what is the verb form of presentation

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Verbs: basic forms

Verbs: the three basic forms.

Main verbs have three basic forms: the base form, the past form and the -ed form (sometimes called the ‘ -ed participle’):

base form : used as the infinitive form, with to or without to ( Do you want to come with us? I can’t leave now .) and for the present simple ( I always read before I go to sleep every night .) except third person singular, which uses the - s form ( She works at the university .)

past form : used for the past simple ( He opened the door and went out .)

-ed form : used after auxiliary have and be ( I ’ve always wanted a piano and I was given one last week .).

How dictionaries show the forms

The base form is normally the form used as a heading in a dictionary. Here is a typical dictionary entry for a verb. The base form is sing , the past form is sang and the -ed form is sung :

Examples of the three basic forms

When you look up a verb in the dictionary, you will often find the three forms listed together, especially for irregular verbs. Here are some examples (regular verbs are printed in blue; irregular verbs are printed in black).

Pronunciation and meaning

Some verbs have a similar pronunciation but a different meaning:

We love to just lie on the beach.

Not: We love to just lay on the beach .

Lie/lay/lain is used without an object. Lay/laid/laid must have an object: e.g. I’ll lay the table then we can eat .

Other verbs like this are: affect/effect, bare/bear, fine/find, note/notice , raise/rise .

Sometimes a verb is confused with another word which sounds similar but is from a different word class:

I don’t want to lose contact with my school friends.

Not: I don’t want to loose contact with my school friends .

( Lose is a verb. Loose is an adjective, e.g. These shoes are too loose ; I need a smaller size .)

Other pairs like this are: advise (verb)/ advice (noun), practise (verb)/ practice (noun).

Regular verbs

Most verbs in English are regular. Regular verbs add -ing to the base form to make the - ing form, and -ed to the base form to make the past simple and the -ed form.

Base forms which end in - e

If the base form already ends in -e (e.g. move, face, like ), then -d is added to make the past form and the -ed form. The final - e is not used in the -ing form.

Base forms which end in a consonant plus -y

If the base form ends in a consonant plus -y (e.g. carry, hurry, study, try, worry ), then -y changes to -ied to make the past form and the -ed form. The - y ending does not change in the -ing form.

Base forms which end in vowel + single consonant

If the base form ends in a vowel followed by a single consonant and if the last syllable is stressed (e.g. begin , drop, occur, refer, run, shop, stop, transfer ), then the consonant is doubled. If the last syllable is not stressed (e.g. benefit, happen, open, order, profit ), then the consonant is not doubled. (Stressed syllables are underlined in the table.)

The consonant is doubled if the base form ends in a vowel + l , whether the last syllable is stressed or not.

Person, number and tense

Regular verbs all use the same endings to indicate person (first, second or third), number (singular or plural) and tense (present simple or past simple).

Person (first/second/third)

Person relates to the type of subject. I and we indicate the first person, you (singular and plural) indicates the second person and he, she, it, they and noun subjects indicate the third person. Regular verbs have the same form for all persons, but third person singular present simple ends in -s :

I love Japanese food.

My sister live s with two other students.

They worked for a French company based in London.

She arrived at the office around nine o’clock most days.

Number (singular/plural)

Number indicates whether the subject is singular or plural. Regular verbs have the same form for singular and plural, but third person singular present simple ends in -s :

We love historical dramas on TV.

They lived in a huge house in the country somewhere.

He work s terribly hard.

He always arrived late.

Tense (present/past)

Tense indicates whether the verb is present or past. The past simple of regular verbs ends in -ed for all persons and numbers:

They loved everything about Australia.

She lived in Spain for a couple of years.

I worked on Saturday so I stayed at home on Monday.

The police arrived within minutes.

We always need an e in the -ed form (past simple and -ed form) of regular verbs:

I don’t know what happened at the last meeting.

Not: I don’t know what happend at the last meeting .

Other verbs which are often misspelt in this way are: bother, complain, consider, join, recover, remain .

The - es ending

If the verb ends in -ch, -s, -ss , - sh, -x or -z , then -es is added to make the third person singular present simple.

