1,500+ Verb Examples (With Sentences)

Verbs keep our sentences moving, our thoughts clear, and our grammar teachers from screaming into the void.

Whether you’re trying to impress your English professor or just avoid sounding like a caveman, knowing your verbs is crucial. Below, we’ve compiled an exhaustive list of verbs organized into categories—each with example sentences to show them in action.

Common Verbs

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Table of Contents

Common verbs are the everyday workhorses of the English language. They pop up in casual chats, formal essays, and probably even your dreams.

Here are some of the best common verb examples:

Run – She runs every morning to stay fit.
Eat – They ate lunch quickly before the meeting.
Drink – I drank too much coffee today.
Talk – We talked about our plans for the weekend.
Sleep – He slept through his alarm again.
Walk – They walked along the beach at sunset.
Think – I think this is the best idea yet.
Read – She reads a new book every week.
Write – He wrote a heartfelt letter to his parents.
Sing – They sang beautifully at the concert.
Dance – She dances whenever she hears her favorite song.
Laugh – We laughed so hard our sides hurt.
Cry – He cried tears of joy at the wedding.
Jump – The cat jumped onto the counter.
Throw – She threw the ball to her dog.
Catch – He caught the train just in time.
Build – They built a treehouse in their backyard.
Drive – She drove to the airport early in the morning.
Buy – They bought groceries for the entire week.
Sell – He sold his car to buy a new one.
Give – She gave him a gift for his birthday.
Take – He took the dog for a walk.
Find – She found her keys under the couch.
Lose – He lost his wallet at the park.
Open – She opened the door for the delivery driver.
Close – He closed the window because it was raining.
Listen – They listened carefully to the instructions.
Speak – She spoke at the conference last week.
Begin – The meeting began at noon.
End – The movie ended with a surprising twist.
Feel – She felt a sudden chill in the air.
Show – He showed them how to fix the computer.
Learn – They learned a lot in class today.
Teach – She teaches math at the local school.
Work – He works late almost every night.
Play – They played soccer in the park.
Watch – She watched a documentary about nature.
Wait – They waited patiently for the bus.
Sit – He sat down to rest for a moment.
Stand – She stood up to address the crowd.
Fall – He fell off his bike but wasn’t hurt.
Raise – She raised her hand to ask a question.
Meet – They met for coffee after work.
Help – He helped his neighbor with the groceries.
Ask – She asked a question about the assignment.
Answer – He answered every question correctly.
Move – They moved to a new city last year.
Change – She changed her hairstyle over the weekend.
Fix – He fixed the broken chair.
Happen – The accident happened on the highway.

Active Verbs

Active verbs bring energy and focus to your sentences. They highlight who’s doing what without any unnecessary fluff.

Check out these active verb examples:

Create – She created a masterpiece in her art class.
Develop – They developed a new app for tracking habits.
Invent – He invented a gadget that simplifies cooking.
Design – She designed the cover for the book.
Discover – They discovered a hidden cave during their hike.
Build – He built a deck in his backyard.
Fix – She fixed the leaky faucet in the kitchen.
Grow – They grew vegetables in their garden.
Solve – He solved the math problem in seconds.
Break – She broke the vase accidentally.
Achieve – They achieved their fitness goals ahead of schedule.
Climb – He climbed the mountain without assistance.
Throw – She threw the ball with precision.
Cook – He cooked dinner for his family.
Paint – She painted a mural on the wall.
Catch – He caught the frisbee mid-air.
Organize – They organized the closet by color.
Write – She wrote a letter to her grandmother.
Type – He typed the report in record time.
Print – She printed the invitation cards for the wedding.
Draw – He drew a sketch of the landscape.
Direct – She directed the play at school.
Repair – He repaired the broken lamp.
Deliver – They delivered the package safely.
Wash – She washed the dishes after dinner.
Drive – He drove the truck across the state.
Perform – She performed a solo at the recital.
Carry – He carried the boxes to the attic.
Explain – She explained the project requirements.
Test – They tested the software before launching it.
Inspect – He inspected the equipment for damages.
Share – She shared her notes with the class.
Publish – They published the article online.
Print – He printed the flyer for distribution.
Announce – She announced the winner of the contest.
Sing – They sang a duet at the karaoke bar.
Study – He studied the material thoroughly before the exam.
Plan – She planned the event down to the smallest detail.
Measure – They measured the dimensions of the room.
Balance – He balanced the budget for the project.
Record – She recorded the lecture for later review.
Investigate – They investigated the cause of the incident.
Observe – He observed the wildlife at the reserve.
Operate – She operated the machinery with ease.
Maintain – They maintained the equipment regularly.
Protect – He protected the documents from damage.
Build – She built a model airplane.
Send – They sent the invitation by email.
Propose – He proposed a new idea at the meeting.
Refuse – She refused to accept defeat.

