Grammar · Verbs
The engine of every sentence
A verb is a doing word (an action) or a being word (a state). Every sentence needs one. In Stage 1 you'll spot verbs, choose the right tense, make the verb agree with its subject, and recognise helper (auxiliary) and modal verbs. Learn each below.
1 Action verbs & being verbs
An action verb is something you do (run, jump, write). A being verb shows a state, not an action (is, am, are, was, were, seem, become).
The dog barked (action) and then was quiet (being). ✓
Test: "Yesterday I ___ " — if a word fits, it's a verb.
2 The three main tenses
Tense tells us when the action happens — past, present or future.
Pastalready happened — walked, ran, was
Presenthappening now — walk/walks, run/runs, is
Futurewill happen — will walk, is going to run
past: played · present: plays · future: will play ✓
3 Keep the tense consistent
Don't switch tense in the middle of a sentence without a reason.
✗ She ran to the shop and buys milk. → ✓ She ran to the shop and bought milk.
Test: if one verb is in the past, the others usually should be too.
4 Subject–verb agreement
The verb must match its subject. One thing (singular) usually takes an -s; more than one (plural) usually does not.
The dog runs (one) · The dogs run (more than one). ✓
I am, you are, he is, they are — match the verb 'to be' to the subject.
5 Progressive & perfect forms (helpers)
A helper (auxiliary) verb works with a main verb. am/is/are/was/were + -ing shows an action in progress; has/have/had + past form shows a completed action.
progressive: She is running. · perfect: She has finished. ✓
6 Modal verbs
Modal verbs change how likely or possible something is, or give permission/obligation: can, could, will, would, shall, should, may, might, must.
You must wear a coat. · It might rain. · I can swim. ✓
Clue: a modal is always followed by another verb in its plain form (might rain, can swim).
The 30-second method
How to handle any verb question fast
- Spotting a verb? Try "Yesterday I ___ " or "I can ___ ". If it fits, it's a verb.
- Tense? Decide when it happens: did (past), does (present), will (future).
- Agreement? One subject → add -s (the cat sits); many → no -s (the cats sit).
- Consistency? Match the other verbs in the sentence to the same time.
- Modal? can/could/will/would/should/may/might/must + a plain verb.
10 worked examples
Read the question, then the answer with the rule that solves it.
1. Which is the verb? — The horse galloped away.
galloped — it's the action (Rule 1).
2. Is 'is' a verb? — The sky is blue.
Yes — a being verb (Rule 1).
3. Past tense of 'run'?
ran — an irregular past form (Rule 2).
4. Future of 'play'?
will play — 'will' + the verb (Rule 2).
5. Fix: She ate lunch and goes out.
She ate lunch and went out. — keep both in the past (Rule 3).
6. The cat ___ on the mat. (one cat)
sits — one subject takes the -s (Rule 4).
7. They ___ happy. (to be)
are — 'they' takes 'are' (Rule 4).
8. What kind of verb is 'is running'?
Progressive — 'is' (helper) + running shows an action in progress (Rule 5).
9. Which is a modal verb? — You should rest.
should — a modal showing advice (Rule 6).
10. Has the action finished? — She has eaten.
Yes — 'has eaten' is the perfect form, a completed action (Rule 5).