Present simple ( I work )

Past simple ( I worked )

Subject–verb agreement

Irregular verbs

Irregular verbs follow the same rules as regular verbs for the present simple but have different forms for the past simple and the -ed form.

Some irregular verbs have the same form for the base, the past simple and the -ed form, e.g. hit, hit, hit; let, let, let; put, put, put .

Some irregular verbs share a form for the past simple and -ed form which is different from the base form, e.g. bring, brought, brought; feel, felt, felt; have, had, had .

Some irregular verbs have a base form which ends in -d and a past simple and -ed form which end in -t , e.g. bend, bent, bent; build, built, built; send, sent, sent; spend, spent, spent .

Some irregular verbs have a different form for the base form, the past simple and the -ed form, e.g. drink, drank, drunk; go, went, gone; take, took, taken .

The verb be has different forms for different persons in the present simple and past simple.

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presentation

Definition of presentation

• fairing [ British ]
• freebee
• largess

Examples of presentation in a Sentence

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'presentation.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing presentation

• breech presentation

Dictionary Entries Near presentation

present arms

presentation copy

Cite this Entry

“Presentation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/presentation. Accessed 16 May. 2024.

Kids Definition

Kids definition of presentation, medical definition, medical definition of presentation, more from merriam-webster on presentation.

Nglish: Translation of presentation for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of presentation for Arabic Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about presentation

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Home Blog Presentation Ideas Powerful Words to Use in Presentations: Ultra Long List 

Powerful Words to Use in Presentations: Ultra Long List 

The power of words is immense and palpable when it comes to sharing ideas with others. The way you frame your sentences and cherry-pick specific words will affect how the audience preserves you. Not just that. Well-selected power words can shape narratives around businesses, distort (positively and negatively) their perception, and impact the listener’s decision to purchase. That’s why top copywriters and public speakers alike spend a great deal of time brainstorming different word combos and obsessing over their selection of action verbs, adjectives, and linking phrases.

Granted, you no longer need to do that. Just grab a PowerPoint template of your choice and start populating it with our big list of power words! 

What are Power Words?

Power words are persuasive words and phrases that evoke a positive or negative emotional response. Our selection of verbs, adjectives, and adverbs can convey different emotions from slight excitement to rightful outrate. That’s why public speakers , authors, and copywriters always carefully choose their words to convey the right idea and sentiment. 

Power words and phrases can make the same idea sound very different. Let’s take Apple’s famous slogan as an example: Think different. 

You can also convey the same idea using other descriptive words: Don’t think like everybody else, think outside the box, be creative 

However, each variation has a somewhat different ring to it. Ultimately, your word choice also impacts how others perceive you based on your speech.

Researchers found that word selection can have a massive impact on people, businesses, and society as a whole. Individual word choices can indicate the speaker’s mental state and impact the outcomes of a negotiation. Business power words shape customer experience with the brand and affect conversions. Action words, chose by the media, influence public perception of a social issue. 

Interestingly a group of researchers from Wilfrid Laurier University in Canada and Wharton in the US also found that word choices impact the song’s popularity. By applying text mining analytics to Billboard charts, the group found that songs with somewhat more unique texts performed better than those with pretty standard lyrics. A 16% differentiation in lyrical topics within a song was enough to propel it higher than songs in similar genres. 

The takeaway:

Our word choices have a profound impact on how others perceive us, as well as the actions they take afterward. Thus, if you want to be a Rockstar presenter , you need to choose your words carefully and prioritize powerful words! 

List of Powerful Words to Use in Presentations 

The English language has about 170,000 words in use . But an average person has an active vocabulary of 20,000 – 30,000 words. Among them is a smaller range of powerful adjectives and action verbs to make your presentations and speeches more impactful. 

Action Verbs to Use in Your PowerPoint Presentation

As the name implies, action verbs denote some dynamics — state, movement, result, etc. We use action verbs in our everyday speech a lot to describe what and how we do things. As author Elwyn Brooks White suggests : 

“Write with nouns and verbs, not with adjectives and adverbs. The adjective hasn’t been built that can pull a weak or inaccurate noun out of a tight place.”