Passive Verbs

Passive verbs shift the focus away from the doer and onto the action or recipient.

They’re perfect for sounding mysterious—or avoiding blame. Read passive verb examples below.

Written – The letter was written by the author.
Called – She was called by the manager for a meeting.
Discovered – The treasure was discovered by archaeologists.
Delivered – The package was delivered late.
Invited – We were invited to the party.
Presented – The award was presented by the president.
Built – The bridge was built in record time.
Destroyed – The building was destroyed by fire.
Repaired – The car was repaired yesterday.
Designed – The dress was designed by a famous artist.
Elected – He was elected as class president.
Published – The book was published last year.
Known – She is known for her generosity.
Chosen – They were chosen for the team.
Decorated – The room was decorated beautifully.
Washed – The dishes were washed quickly.
Ignored – His advice was ignored by everyone.
Accepted – The proposal was accepted without question.
Criticized – The movie was criticized for its plot.
Praised – Her performance was praised by the judges.
Blamed – He was blamed for the mistake.
Captured – The criminal was captured by the police.
Arrested – They were arrested at the scene.
Followed – She was followed by a stranger.
Observed – The experiment was observed carefully.
Prepared – The meal was prepared in advance.
Served – The food was served hot.
Missed – The train was missed by only a minute.
Appointed – He was appointed as the new director.
Examined – The patient was examined thoroughly.
Explained – The rules were explained clearly.
Invoked – The law was invoked during the trial.
Referred – She was referred to a specialist.
Printed – The report was printed yesterday.
Sold – The house was sold last week.
Opened – The store was opened at noon.
Closed – The meeting was closed by the chairman.
Awarded – The scholarship was awarded to her.
Destroyed – The evidence was destroyed.
Signed – The contract was signed this morning.
Examined – The files were examined for errors.
Sealed – The envelope was sealed with wax.
Included – The instructions were included in the package.
Exhibited – The artwork was exhibited in a gallery.
Selected – The candidates were selected carefully.
Evaluated – The program was evaluated for quality.
Managed – The project was managed by experts.
Revised – The document was revised several times.
Arranged – The seating was arranged in rows.
Painted – The walls were painted blue.

Transitive Verbs

Transitive verbs need an object to complete their meaning. Without one, they’re like a joke without a punchline.

Enjoy these transitive verb examples.

Kick – She kicked the ball across the field.
Bring – He brought flowers to his date.
Offer – They offered assistance to the elderly woman.
Write – She wrote a thank-you note.
Carry – He carried the box upstairs.
Catch – She caught the frisbee mid-air.
Throw – He threw the keys on the table.
Hold – She held the baby gently.
Break – He broke the vase accidentally.
Lift – She lifted the suitcase into the trunk.
Give – He gave her a thoughtful gift.
Send – They sent invitations to all their friends.
Buy – She bought a new phone last week.
Sell – He sold his car to buy a new one.
Love – They loved the movie so much they watched it twice.
Hate – He hated the ending of the book.
Eat – She ate the sandwich quickly.
Drink – He drank the lemonade in one gulp.
Open – She opened the letter carefully.
Close – He closed the door quietly.
Find – They found the missing keys.
Lose – She lost her favorite bracelet.
Meet – He met his friends at the café.
Invite – They invited everyone to the wedding.
Answer – She answered the question confidently.
Explain – He explained the process step-by-step.
Fix – She fixed the broken chair.
Build – They built a new fence around the yard.
Wash – He washed the dishes after dinner.
Clean – She cleaned the windows thoroughly.
Drive – He drove the car to the mechanic.
Paint – She painted the walls yellow.
Study – He studied the map carefully.
Break – She broke the glass while washing it.
Arrange – They arranged the chairs in a circle.
Repair – He repaired the watch in minutes.
Test – They tested the new software.
Order – She ordered pizza for dinner.
Offer – He offered his seat to the elderly woman.
Borrow – She borrowed a book from the library.
Lend – He lent her his jacket.
Teach – She taught math to high school students.
Tell – He told her a funny story.
Read – She read the letter aloud.
Draw – He drew a picture of the sunset.
Deliver – She delivered the package on time.
Send – He sent the email right away.
Move – They moved the furniture to the basement.
Plan – She planned the trip meticulously.
Check – He checked the schedule twice.

Helping Verbs

Helping verbs (also called auxiliary verbs) assist the main verb in forming tenses, voices, or moods. Think of them as the backup singers to the main performers.

