Types of Action verbs or main verbs

The role of action verbs or main verbs in english grammar describe action performed by subject in the form of things or persons. There are two types of action verbs or main verbs are action verbs and stative verbs.

Action verbs in english are used to describe actions performed by person or thing as subject or doer. Apart from this, these verbs largely determine the meaning of expressions in which they are used.

Understanding action verbs and main verbs

Really, these verbs control and impact the meaning of sentence compare to others and dominate the continuous tense.

• She is cutting, washing, and cooking cauliflower for today’s dinner.
• She cut, washed, and cooked cauliflower for us.
• He leaned, stretched, and begun his daily exercise.
• Deer leaped, jumped, and ran away.
• Tom woke up, brushed, and prepared for school.

Just take an overview of the following analysis of sentences.

Table 1. Analysis of sentences

Now, before to proceed further, I would like to define the meaning of action verbs in the simple and easiest way.

Explaining “Action verbs or main verbs”

“Action verbs or main verbs” are known as fundamental unit of sentences and, used to explain activities or actions done by subject or doer in sentence or situation.

She is cutting, washing, and cooking cauliflower for today’s dinner.

• Who is doing all these activities?
• what is being done?
• what instrument is being used?
• which thing is mainly affected?

All these questions are indicating that something material processes is in progress…

They also transfer actions for affected things or objects in case of transitive sentences.

These verbs are labelled as root of the sentence as they control the whole meaning of the sentence in which they used.

If we drop the action verbs from this sentence, whole thing will become meaningless.

Like other syntactic elements, action verbs have many forms and categories.

Still, there is ambiguity about the exact meaning of action verbs. To avoid this, let’s see some comparative analysis.

Difference between Action verbs Vs. Stative verbs

Undoubtedly, learning correct use of action verbs in english isn’t so easy.
Stative verbs describe state, condition, or static situations; while action verbs explain actions and progressive activities.

Examples of stative verbs

Look, seem, feel, taste, think, imagine, dream, love, hate, desire, want, possess, preference, etc. are some simple examples of Stative verbs

To get more insight, following table will definitely help you more about the difference between action verbs and

Table – Difference between action verbs and stative verbs.

In the continuous tense, Stative verbs are not used but dynamic action verbs.

We can also call Stative verbs of senses, emotions, and possessions.
Surely, for all mental processes, including perception, desiration, affection, and cognition, use stative verbs.

Only material processes, including doing, happening, causing, and transferring take action verbs.

Frankly, I agree that it is not easy to exercise to clearly classify action verbs and Stative verb.

For better insight, take a look at the following break-off of some examples of Stative verbs.

Ross has just given his brother an advice

Table 2. Illustration of Stative verbs. .

1. They are discussing an important issue.
2. Tribal people believe in natural forces.
3. We always prefer to listen melodies.
4. Nowadays, she is enjoying her vocations in Italy.
   These are some examples of Stative verbs which are different from action verbs.

Important rules for guiding correct use of action verbs or main verbs in english

For more clarity, here are some important rules regarding correct use of action verbs such as spelling rules, rules for change in forms etc.

Just for clarification, I would like to make it clear that these rules are applicable for everything including making plural and word formation.

Spelling rules for vowel suffixes

Usually, in order to form newer forms of action verbs by adding suffixes such as — Ing, ed, etc. some changes are required to make in the spelling of basic words.

• Word ending in a consonant preceded by single vowel doubles the final syllable before adding a suffix beginning with vowel — Cut + Ing = cutting.

Here, “Ing” suffix begins with vowel and last syllable is “T” preceded by vowel “U”.

• But, in case of no stress no last syllable, the last syllable remains unchanged – occur + Ing = occuring.
• Word ending in silent “E” at the end of the word, “E” is dropped before adding a suffix beginning with vowel – live + Ing = living.