Strong verbs don’t need adverbs to reinforce them. Compare these two statements: 

• I walked quickly towards the door. 
• I rushed out of the door. 

The first sentence merely states the fact. But the second one better conveys the emotion, the urgency of getting out of the room. It adds color to the narrative and sets the right mood.

In business presentations, action verbs help imply action to the user. They are good to use for both throughout the copy and the closing slide when you describe: 

• Main action points 
• Accomplishments
• Next steps 
• Results 

As you proofread your slide deck, look for weaker verbs and then replace them with stronger synonyms. Some common offenders include: 

• State-of-being verbs such as am, does, do, could, might, etc. While they have their merit, oftentimes, you can find a more descriptive alternative, conveying an extra emotion. 
• Verbs ending in -ing : wishing, planning, forgetting. Be bolder. Use present or past tenses instead. 
• Verbs in conjunction with an adjective: walked quickly, talked loudly, etc. Again, these can be replaced with snappier one-word alternatives. 

List of powerful verbs to make your language more persuasive: 

• Accelerate 
• Alter 
• Maintain 
• Regard 
• Convince 
• Boost 
• Ignite 
• Surge 
• Disrupt 
• Rejuvenate 
• Smash 
• Supercharge 
• Report 
• Change 
• Explore 
• Re-define 
• Strategize 
• Maximize 
• Capture 
• Achieve 

Powerful Adjectives to Use In Your Presentation 

The goal of adjectives is to reinforce your nouns and verbs. Use them to convey specific emotions and set the scene for the audience. 

But be sparring. You are not writing a novel. Too many adjectives can make your slide deck look cluttered, as you’d have to skim on white space to fit longer sentences. Also, excessive use of adjectives can muddle the main idea behind your key statements.

Below is our quick collection of power adjectives you can use to punch up your presentation: 

Power Words for Motivation

• Awe-inspiring
• Exquisite 
• Blissful 
• Brilliant 
• Dynamic 
• Burgeoning 
• Breathtaking
• Accomplished
• Successful 
• Enterprising 
• Venturesome
• Life-changing
• Encouraging 
• Baffling 
• Sensational 
• Incredible 

Power Words for Sales (Adjectives) 

• Cost-effective 
• Exorbitant 
• Knock-out 
• Science-proofed 
• Limited-time 
• Fully-booked
• Refundable 
• Negotiable 
• Below market average 
• Too-good-to-miss
• Budget-friendly
• Optimal 
• Exclusive 
• Time-sensitive
• Efficacious
• Sensible 
• Stylish 
• Unique 
• Profitable 

Power Adjectives to Persuade

• Verified 
• Risk-free 
• Effective 
• Tested 
• Solution-oriented
• Vetted 
• Non-negotiable
• Quality-controlled 
• Reliable 
• Legitimate 
• Lifetime 
• Market-tested 
• Foolproof 
• Surefire 
• Ingenious 
• Innovative 
• Cutting-edge 
• Exceptional 
• Game-changing
• Ground-breaking
• Flagship 
• Assured 
• Collateralized 
• Painless 
• Diciest 
• Tamperproof
• Immutable 

Coherence Markers 

Coherence markers are conversational words and phrases we use to denote logical connections between different ideas. They are not meaningful standalone words. Yet, they play a huge role in making your presentation copy more compelling.

Take a look at these two versions of Dove ad copy:

• Your skin’s natural oils keep it silky and supple. As you age, it becomes less elastic, and the production of oil slows down. Aging can cause dull, dehydrated skin.
• Your skin’s natural oils keep it silky and supple. But as you age, your skin becomes less elastic, and the production of oil slows down. That is why aging can cause dull, dehydrated skin.

The bolded coherence markers help digest the claims by establishing logical connections between the ideas. Research shows that adding such links to any copy (or speech) improves clarity and boosts persuasion. Therefore, sprinkle some coherence markers in your presentation to help the reader or lister mentally justify what you are saying. 

