Grammar
Verbs: actions, states, and sentence patterns
Sign in to saveWhen two verbs work together, which one carries the main meaning?
Start with the words that work together. Then check the ending on the main verb.
Try what you have learned
Listen to a recording, type what you hear, and check your answer.
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verbs VURBZ
Keep the final z sound voiced: verbs. Your throat vibrates at the end.
The short answer
A verb can name an action or event. It can also describe a state, while a helper builds the main verb form.
Maria cleans the kitchen every morning.
Why it works: Cleans is the main verb and matches Maria in the present simple.
4 more examples
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Talking about a daily habit
He drives his car to work.
Drives names a repeated action and takes -s with he.
Not this:He
drivehis car to work. What changes: The present simple form does not match he. -
Giving directions to a friend
She knows the right street.
Know describes a state here, so the simple form fits.
Not this:She
is knowingthe right street. What changes: The continuous form does not fit the state meaning of know here. -
Looking for a former neighbour
They don't live here anymore.
After don't, use the base form: live.
Not this:They
not livehere anymore. What changes: The negative sentence needs the helper do. -
Talking about food in the kitchen
The soup smells wonderful.
Smells links the soup to a description, so wonderful fits.
Not this:The soup
smells wonderfully. What changes: Wonderfully tells you how an action happens. It does not describe the soup here.
Quick check
Which word is the main verb?
She has cleaned the kitchen.
Answer: cleaned
Show the answer
Answer: cleaned
Has is the helper. Cleaned carries the main action meaning.
Read the full guide
Try the listening exerciseStart with the whole verb group. Decide which word carries the main meaning and which words help its form.
Find the main verb
The problem: I see two verbs together and do not know which one carries the main meaning.
Sometimes two words work together. A verb group can contain a helper and a main verb. You can find the main verb by asking which word carries the central meaning.
| Verb job | What it tells you | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Action | What someone or something does | Nina opened the window. |
| Event | What happens | It rained all night. |
| State | A fact, feeling, or condition | I know the answer. |
| Helper and main verb | The helper builds the form | Lia has arrived. |
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Sam has finished his lunch.
Why it works: Has is the helper. Finished is the main verb. Together, they make one verb group.
Your turn
Which word is the main verb?
The lights have gone out.
Answer: gone
Show the answer
Answer: gone
Have is the helper. Gone carries the main event meaning.
Choose the form after a helper
The problem: I add an ending to the main verb even when a helper already carries it.
Start with the dictionary version, such as work. This is the base form. Use it after do or does. It also follows did and modal helpers.
| Form | Example | A common use |
|---|---|---|
| Base | work | After do or a modal helper |
| Present -s | works | With he, she, or it |
| Past | worked | For a finished past action |
| -ing | working | After be for an action in progress |
| -ed form | worked | After have; also used when the subject receives an action |
-
Not this:
He doesn't works on Sundays.Say: He doesn't work on Sundays.
Does already carries the present -s. Work stays in its base form.
Your turn
Choose the base form after can.
Maya can ___ now.
Answer: leave
Show the answer
Answer: leave
A modal helper such as can takes the base form leave.
Check the meaning before -ing
The problem: I learned that a state verb never uses -ing, so I miss meanings that describe an action.
State verbs often describe what you know or feel. They can also show possession and appearance. They usually use a simple form. The meaning may change this pattern.
-
I think the plan is good.
Why it works: Think gives an opinion, so the simple form fits.
-
I'm thinking about a new plan.
Why it works: Thinking describes the process of considering something now.
-
We have a small garden.
Why it works: Have describes possession here.
-
We're having lunch outside.
Why it works: Having describes an activity here.
Your turn
Choose the form for a general feeling.
I ___ this song.
Answer: like
Show the answer
Answer: like
Like describes a general state here, so the simple form fits with I.
Use the words that follow
The problem: I assume every verb needs an object. I may also choose a word such as wonderfully after a linking verb.
After the verb, you may find an object: a noun or pronoun (a word such as him). Objects complete some action and state verbs. A linking verb describes the subject.
-
Nora knows him.
Why it works: Him is a pronoun (a word used in place of a noun) and the object of knows. Knows describes a state.
-
The room became quiet.
Why it works: Quiet describes the room after the linking verb became.