Actually, “E” remains there in case of “ce” and “ge” at the end of the word. This happens due to soft pronounce of “C and G” before “E” and “I”compare to “A, O, U”. Notice + able = noticeable, but, Notice + Ing = noticing.

• Word ending with “Y” preceded by a consonant changes “Y” into “I” before a suffix beginning without “I”. Carry + Ing = carrying; but, Carry + ed = carried.

Rules to form newer action verbs With suffixes

Syntactically, you know that default basic form of action verbs are too difficult to use.

Hence, modification is essential process either to tailor different forms or generate newer one.

Inflection is the process of changing a verb or word to express as per mood, tense, number ,and person .

Verbal suffixes to add noun and adjective

In english language, word morphology deals with modification and creation of newer words from base or roots.

As per the rules, words are formed by adding affixes, suffixes, and prefixes to the main roots.

Action verbs are formed by adding — en, ify, ize, and ate to the nouns or adjectives.

ify – to noun and adjective – Simple + ify = simplify (“Y” changes into “I”)
En – to noun and adjective – Black + en = blacken, strength + en = strengthen. Ize – to noun and adjective – memory + ize = memorize, Hospital + ize = hospitalize.
Ate – to adjectives and noun – Regular + ate = regulate.

For more examples of formation of verbs, look at the example section below.

Rules to modify action verbs as per tense and person

In the simple present tense, “S” suffix is added to the main verb when the subject is third person singular – He, She, It. She writes, He sings, It blows, etc.

Below table is showing the changes in the action verbs as per tense and person.

Table 3. Change in action verbs as per tense and person.

For continuous tense, “Ing” suffix is added to the base form of main verbs while forming sentences. She is writing, He is singing, It is blowing, etc.

For past tense, past form of verb and past participle are used for simple past and perfect past, present, and future tense. She wrote, had/has written; He sang, had/has sung.

Understanding types Of Action Verbs

Regular, irregular, transitive, intransitive, finite and infinite or non-finite are the major types of action verbs classified on the basis of meanings and usages.

Tentatively, I’m going to to classify the action verbs into different forms and types for the sake of better insight.

1. Regular verbs Vs Irregular verbs
2. Transitive verbs Vs Intransitive verbs
3. Finite verbs Vs Non-finite Verbs

Let’s see the detailed explanation of all above categories one by one….

Difference between Regular verbs Vs Irregular verbs

On the basis of forms of modification as per the demand of tense, these – Regular and irregular verbs are two types.

Regular verbs – meaning and examples

As I mentioned earlier that default verb cannot be used as it is. Situation dictates whether the basic form is suitable or needs modificaturn.

Technically, those verbs which are not modified within but with suffixes as per the tense, person, mood, and number are labeled as regular action verbs.Let’s see some examples…

Table 4. Examples of regular action verbs.
Basically, regular action verbs and others dominate writing expressions; whereas, irregular verbs are mostly found in spoken communication.

Irregular action verbs

Irregular action verbs are those verbs which we can be modified within without adding suffixes.

Such irregular verbs are so common in spoken expressions or communication.

Let’s take a look at the following examples of irregular action verbs.

Table 5. Examples of irregular action verbs.

Difference between transitive Vs Intransitive verbs

First of all, let’s see the meaning and examples of transitive verb. Let’s see transitive verbs meaning and examples

Verbs which transfer actions for objects and have objects are called transitive. Whereas, verbs which do not transfer actions are Intransitive.

• Sparrow is feeding her chicks.

In this example, action “feeding” is transferring to the object – her chicks.
Her chicks – direct object /affected things /receiver/beneficary.

• Sparrow is feeding her chicks a larva.

In the second example, there are two different objects. One immediately after the verb is indirect object and last one is direct object.

Here, “her chicks” are beneficiary of transferring process.

• Sparrow is feeding her chicks in the nest.

“In the forest” is prepositional phrase. In this example, it is playing role of adjunct and not adverbial.