These are helping verb examples:

Is – She is reading a book.
Are – They are playing outside.
Was – He was watching TV earlier.
Were – We were waiting for the bus.
Am – I am going to the store.
Be – She will be attending the event.
Being – The car is being washed.
Been – He has been working all day.
Have – They have finished their homework.
Has – She has called her friend already.
Had – He had eaten before the meeting.
Do – I do want to help you.
Does – She does know the answer.
Did – He did complete the project.
Can – They can solve the problem.
Could – She could swim as a child.
Shall – We shall meet at noon.
Should – He should apologize for his behavior.
Will – She will travel next week.
Would – He would go if he had time.
May – They may visit us later.
Might – She might join the party.
Must – You must complete the form.
Ought – He ought to study more.
Need – We need to leave soon.
Dare – He dare not say a word.
Used – She used to visit often.
Shall Have – They shall have arrived by now.
Will Have – She will have completed the task.
Could Have – He could have won the race.
Might Have – She might have forgotten her keys.
Must Have – They must have seen us.
Would Have – He would have called earlier.
Should Have – She should have tried harder.
May Have – They may have heard the news.
Had Been – He had been practicing all night.
Has Been – She has been feeling better.
Have Been – They have been traveling for weeks.
Will Be – I will be working late today.
Shall Be – She shall be joining us later.
Could Be – He could be lying about it.
Might Be – They might be coming soon.
Should Be – You should be careful.
Must Be – It must be a mistake.
Would Be – He would be happy to help.
Can Be – She can be very persuasive.
Is Being – The house is being painted.
Was Being – The car was being repaired.
Shall Have Been – They shall have been informed.
Will Have Been – She will have been working for five years.

Linking Verbs

Linking verbs connect the subject to information about the subject.

They’re less about action and more about identifying or describing. Below, I have collected some of the most common linking verb examples.

Be – She will be famous one day.
Am – I am happy to help.
Is – He is tall and strong.
Are – They are excited for the trip.
Was – She was nervous before the test.
Were – We were ready to leave.
Seem – He seems tired after the trip.
Become – She became a successful artist.
Feel – I feel great today.
Appear – He appears confused.
Look – She looks beautiful in that dress.
Sound – That sounds interesting.
Taste – The food tastes delicious.
Smell – The flowers smell wonderful.
Remain – He remained calm during the crisis.
Stay – She stayed positive despite the setback.
Grow – He grew suspicious over time.
Turn – The leaves turned yellow in autumn.
Seemed – She seemed unsure about the answer.
Feel – I felt nervous before the speech.
Appears – He appears content with the results.
Looks – She looks worried.
Sounds – That sounds like a good idea.
Tastes – The soup tastes salty.
Smells – The cake smells amazing.
Stays – He stays calm under pressure.
Grows – She grows impatient when waiting.
Turns – The weather turns cold in November.
Remains – He remains hopeful.
Becoming – She is becoming stronger every day.
Seeming – It is seeming less likely.
Feeling – She is feeling better today.
Appearing – He is appearing more confident.
Looking – They are looking cheerful.
Sounding – The music is sounding louder.
Tasting – He is tasting the soup.
Smelling – She is smelling the perfume.
Staying – They are staying late tonight.
Growing – The plant is growing quickly.
Turning – The tide is turning in our favor.
Remaining – The team is remaining focused.
Became – She became known for her artwork.
Feels – He feels nervous about the exam.
Appeared – They appeared suddenly.
Looked – She looked surprised.
Sounded – It sounded like thunder.
Tasted – The dessert tasted sweet.
Smelled – The air smelled fresh.
Stayed – They stayed at the hotel.
Turned – The sky turned dark.

Watch this short video with a list of 100 verb examples:

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Infinitive Verbs

Infinitive verbs are the raw, unaltered form of a verb, often preceded by “to.” They’re the Swiss Army knife of verbs—versatile and ready for action.

Explore these infinitive verb examples:

