A verb is a doing word or a being word. Run, eat and sing are doing words. Am, is and are are being words. Every sentence needs a verb — it is the engine that makes the sentence go!
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A doing word (verb) tells us what someone or something is doing.
run
eat
sleep
write
sing
read
swim
dance
Quick check: ask "What is happening in this sentence?" The word that answers is the verb — "Riya sings a song" → the verb is sings.
Am, is and are are being words. They do not show an action — they show what someone or something is.
| Who | Being word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| I | am | I am happy. |
| he / she / it / Riya | is | She is happy. |
| we / you / they | are | They are happy. |
When one person or thing does the action (he, she, it, or a name), the verb often gets an extra s. When there is more than one doer (or the doer is I / you), the verb stays plain.
One doer → add "s"
Riya runs. · He eats. · The dog barks.
Many doers / I / you → no "s"
Riya and Aman run. · I eat. · The dogs bark.
Trap! "I" is only one person, but it never takes an "s" verb — we say "I run", never "I runs".
10 IEO-style questions on verbs. 🍀
