Verb

The verb is the word that describes the main action in the sentence.

If a sentence were a car engine, the verb would be roughly equivalent to the spark that the engine needs to turn over. It is what fires the engine. If a sentence is broken, just like a car engine, the first thing you want to check is the gas [the subject]. The second thing you check is the spark [the verb].

There are many different kinds of verbs that each mark the action with respect to time a little differently. These are called verb tenses.

Present tense:

I go to Rio when I get an itch for samba.

Present continuous:

I am going to the fair with grandma to see the three-headed monkey.

Past tense:

Josie went to the well once too often.

Past continuous:

Ralph was going to work in his 88 Ford Escort when he had another million-dollar idea.

Present perfect:

Since the 4th of July, Sadie has gone to a dozen watermelon-seed-spitting contests.

Past perfect:

Wilbur Milquetoast had gone to the market before Jim the Gentle-mannered Giant ate lunch.

Future tense:

Fran will go to the junkyard to look for love.

Future Perfect:

The theologians will have gone to heaven long before any of us.


Also there may be "flavoring" verbs that modify the main verb in the sentence. These are called modals.

Fritz could go to the moon as far as Hilda was concerned.(red=modal)

Jenny had to go to the bathroom, but selfishly, she wouldn't tell anybody.(red=modal)


Sometimes verbs can be combined with prepositions to form novel combinations which indicate very specific actions or may be part of jargon or colloquial usage. They are often idiomatic; that is, their meaning may be specific to the context where they are used. This idiomatic meaning may not reflect the literal meaning of either the verb or the preposition attached to it. These verbs are called phrasal verbs.

Ellen is going with Senator Evans, but the Senator is going with Nancy from Accounting.

Note: the term "going with" means to be romanitcally involved with someone not actually travelling with someone (although it could mean that too in a different context).

Although J.J. wasn't sure that climbing Tower Bridge while naked was a good idea, he went for it anyway.

Note: "going for" it means to strive for something.

The sauerkraut salad is going off.

Note: "going off" means "to spoil".

The plan to make mudpies for the fundraiser didn't go over very well.

Note: "going for" it means to strive for something.

Gabby was going about picking his teeth absolutely the wrong way.

Note: "going about" means "to attempt".

Bill went along with Laura's idea of how to cook a polecat.

Note: "going along with" means to "agree with" something.