To Eat – She loves to eat sushi on weekends.
To Drink – He needs to drink more water.
To Run – They decided to run in the marathon.
To Walk – She wants to walk along the beach.
To Sleep – He tried to sleep early last night.
To Dance – She plans to dance at the wedding.
To Write – He hopes to write a novel someday.
To Read – They like to read historical fiction.
To Sing – She aims to sing at the talent show.
To Play – He loves to play the guitar.
To Work – They plan to work on the project together.
To Drive – She learned to drive when she turned 16.
To Study – He needs to study for the exam.
To Learn – They want to learn Spanish this year.
To Travel – She hopes to travel the world.
To Teach – He aspires to teach mathematics.
To Watch – They plan to watch a movie tonight.
To Listen – She wants to listen to classical music.
To Speak – He needs to speak with his manager.
To Think – She tries to think positively.
To Build – They decided to build a treehouse.
To Cook – She wants to cook Italian food.
To Bake – He plans to bake cookies for the party.
To Paint – She loves to paint landscapes.
To Draw – He likes to draw cartoons.
To Act – She wants to act in a play.
To Exercise – He needs to exercise more often.
To Swim – They decided to swim in the ocean.
To Relax – She hopes to relax this weekend.
To Explore – He plans to explore new hiking trails.
To Help – She offered to help with the cleanup.
To Fix – He tried to fix the broken chair.
To Create – She wants to create a new painting.
To Solve – They need to solve the puzzle.
To Organize – He plans to organize his desk.
To Clean – She agreed to clean the kitchen.
To Decorate – He offered to decorate the house.
To Repair – They tried to repair the old clock.
To Save – She wants to save more money this year.
To Spend – He decided to spend time with family.
To Improve – They need to improve their skills.
To Protect – She vowed to protect the environment.
To Design – He wants to design a new website.
To Complete – They aim to complete the project early.
To Attend – She hopes to attend the concert.
To Perform – He plans to perform a song.
To Invent – She dreams to invent something useful.
To Inspire – They strive to inspire others.
To Win – He wants to win the championship.
To Lose – She doesn’t want to lose the competition.

Compound Verbs

Compound verbs combine two or more words to create phrases that act as a single verb. They’re like linguistic tag teams.

Check out the following compound verb examples:

Take Over – She will take over the project.
Carry Out – They carried out the experiment successfully.
Break Down – The truck broke down on the road.
Bring Up – He brought up an interesting point.
Call Off – They called off the meeting.
Look After – She looks after her younger brother.
Check Out – He checked out a book from the library.
Drop Off – She dropped off the kids at school.
Give Up – He gave up smoking last year.
Hold On – She asked him to hold on for a moment.
Set Up – They set up the equipment in no time.
Pick Up – He picked up the package at the post office.
Turn Off – She turned off the lights before leaving.
Turn On – He turned on the TV.
Work Out – They worked out at the gym together.
Fill In – She filled in the application form.
Look Forward To – He looks forward to the holidays.
Go Over – They went over the report one last time.
Take Back – She took back her statement.
Find Out – He found out the truth.
Keep Up With – She keeps up with the latest news.
Look Up To – He looks up to his older brother.
Put Off – They put off the trip due to weather.
Call Back – She called him back immediately.
Run Into – She unexpectedly ran into her former teacher.
Check In – They checked in at the hotel.
Go Ahead – She decided to go ahead with the plan.
Hold Back – He held back his emotions.
Make Up – They made up after the argument.
Run Away – The dog ran away from home.
Step Up – He stepped up to lead the team.
Take Off – The plane took off on time.
Turn Down – She turned down the job offer.
Wake Up – He wakes up at sunrise.
Write Down – She wrote down the instructions.
Cut Off – The phone call was cut off suddenly.
Give In – They gave in to the demands.
Move On – She moved on after the breakup.
Let Down – He let down his team.
Pass Out – She passed out from exhaustion.
Break Up – They broke up last year.
Fall Apart – The plan fell apart quickly.
Show Up – He showed up late to the meeting.
Take In – She took in a stray cat.
Come Across – They came across an old letter.
Get Away – He got away from the trouble.
Get Back – She got back home safely.
Hold Up – The traffic held up the schedule.
Pass By – They passed by the monument.
Turn Around – She turned around to face him.

Reflexive Verbs

Reflexive verbs involve the subject acting upon itself. Think of them as verbs with a built-in mirror.