Coherence Markers to Use in a Presentation 

• Now do it 
• So go ahead
• Due to 
• That’s why 
• Given that 
• Here’s the deal:
• That’s right 
• By contrast 
• Beyond that 
• For starters
• What’s the bottom line?
• You might be wondering
• By now you should 
• Better still…
• The general conclusion is that
• Compound this with 
• What does this mean for you?
• Inferring from above 
• Just imagine
• You’ve tried everything. But
• You start to worry that
• Let me guess 
• What’s the catch?
• I know that’s what you’re thinking, right?
• But one thing’s for sure
• Let me say this straight
• Now consider it this way 
• It gest better (or worse)
• But here’s the kicker
• As if that’s not enough
• Best of all

Metaphors 

A metaphor is a figure of speech used to represent or symbolize another object or concept. For example, time is the greatest gift given to you . 

Writers love using metaphors to act depth and eloquence to their narrative. At the same time, top presenters use these to help the reader picture an intangible concept. 

As research found, metaphors help with persuasion by helping the reader or listener form a concrete mental image of the discussed concept. For example, you can say that your printing equipment works fast. But how fast do you mean? A metaphor can help make it more clear, e.g., “Our printing machines an equivalent of Ferrari in terms of speed.”  

Check our complete guide to using metaphors in presentations for more insights. Or swipe of some of the examples from our list below: 

Metaphors for Professional Presentations 

• Zeus-like 
• Drag-and-drop interfaces 
• To be worth waiting for 
• Glue for the Internet 
• To stay afloat 
• Off the shelf 
• Custom-made 
• To get up to speed
• App-like functionality 
• blue ocean / red ocean 
• Bumps on the road 
• Jump on the bandwagon 
• Tossed its cap
• The veneer on the credenza.
• Moonshot project
• More complicated than one-color puzzles.
• Lion-tamer-sky-diver fun
• Pack a punch 
• At the foothold of new 
• Buckets of questions 
• Going against the grain
• The epitome of something else
• From full throttle to a halt

To Conclude

Positive power words speak straight to the hearts and minds of the audiences. They encourage, inspire, motivate, bring up, and help move on in the right direction. If your goal is to hammer in a clear idea and prompt subsequent desirable action, these words are your best buddies to use all through your presentation slides and during delivery! 

1. 12 Tips List PowerPoint Templates

If you´re searching for a PowerPoint Template that is very flexible and can be used to create lists, the 12 Tips List PowerPoint Template is a great choice. 

Use This Template

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One Response to “Powerful Words to Use in Presentations: Ultra Long List ”

Great article! it helped me ALOT. Thank you.

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What is a Verb? (Definition, Examples, Types)

What is a verb? What are the various types of verbs? A verb is one of the eight parts of speech in English that build the foundation of this language. Thus, when learning English, having a clear understanding of verbs is crucial for an individual.

This article will detail the basics of verbs, their importance, and their types.

What exactly is a verb?

The simplest definition of verbs is that “verbs are action words.”

This implies that any English word that represents an action or shows what the subject is doing is a verb. Along with describing actions, verbs also describe the subject’s “state of being.”

Why are verbs important?

Verbs are words that represent both internal actions and external actions. Examples of internal actions include words like think , love, worry, consider, etc. Similarly, examples of external actions include words like walk, jump, read , and more.

Verbs bring all the action into a sentence . It is practically impossible to do anything, to be anything, or to feel anything without a verb! Thus, verbs are considered to be one of the most important elements of the English language.

They are the only type of words that are absolutely necessary to form a logical sentence – not even nouns are that important in English. A person cannot form a complete sentence in English without a verb.

How to identify verbs in a sentence

1. One of the best ways to identify a verb in a sentence is by noticing its placement in relation to the subject. In most cases, verbs are always placed after a noun or a pronoun. These nouns and pronouns act as the subject of a sentence .

Consider the following examples:

• She went to the market.
• Robin walks quickly.

In both of these sentences, the subjects are “She” and “Robin” while the verbs (action words) are “went” and “walks.” Both of them come after the subject immediately.

2. Another excellent way to identify verbs in a sentence is by asking “Can I do it.” If the answer is yes, then that word is a verb. For example, the person can ask themselves,

• “Can I run ? “
• “Can I cook ?”
• “Can I speak ?”

The answer to the above questions is yes. So, all of them – run, cook, speak – are verbs.