Difference between Adverbials Vs Adjuncts

Both belong to circumstantial elements. But, adverbial complement is more important than adjunct. Let’s see major difference between adverbial conjunctions and adjuncts.

Table 6. Difference between adverbial complements and adjuncts.

Now, you have some base to logic why adverbial complements are more important than adjuncts.

So, adverbial complements is compulsory to construct the true sense of sentence. On the other hand, adjunct is mere optional.

Meaning and examples of Intransitive verbs

In order to get further insight of correct use of action verbs, let’s go more deeper.
Intransitive verb means absence of object or receiver of action of action verb.

• Sparrow is flyIng.
• Sparrow is flying over the tree.

Clearly, Above both examples belong to intransitive verbs.

In the first example, both adverbial complements and adjunct are absent. But, in the second example, prepositional phrase is there as a adjunct.

Because, if we remove the prepositional phrase, there will not be any change in the basic meaning of sentence.

Difference between Finite Vs Non-finite verbs

At last, we are on the verge of conclusion of this article. Finite verb is a verb that is limited by tense, person, mood etc.

But, Non-finite verb cannot be limited by tense nor by anything. We also call it as infinitive.

By placing to before finite verb, we could do it easily.

Action verbs are finite verbs that’s why we can modify as per the requirements of sentence or situation.

This is all about the types of action verbs classified on the basis of meanings and usages in english grammar.

Difference between Transitive And Intransitive Verbs

Verbs that need objects to transfer actions, are termed as transitive verbs. Whereas, those verbs which do not require object to transfer actions known as intransitive verbs. Let’s see the functions and examples of transitive and intransitive verbs.

Understanding of transitive and intransitive verbs

Here, the word transitive itself is self-explanatory. Simply, it expresses the process of transiting action in the form of objects whether direct and indirect.

• He is a donor.
• He donates a blanket.
• He plays

In the first example, there is no action verb but subject complement. Therefore, there is no question of transferring action.

But in the second example, ‘Donates’ is a action verb and it is transferring its action to – a blanket.

In the third example, action verb ‘Plays’ is used, and here no need to use object to transfer action.

Transitive verbs meaning and examples

In a sentence whenever an action verb is taken, it is taken to show the action performed by the subject of that sentence. It is called transitive verb. Otherwise, without object called intransitive.

• He offers a donation.
• She invites her friends.

And, sometimes, such action affects or transfer to someone or something to make complete sense. Such verbs is called “Transitive verbs”.

Examples of transitive verbs

• I am selling my house.
• They are purchasing a bike.
• He cheated his partner.
• She challenged her competitor.
• She thanked her mother.
• Leader demands public support.
• Coach trained his players.
• He lifts a wooden door.

These are some useful examples of transitive action verbs.

Intransitive verbs meaning and examples

The meaning of intransitive verb is totally opposite of the transitive verb. Whenever, action is not transferred to affect person, such verb is called intransitive verb.

• He plays in the ground.
• They run on the track.
• She danced in the competition.

When a action verb is taken to show the action performed by the subject without requiring to transfer its action to someone or something, such verb is called “Intransitive verb”.

In such cases, object isn’t required to form total meaning.

 Useful examples of intransitive verbs

• Paul meditates daily.
• She practices regularly.
• Tony swims in the tank.
• River flows through deep valley.
• Winds have been blowing since last night.
• It is raining continuously.
• Child is jumping on the sofa.

Apart from this, there are certain verbs which function like transitive, as well as intransitive as per the situation. This will help you to understand the functions and examples of transitive and intransitive verbs.

This is all about the types of Action verbs or main verbs in english grammar. Action verbs or main verbs are classified as Action verbs, stative verbs, transitive and intransitive verbs, finite and infinite verbs, regular and irregular verbs.

Simple present and continuous present

Describing functions of Preposition

Simple continuous and perfect past

Prefixes And Suffixes explained

Linking and helping verbs explained

Explaining Balance of payments

Simple past and perfect past tense

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