Blame – He blamed himself for the mistake.
Enjoy – She enjoyed herself at the party.
Introduce – He introduced himself to the group.
Prepare – They prepared themselves for the exam.
Defend – She defended herself against accusations.
Hurt – He hurt himself while lifting weights.
Dress – She dressed herself quickly.
Adapt – He adapted himself to the new environment.
Convince – She convinced herself it was the right choice.
Express – He expressed himself clearly.
Present – She presented herself as a confident speaker.
Wash – He washed himself before dinner.
Relax – She relaxed herself with a cup of tea.
Apply – He applied himself to the project.
Remind – She reminded herself of the deadline.
Commit – He committed himself to finishing the task.
Challenge – She challenged herself to run farther.
Focus – He focused himself on the task at hand.
Motivate – She motivated herself to keep studying.
Teach – He taught himself to play the guitar.
Explain – She explained herself thoroughly.
Treat – He treated himself to ice cream.
Occupy – She occupied herself with reading.
Punish – He punished himself for the mistake.
Entertain – She entertained herself by watching TV.
Support – He supported himself through college.
Devote – She devoted herself to her art.
Save – He saved himself from embarrassment.
Prepare – They prepared themselves for the hike.
Hide – She hid herself in the closet.
Inform – He informed himself about the topic.
Calm – She calmed herself after the argument.
Balance – He balanced himself on the beam.
Remind – She reminded herself to call her mom.
Imagine – He imagined himself in a new career.
Criticize – She criticized herself harshly.
Praise – He praised himself for a job well done.
Comfort – She comforted herself with chocolate.
Engage – He engaged himself in the conversation.
Guard – She guarded herself against criticism.
Reserve – He reserved himself a seat.
Persuade – She persuaded herself to keep going.
Challenge – He challenged himself to do better.
Trust – She trusted herself to make the right decision.
Prepare – He prepared himself mentally for the exam.
Stop – She stopped herself from laughing.
Stretch – He stretched himself before the run.
Introduce – She introduced herself to the new neighbors.
Admire – He admired himself in the mirror.
Calm – She calmed herself after the bad news.

Irregular Verbs

Irregular verbs are the rebels of the verb world. They break the rules and refuse to follow standard conjugation patterns.

Arise – She arose early to watch the sunrise.
Be – They were happy to help.
Beat – He beat the drum with enthusiasm.
Become – She became an expert in her field.
Begin – They began the project last week.
Bend – He bent the metal rod carefully.
Bet – She bet on the winning horse.
Bind – He bound the papers together.
Bite – The dog bit the intruder.
Blow – She blew out the candles.
Break – He broke the vase accidentally.
Bring – She brought snacks for the group.
Build – They built a fort in the living room.
Burn – He burnt his toast this morning.
Burst – The balloon burst unexpectedly.
Buy – She bought a new dress.
Catch – He caught the ball easily.
Choose – They chose the red car.
Come – She came to the party late.
Cost – It cost more than expected.
Cut – He cut the paper into small pieces.
Dig – She dug a hole in the garden.
Do – They did their best on the test.
Draw – He drew a beautiful landscape.
Dream – She dreamt about her vacation.
Drink – He drank the entire bottle of water.
Drive – They drove through the mountains.
Eat – She ate the entire pizza.
Fall – He fell off his bike.
Feed – They fed the stray dog.
Feel – She felt a chill in the air.
Fight – He fought bravely in the competition.
Find – She found her keys under the couch.
Fly – They flew to Paris last summer.
Forget – He forgot his password again.
Forgive – She forgave him for being late.
Freeze – The lake froze overnight.
Get – They got a new car.
Give – She gave him a hug.
Go – He went to the store.
Grow – They grew tomatoes in the garden.
Hang – She hung the picture on the wall.
Have – He had breakfast early.
Hear – She heard a strange noise.
Hide – He hid behind the door.
Hit – She hit the ball out of the park.
Hold – He held the baby carefully.
Keep – They kept their promise.
Know – She knew the answer instantly.
Lay – He laid the book on the table.

Auxiliary Verbs Ending in -ing

These verbs team up with main verbs to form continuous tenses and emphasize ongoing actions. They’re always “in progress” and make sentences feel alive.

Being – The house is being cleaned right now.
Having – She is having a great time at the party.
Doing – They are doing their homework diligently.
Going – He is going to the market later.
Coming – She is coming to the meeting tomorrow.
Running – They are running in the park every morning.
Walking – He is walking to work to save money.
Talking – She is talking on the phone with her mom.
Listening – They are listening to their favorite podcast.
Working – He is working overtime this week.
Studying – She is studying for her final exams.
Writing – He is writing a novel in his free time.
Reading – They are reading a thrilling mystery book.
Driving – She is driving to her hometown for the holidays.
Cooking – He is cooking dinner for his family.
Eating – They are eating at their favorite restaurant.
Drinking – She is drinking her morning coffee.
Sleeping – He is sleeping soundly after a long day.
Drawing – She is drawing a beautiful portrait.
Painting – He is painting the living room walls.
Cleaning – They are cleaning the house before guests arrive.
Washing – She is washing her car this afternoon.
Running – He is running a marathon next weekend.
Fixing – They are fixing the broken table.
Changing – She is changing her outfit for the party.
Opening – He is opening the door for his guests.
Closing – They are closing the store early today.
Taking – She is taking notes during the lecture.
Giving – He is giving a presentation at the conference.
Calling – They are calling their parents later tonight.
Laughing – She is laughing at the comedian’s jokes.
Crying – He is crying during the emotional scene.
Thinking – She is thinking about her future plans.
Planning – They are planning a big trip for next year.
Preparing – She is preparing dinner for her family.
Trying – He is trying to finish the project early.
Showing – They are showing their new designs.
Building – He is building a doghouse in the backyard.
Teaching – She is teaching math to the class.
Learning – They are learning a new language.
Practicing – He is practicing the piano every day.
Searching – She is searching for a new apartment.
Watching – They are watching a documentary tonight.
Waiting – He is waiting for the bus at the stop.
Standing – She is standing near the entrance.
Sitting – They are sitting at the dinner table.
Falling – He is falling asleep during the lecture.
Climbing – She is climbing the stairs to the rooftop.
Traveling – They are traveling across Europe this summer.
Exploring – He is exploring new hiking trails this weekend.