3 . Another way in which the reader can locate a verb in a sentence is by asking themselves “what is happening in the sentence?”

So, let’s consider the above-mentioned example – “Robin walks quickly.” What is happening in the sentence? Walking – Robin walks quickly. Thus, “walks” is the verb.

What are some examples of verbs?

All of us are surrounded by verbs. Since action is the heart and soul of every sentence, examples of verbs can be found everywhere.

Here are some examples of verbs to help you get a better understanding of them:

• We are building a new shelf.
• Mark is eating breakfast
• I convinced my father for an international trip.
• She is learning French
• She held onto her backpack while waiting in the queue .
• The kids are jumping up and down on the ground.
• Cole lied to his mother and got caught .
• She is preparing a presentation for tomorrow.
• Let’s go out for lunch. I am paying !
• Do you believe in ghosts?

Verb types can change based on the tense of the sentence. If the sentence is in the past tense, for example, the word formed typically change to the past participle form (-ed form). For example, the words “call” would turn into “called.” Or “love” would turn into “loved.”

Most verbs are considered regular verbs, where a “-d” or “-ed” is added to their past tense form. For example, “we walked to the grocery store.” Where the word “walk” becomes “walked.”

The present participle always ends in “-ing.” For example, “call” becomes “calling.” Or “love” becomes “loving.” The verb forms will change based on the sentence tense. For example, “I am loving this weather .” (Present tense).

Types of verbs

There are several types of verbs in the English language. Some of the major ones include the following:

1. Dynamic or action verbs

Dynamic or action verbs are verbs that are used to express specific actions. They can be used to express both external and internal actions.

Dynamic verbs can be used any number of times the writer wants to show that an activity is being performed.

Examples of dynamic or actions verbs include:

2. State-of-being or stative verbs

The opposite of dynamic verbs is stative verbs. These are the verbs that are used to express a subject’s state of being.

Instead of expressing actions, these verbs show a state (that is not an action). For example, they show the subject’s likes, dislikes, thoughts, emotions, etc. One of the most unique qualities of stative verbs is that they can never be used in continuous tenses .

Some common examples of stative verbs include the following:

3. Transitive verbs

Transitive verbs are verbs that are used to express doable activities that affect someone or something. They generally use direct objects but don’t always need them.

Some common examples of transitive verbs include the following:

Tip: Transitive verbs require a direct object (a noun, pronoun, or noun phrase) to receive the action of the verb (to complete the sentence’s meaning).

4. Intransitive verbs

These verbs also express doable action or activity. The only difference between transitive and intransitive verbs is that intransitive verbs do not have a direct object following them.

Let’s have a look at some common examples of intransitive verbs:

5. Auxiliary or helping verbs

As their name suggests, auxiliary verbs or helping verbs are those verbs that are used with the main verb. They help in changing the main verb’s voice, mood, or tense. Helping verbs are also referred to as “linking verbs.”

The main auxiliary verbs in English include the following:

6. Modal auxiliary verbs

Modal auxiliary verbs are specifically used to express possibilities, capabilities, necessities, obligations, and permission. Just like simple auxiliary verbs, modal auxiliary verbs are also added to the main verb.

Common examples of modal auxiliary verbs include the following:

7. Phrasal verbs

Phrasal verbs are combinations of words that act as individual verbs when joined together. These words, when joined together, take on a completely different meaning than that of the original verb.

For example, consider the verb “make.” Without any other word attached to it, “make” expresses that something is being created. However, when a preposition like “up” is added to it, the phrasal verb “make up” expresses that a story is being fabricated or invented.

8. Irregular verbs

Verbs that change form in the past tense are considered irregular verbs . For example, “speak” turns into “spoke.” Or “see” turns into “saw”.

Here are example sentences, “I saw my friends the other night.”

Some verbs are ditransitive in nature. This means that they have two objects (direct object and indirect object). This is usually in sentences where the person is the action getting formed. For example, “Sam reads me a story.” With both an indirect object and direct object in this sentence.

Verbs are one of the most important elements of the English language. So, learning about them, understanding their nuances, and learning the art of using them in a grammatically correct way is essential.

