A verb is a word or phrase which says what a person or thing is, has or does. A verb is also used to say what happens or is done to a person or thing.

John plays.
John has a ball.
John is a good player.
John is loved by all.

In the above examples, the words in italics say what John does, is or has, or what happens or is done to him.

A verb may consist of more than one word.

Alice writes. (Verb – writes)
Alice is writing. (Verb – is writing)
Alice has been writing. (Verb – has been writing)
Alice will have been writing. (Verb – will have been writing)

The verb is the most important word in a clause or sentence. Note that every clause and every sentence must have at least one verb.

Verbs change their form when the number or person of the subject changes.

Compare:

Raju has a ball.

Raju and Radha have a ball.

Has becomes have when the subject is a plural noun.

She goes to school by bus.

They go to school by bus.

The verb ‘go’ becomes ‘goes’ when the subject is a singular noun or pronoun.

It is easy to recognize a verb. Just check whether a particular word has an ing form. All verbs have ing forms.

write – writing

sing – singing

come – coming

play – playing

Verbs also have present, past and past participle forms.

work – worked – worked

write – wrote – written

play – played – played

come – came – come