Indicative Verbs

Indicative verbs state facts, provide details, or describe actions—no fluff, just straight talk.

Here is a list of indicative verb examples:

Arrives – She arrives at work by 9 AM.
Calls – He calls his mom every Sunday.
Buys – She buys groceries every weekend.
Drives – He drives to work every day.
Eats – They eat breakfast together every morning.
Sleeps – She sleeps early to wake up refreshed.
Runs – He runs five miles every morning.
Walks – They walk their dog in the park.
Reads – She reads the newspaper daily.
Writes – He writes in his journal every night.
Speaks – She speaks three languages fluently.
Studies – He studies late into the night.
Teaches – She teaches math at the local school.
Drinks – He drinks coffee every morning.
Laughs – They laugh at funny videos.
Cries – She cries during sad movies.
Jumps – He jumps over the fence easily.
Swims – They swim in the pool on weekends.
Builds – He builds furniture as a hobby.
Fixes – She fixes broken appliances quickly.
Sings – He sings in the church choir.
Dances – She dances at every party.
Plays – They play board games on Fridays.
Paints – He paints landscapes as a side job.
Shows – She shows her artwork at galleries.
Visits – He visits his grandparents often.
Calls – She calls her friend for advice.
Helps – He helps neighbors with yard work.
Learns – She learns new skills online.
Bakes – He bakes cakes for birthdays.
Plans – They plan their vacations months ahead.
Arranges – She arranges flowers in vases.
Decorates – He decorates the house for holidays.
Follows – She follows instructions carefully.
Supports – He supports his team during games.
Lends – She lends books to her friends.
Borrows – He borrows tools from the neighbors.
Watches – She watches sunsets from her porch.
Travels – They travel to exotic places.
Cooks – He cooks dinner for the family.
Finds – She finds lost items easily.
Searches – He searches for answers online.
Observes – She observes the stars at night.
Listens – He listens to music while working.
Goes – She goes to the market on Sundays.
Saves – He saves money for vacations.
Spends – She spends her weekends outdoors.
Thinks – He thinks about the future a lot.
Feels – She feels happy around her friends.
Knows – He knows how to fix computers.

Modal Verbs

Modal verbs are the kings and queens of possibility, necessity, and permission. They modify main verbs to indicate likelihood, ability, or obligation.

Can – She can swim faster than anyone.
Could – He could finish the task if given more time.
May – They may arrive earlier than expected.
Might – She might join us for dinner.
Must – He must complete the assignment today.
Shall – We shall see you at the event.
Should – You should apologize for your behavior.
Will – They will visit next month.
Would – She would travel more if she had time.
Ought – He ought to respect his elders.
Can’t – She can’t make it to the party.
Couldn’t – He couldn’t believe the news.
Mightn’t – They mightn’t have enough money for the trip.
Shouldn’t – You shouldn’t skip breakfast.
Wouldn’t – He wouldn’t agree to those terms.
Mustn’t – They mustn’t tell anyone the secret.
Shan’t – We shan’t be attending the event.
May Not – She may not approve of the idea.
Might As Well – We might as well leave now.
Can’t Help – He can’t help but laugh.
Need To – She needs to study harder.
Have To – They have to finish by noon.
Be Able To – He will be able to complete the task.
Be Supposed To – She is supposed to call later.
Ought Not To – They ought not to waste time.
Used To – He used to play soccer in high school.
Dare To – She dared to speak her mind.
Had Better – You had better leave before it gets dark.
Shall Have To – We shall have to wait for the results.
Will Have To – They will have to explain their actions.
Might Have To – She might have to reschedule.
Could Have Been – It could have been worse.
Should Have Been – He should have been more careful.
Would Have Been – They would have been happier elsewhere.
Must Have Been – She must have been exhausted.
May Have Been – He may have been late.
Might Have Been – They might have been wrong.
Can Have Been – She can have been mistaken.
Could Be – He could be the next president.
Should Be – She should be studying right now.
Would Be – It would be easier with help.
Must Be – They must be tired after the trip.
Might Be – He might be busy this weekend.
Ought To Be – She ought to be more careful.
Shall Be – We shall be ready soon.
Will Be – They will be here shortly.
Could Have Been – She could have been earlier.
Might Have Been – They might have been late.
Mustn’t Be – He mustn’t be left alone.
Should Have To – You should have to explain yourself.