Verbs are action words. They are used to express an action or activity. Verbs are one of the most important parts of speech in the English language.

Some examples of verbs in a sentence include the following:

• You can find the Mona Lisa painting in the Louvre Museum in Paris, France.
• Jack wants fried chicken for dinner .
• Lily doesn’t drink coke.

There are multiple types of verbs in the English language. The three most common ones include the following:

• Dynamic or action verbs
• Stative verbs
• Auxiliary verbs

The ten most common verbs used in the English language are as follows:

When it comes to writing in English, every sentence needs to have at least one verb. A sentence that doesn’t have even one verb is considered incomplete.

On the other hand, there is no limit to the maximum number of verbs a person can use in a sentence. Theoretically, there can be an infinite number of verbs in a sentence.

A verb phrase is a syntactic united that’s composed of a verb and its arguments without the subject of an independent or coordinate clause .

A subject-verb agreement occurs when a word changes form depending on the other words it relates to. Most commonly, this is the change of words due to the sentences tense and subject.

• Merriam-Webster Dictionary – Definition
• Grammarly – Verbs
• Ginger Software – Verbs
• Wikipedia – Verbs: Definition and Examples

Inside this article

Fact checked: Content is rigorously reviewed by a team of qualified and experienced fact checkers. Fact checkers review articles for factual accuracy, relevance, and timeliness. Learn more.

About the author

Dalia Y.: Dalia is an English Major and linguistics expert with an additional degree in Psychology. Dalia has featured articles on Forbes, Inc, Fast Company, Grammarly, and many more. She covers English, ESL, and all things grammar on GrammarBrain.

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Verbs - Definition, Types, Uses and Examples

I that. You this? Not able to figure out what it means?

I did that. Did you do this?

Have you ever wondered what life would be like if you could not do anything or could not speak about anything you did just because you do not have the words to represent those actions? Well, that would never happen because that is what verbs are for. Learn everything you should know about verbs, the types of verbs and how to use them in everyday communication by going through the following topics.

Table of Contents

Definition of a verb, verbs referring to actions, verbs referring to experiences or feelings, verbs referring to a state or condition, the various types of verbs with examples, different categories of verbs, conjugating verbs in the english language – tense forms, points to remember.

• Frequently Asked Questions on Verbs

Verbs in English Grammar

In the English language  or any language for that matter, verbs happen to be an essential part of speech , without which it would be impossible to indicate what the subject is doing. It refers to all actions, including those related to feelings and emotions. Verbs come in different types and forms so that they can perform differently in order to provide complete meaning. Before we look into the types of verbs and the verb forms , let us look at how various dictionaries define the term ‘verb’.

The Oxford Learners’ Dictionary defines a ‘verb’ as “a word or group of words that express an action (such as eat ), an event (such as happen ) or a state (such as exist )”. According to the Cambridge Dictionary, a ‘verb’ is defined as “a word or phrase that describes an action, condition, or experience”. The Collins Dictionary provides a much more elaborate definition of a verb. According to them, “A verb is a word such as ‘ sing’, ‘ feel’, or ‘ die’ which is used with a subject to say what someone or something does or what happens to them, or to give information about them”.

General Classification of Verbs according to What They Signify

Before we get into a broad classification, let us first have a look at how verbs can be classified generally according to what kind of action they signify.

Verbs referring to action ( action verbs ) are those that involve the movement of one’s body in one way or the other. Some examples of verbs referring to actions are as follows:

These are verbs that refer to something that you can feel or experience and do not necessarily involve a movement of any kind. Some examples of verbs referring to feelings and experiences are as follows:

These verbs are those that refer to situations or the state of being. All forms of ‘to be’ verbs belong to this category. Some examples of verbs referring to a state or condition are as follows:

Verbs can be classified into numerous types according to their function or role in a sentence or context. Let us look into the various types of verbs and some examples of each type of verb.

Auxiliary Verbs/Helping Verbs

Auxiliary verbs or helping verbs , as the name suggests, is a verb that is used to help another verb sound sensible and meaningful. It is used to change the other verb’s tense, mood or voice. So, every time an auxiliary verb is used, you always have one more verb, which acts as the main verb in a sentence.

