What is a verb in a sentence

What is a Verb?

A verb is a word that shows an action (‘I will jog to the store’), occurrence (‘The bananas ripened overnight’), or state of being (‘I have the same right to exist as you’).

Almost every sentence requires a verb, or else nothing happens!

Transitive Verbs

There are two main kinds of verb: transitive verbs and intransitive verbs. Transitive verbs require a direct object, meaning a noun, pronoun, or noun phrase that receives the action of the verb and so completes the sentence’s meaning.

The direct object typically answers the question what? or who? Here are some examples:

“The kids like pickles.” (Like is the verb and pickles are the direct object.)

“Can you ask the neighbor when the yard sale will be?” (Ask is the verb and the noun phrase the neighbor is the direct object.)

"We ate cake for breakfast." (Ate is the verb and cake is the direct object.)

Intransitive Verbs

Intransitive verbs do not take direct objects.

They are often followed by words that answer questions such as where?, when?, how?, or how long?

is on a verb or preposition

is on a verb or adverb