Conditional Verbs

Conditional verbs express hypothetical actions or events that depend on specific conditions.

These verb examples love the word “if.”

Would go – I would go if I had time.
Could help – She could help if asked.
Might call – He might call if he needs advice.
Should try – They should try harder next time.
Would have gone – She would have gone if she had known.
Could have called – He could have called to let us know.
Might have helped – They might have helped if they were available.
Should have known – She should have known better.
Would be happy – He would be happy to assist.
Could stay – They could stay longer if needed.
Might ask – She might ask for help later.
Should study – He should study more to pass.
Would try – They would try harder next time.
Could run – She could run faster with practice.
Might join – He might join the group tomorrow.
Should leave – They should leave before it gets dark.
Would write – She would write more if she had time.
Could fix – He could fix it if he had the tools.
Might learn – They might learn faster with a tutor.
Should practice – She should practice more often.
Would see – He would see better with glasses.
Could teach – They could teach if certified.
Might visit – She might visit her parents next week.
Should finish – He should finish his work early.
Would try – They would try again if given another chance.
Could improve – She could improve with more effort.
Might travel – He might travel if he gets time off.
Should listen – They should listen more carefully.
Would stop – She would stop if asked politely.
Could talk – He could talk to her about the issue.
Might stay – They might stay if invited.
Should speak – She should speak more confidently.
Would drive – He would drive if his car worked.
Could bake – She could bake a cake for the party.
Might lend – They might lend a hand.
Should ask – He should ask for clarification.
Would meet – She would meet him halfway.
Could finish – He could finish faster with help.
Might believe – They might believe it if they saw proof.
Should check – She should check her email.
Would build – He would build it if given materials.
Could design – She could design the layout.
Might explain – He might explain later.
Should review – They should review the notes.
Would have waited – She would have waited longer.
Could take – He could take the offer.
Might know – They might know the answer.
Should explore – She should explore her options.
Would consider – He would consider their request.
Could have worked – They could have worked harder.

Verb Agreement Examples

Verb agreement ensures subjects and verbs match in number and tense—because grammar disagreements are never fun.

She walks – She walks to school every day.
They walk – They walk together after dinner.
He runs – He runs faster than anyone else.
We run – We run every morning.
It jumps – It jumps over obstacles easily.
Dogs bark – Dogs bark when they’re excited.
A dog barks – A dog barks at strangers.
She studies – She studies hard for her exams.
They study – They study in groups.
He writes – He writes letters to his pen pal.
We write – We write essays in class.
The boy sings – The boy sings beautifully.
The girls sing – The girls sing in harmony.
He dances – He dances like a pro.
They dance – They dance at parties.
She watches – She watches documentaries.
They watch – They watch TV together.
The bird flies – The bird flies south in winter.
Birds fly – Birds fly in flocks.
The child cries – The child cries for attention.
Children cry – Children cry when they are upset.
He teaches – He teaches math at school.
They teach – They teach languages at the academy.
She helps – She helps the elderly.
They help – They help their classmates.
He fixes – He fixes broken electronics.
They fix – They fix the plumbing.
She reads – She reads novels before bed.
They read – They read together at night.
He works – He works in the city.
We work – We work from home.
It grows – It grows rapidly in spring.
Plants grow – Plants grow in sunlight.
She speaks – She speaks Spanish fluently.
They speak – They speak different languages.
He opens – He opens the door politely.
We open – We open presents on birthdays.
The baby sleeps – The baby sleeps soundly.
Babies sleep – Babies sleep a lot.
He runs – He runs marathons.
They run – They run every weekend.
She listens – She listens carefully.
They listen – They listen to instructions.
The bird sings – The bird sings sweetly.
Birds sing – Birds sing at dawn.
She waits – She waits for the bus.
They wait – They wait patiently.
He eats – He eats vegetables.
They eat – They eat together every night.
It works – It works perfectly.

Verb Phrases

Verb phrases are combinations of main verbs and auxiliary verbs that create more complex meanings.

They’re the multitaskers of the grammar world. Here are some verb phrase examples.