-
The baby slept.
Why it works: Slept completes the sentence without an object.
The same verb can have more than one pattern. Meaning and sentence shape work together.
-
The soup smells wonderful.
Why it works: Smells links the soup to the description wonderful.
-
The cook smells the soup carefully.
Why it works: Smells names an action here, and the soup is its object.
Your turn
Choose the adjective that describes the milk.
The milk smells ___.
Answer: sour
Show the answer
Answer: sour
Smells links the milk to a quality, so the adjective sour fits.
Before you go
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses the correct form after can?
Answer: She can drive very well.
Show the answer
Answer: She can drive very well.
Can is a modal helper, so drive stays in its base form.
Remember this
Find the verb group. Mark the helper, then check the main verb form. Read what follows the verb to confirm the pattern.
Listen first
Listen and write
Listen, type what you hear, then choose Check my answer. Use a hint when you get stuck.
0 of 3 done
Listening 1 of 3
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0:00
Read the transcript
She doesn't work in our main office on Fridays.
Use doesn't with the base verb work for third person negatives.
Listening 2 of 3
Listen, then type what you hear. Replay as often as you need.
0:00
Read the transcript
They don't eat meat on weekdays.
Use don't before the base verb eat for plural subjects.
Try a longer clip. Listen once, then replay the part you missed.
Listening 3 of 3
Listen, then type what you hear. Replay as often as you need.
0:00
Read the transcript
We need more time because our designer hasn't sent the final files yet. She's finishing the pictures today, so we'll start our review tomorrow morning.
Need and sent are main verbs. Finishing and start are main verbs too.
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Test yourself
Listen to a new clip and write what you hear. You can replay it, but hints stay off and the transcript opens after you check your answer.
0 of 4 done
Listening 1 of 4
Listen, then type what you hear. Replay as often as you need.
Checking train details on an app
0:00
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Our train doesn't leave from platform nine.
Leave stays in base form after the negative helper doesn't.
Listening 2 of 4
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Booking a quick meeting room
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He can't book the small room today.
Book stays in its base form after the modal helper can't.
Listening 3 of 4
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Ordering lunch at a busy cafe counter
0:00
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I'd like a warm sandwich today, but my sister doesn't want heavy food. She's ordering a fresh green salad with a glass of cold water.
Like and want are main verbs. Ordering is a main verb too.
Listening 4 of 4
Listen, then type the missing words. The rest of the text is already there.
Showing a new colleague around the office workspace
0:00
Read the transcript
You can sit at this desk near the bright garden window. It's very quiet here when other teams are talking loudly downstairs. I've worked in this sunny corner all week, and the chair feels comfortable. The manager hasn't assigned these places yet, so anyone can use them freely. We'll grab some hot tea together after you unpack your heavy laptop bag.
Feels connects the chair to the word comfortable.
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Save my progressQuestions about "Verbs: actions, states, and sentence patterns"
What is the difference between a main verb and a helping verb?
A main verb carries the central action, event, or state. A helping verb comes before it to build a question, negative, or verb form. Be, do, and have can be helpers. They can also be main verbs in other sentences.
Lena has finished her report.
The children are playing outside.
Why is there no -s after does or can?
Does already carries the present -s. Can is a modal helper. After either one, the next verb uses its base form, which is the dictionary form. The main verbs are walk in doesn't walk and speak in can speak.
Omar doesn't walk to college.
My aunt can speak Italian.
Can a state verb ever use -ing?
Sometimes the same verb has a state meaning and an action meaning. The state meaning usually uses a simple form. The action meaning may use a continuous form. Check the meaning in the sentence instead of using a rule with no exceptions.
Ava thinks the room is too cold.
Ava is thinking about a warmer office.
What can come after a verb?
An object can be a noun or pronoun (a word such as him). It completes the meaning of many action verbs and some state verbs. A linking verb may instead point to a description of the subject. Some verbs can complete a sentence without an object.
Leo carried the boxes.
Mila knows him.
Does every question or negative sentence use a helper?
Many questions and negatives use a helper, but not all do. If there is a helper, mark it first and find the word that carries the main meaning. A form of be can be the main verb. A subject question beginning with who can use a main verb without another helper.
Is Ravi ready?
Who called?