. (might)

Answer: might
7. Multiple Choice:
What is the modal verb in the sentence: "You can
borrow my book."
A) borrow Answer: B) can
B) can
C) my

8. Fill in the blank:

He __________ finish his assignment by tomorrow.
(could)
Answer: could
9. True or False:
"Shall" is used in formal contexts to suggest a future
action.
Answer: True

10. Choose the correct modal verb:

You __________ not enter the restricted area.
A) must Answer: C) mustn’t
B) should
C) mustn’t
 Comparison of Verb
Types
Verb Type Definition Examples Usage
Action Verbs Describes actions e.g., run, think "She runs fast."

Linking Verbs Connects subject to e.g., is, become "He is a doctor."

complement
Auxiliary Helps form tenses e.g., have, is "They are studying."
Verbs
Modal Verbs Expresses modality e.g., can, must "You must finish your
work."
Practice Exercise
Activity: Identify the type of verb in the following
sentences: Answer: Modal Verb (can)
"She can dance gracefully."
Answer: Linking Verb (smell)
"The flowers smell beautiful."

"They have been studying for hours."

Answer: Auxiliary Verb
(have)
"He runs every morning."
Answer: Action Verb (runs)
Summary
Key Points:
Action Verbs: Illustrate specific actions being
performed, whether physical or mental.
Linking Verbs: Connect subjects to descriptive
information about them, revealing their state or
identity.
Auxiliary Verbs: Aid main verbs in expressing
tense, mood, or voice, providing grammatical
accuracy.
Modal Verbs: Convey ability, necessity,
permission, and possibility, adding depth to the
meaning of the verb being modified.
Questions?