Is running – She is running late for the meeting.
Has been waiting – He has been waiting for hours.
Was watching – She was watching TV when the call came.
Will be leaving – They will be leaving soon.
Should have gone – He should have gone to the doctor earlier.
Might be coming – She might be coming to the party later.
Could have helped – They could have helped if they knew about it.
Has finished – She has finished her work already.
Is reading – He is reading a mystery novel.
Will have finished – They will have finished the project by tomorrow.
Had been studying – She had been studying all night.
Might have seen – He might have seen the announcement.
Could be waiting – They could be waiting for the bus.
Is talking – She is talking to her boss right now.
Had left – He had left before the meeting started.
Will have been working – They will have been working here for 10 years next month.
Should be studying – She should be studying for her exams.
Must have known – He must have known about the decision.
Can be frustrating – Learning a new language can be frustrating.
Would have traveled – She would have traveled more if she had more time.
May have forgotten – They may have forgotten the appointment.
Has been trying – He has been trying to learn French.
Is going to leave – She is going to leave for vacation soon.
Might have been sleeping – He might have been sleeping when you called.
Had been working – They had been working on the project for months.
Could be leaving – She could be leaving early today.
Will be studying – He will be studying all weekend.
Was being repaired – The car was being repaired yesterday.
Has been cooking – She has been cooking since morning.
Might have forgotten – He might have forgotten his wallet.
Should have been resting – They should have been resting instead of working.
Is starting to improve – Her performance is starting to improve.
Must be wondering – He must be wondering what happened.
Has already left – She has already left the building.
Will have arrived – They will have arrived by noon.
Had been eating – He had been eating when they arrived.
Could have been wrong – She could have been wrong about the time.
Might have been lying – They might have been lying about the deadline.
Was being watched – She was being watched by security cameras.
Will have been playing – He will have been playing for hours by then.
Should be arriving – They should be arriving shortly.
Is about to leave – She is about to leave the room.
Has just finished – He has just finished the report.
Had already started – They had already started before we arrived.
Might have left – She might have left the building.
Will need to finish – He will need to finish by Monday.
Has been feeling – She has been feeling unwell lately.
Could have been helping – They could have been helping instead of arguing.
Should have waited – He should have waited for instructions.
Will be needing – They will be needing more supplies soon.

Idiomatic Verbs

Idiomatic verbs spice up conversations and add flair to writing. They often pack hidden meanings, so let’s break them down with examples!

Break up – They decided to break up after five years.
Bring about – The new law will bring about significant changes.
Carry on – Despite the setback, she decided to carry on with the project.
Come across – I came across an old diary in the attic.
Cut off – The storm cut off power to the entire neighborhood.
Drop by – She dropped by my office for a quick chat.
Fall apart – Their plan fell apart at the last minute.
Give in – He gave in to the pressure and quit.
Go along with – She decided to go along with the idea.
Hang out – We often hang out at the local café.
Hold on – Hold on a second; I need to grab my keys.
Look after – She looks after her younger siblings while her parents work.
Look forward to – I’m looking forward to the weekend.
Make up – They made up after their argument.
Pay off – His hard work finally paid off when he got promoted.
Pull through – She pulled through after a long illness.
Run into – I ran into an old friend at the mall.
Set up – They set up a meeting to discuss the merger.
Take over – The new manager will take over next week.
Turn out – The event turned out better than expected.
Work out – They worked out their differences peacefully.
Back up – She backed up her files before updating the system.
Blow up – The argument blew up into a full-blown fight.
Break down – The car broke down in the middle of the highway.
Bring up – She brought up an interesting point during the meeting.
Call back – I’ll call you back in five minutes.
Catch up – Let’s catch up over coffee soon.
Check out – We checked out the new restaurant last night.
Clean up – They cleaned up after the party.
Come down with – She came down with a cold after the trip.
Do without – I can’t do without my morning coffee.
Drop out – He dropped out of college to start his business.
Figure out – I need to figure out how to fix this issue.
Find out – He found out the truth after reading the report.
Get along – They get along well despite their differences.
Give up – He gave up smoking last year.
Go over – Let’s go over the report one more time.
Hold back – Don’t hold back your ideas during the meeting.
Keep up – She struggles to keep up with her coworkers.
Lay off – The company had to lay off several employees.
Look into – They are looking into the complaints.
Make out – I couldn’t make out what he was saying.
Pass out – She passed out from the heat.
Pick up – He picked up a new hobby during the summer.
Put off – They put off the trip due to bad weather.
Settle down – They settled down after years of traveling.
Show off – He loves to show off his expensive car.
Stick to – She sticks to her principles no matter what.
Think over – I’ll think over your proposal and get back to you.

Final Thoughts: Verb Examples

We’ve covered more than 1,500 verbs across a whopping range of categories.

Now it’s time to release them into your writing so they charge your story forward with oomph. Verbs (and verb examples) are the juggernauts of language — use them wisely.

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