Examples of auxiliary verbs are as follows:

One point you have to take care of when you use auxiliary verbs is that you should conjugate the auxiliary verb correctly according to the tense form of a sentence. Another specific fact about auxiliary verbs is that they can also be used as a main verb. Also, there are verbs called modal verbs that can be used as a helping verb.

Work out exercises on auxiliary verbs to practise.

Modal Verbs

Modal verbs are those verbs that are used to denote the possibility, probability, capability or necessity of something happening. Modal verbs, unlike other auxiliary verbs, cannot be used as a main verb in a sentence.

Examples of modal verbs are as follows:

Phrasal Verbs

Phrasal verbs include phrases that are formed by combining two or more parts of speech that performs the same function as a verb in a sentence. In most cases, a phrasal verb results from a combination of a verb and a preposition .

Some examples of phrasal verbs are as follows:

• Think through
• Taken aback

Check out the list of phrasal verbs and exercise on phrasal verbs .

Linking Verbs

A linking verb , just like the name suggests, is a type of verb that is used to link the subjects in a sentence to the other parts of the sentence so that it is meaningful. It connects the subject to the object , an adjective and even a prepositional phrase . All ‘to be’ forms of verbs and verbs like ‘seem’ and ‘become’ can act as linking verbs.

Have a look at the following examples to understand how verbs perform the role of a linking verb in sentences.

Example 1: Connecting Nouns to Other Nouns in a Sentence

Danny is my brother.

In the above example, the verb ‘is’ is used to connect the subject ‘Danny’ as the ‘brother’ of the speaker. In this sentence, the words ‘Danny’ and ‘brother’ are used to refer to the same person.

Example 2: Connecting a Noun to a Prepositional Phrase in a Sentence

The children were in the park.

In Example 2, the verb ‘were’ is used to connect the subject ‘the children’ to the prepositional phrase ‘in the park’.

Example 3: Connecting a Noun/Subject to an Adjective

Your presentation of the life cycle of the silkworm was excellent.

In the above example, the verb ‘was’ is used to link the subject ‘Your presentation of the life cycle of a silkworm’ to the adjective ‘excellent’.

Example 4: Connecting the Subject/Noun to the Predicate using Seem/Become

This book on a treasure hunt seems interesting.

In this sentence, the subject ‘This book on a treasure hunt’ is connected to the adjective ‘interesting’ with the linking verb ‘seem’.

The students became bored after two continuous hours of classes and were not ready to take another hour of class without a break in between.

In the above sentence, the subject ‘The students’ has been linked to the rest of the sentence with the linking verb ‘became’.

Verbs can be divided into different categories according to their behaviour when used in a context. Let us look at the categories explained below.

Regular Verbs and Irregular Verbs

As you can see, verbs are used to denote actions, and they can be used in different forms to indicate when the subject in a sentence is carrying out an action. A regular verb can be conjugated to show if the action takes place in the past or if the action is taking place continuously.

In most cases, the past form of the verb is formed by adding an ‘ed’ to the root verb for regular verbs. On the other hand, there are other verbs that do not follow this rule. They are called irregular verbs . These verbs have their own unique forms. If you are wondering how to learn these irregular verbs, read the article on irregular verbs to find out how.

Have a look at the examples given below.

• Dileep searched for his white shirt in his cupboard, but he did not find it. (Root verb – search)
• Did you find the book you were looking for?

In the above examples, the verb ‘searched’ is the past form of the regular verb ‘search’ by adding an ‘ed’ and the verb form ‘looking’ indicates the continuous form of the regular verb ‘look’ by adding an ‘ing’ to the end of the root verb.

• Selena read the book on the evolution of life on earth.
• Vineeth found the keys that went missing yesterday.

In the above examples, the verb ‘read’ stays the same in the past form and when used as a past participle. ‘Found’ is the past form of the root verb ‘find’.

Transitive Verbs and Intransitive Verbs

Transitive and intransitive forms of verbs are used to denote how a verb acts when used with a direct object and an indirect object . Let us look at a few examples.

• Vincent gave a box of chocolates to his brother. (Indirect object – his brother, Direct object – a box of chocolates)
• Garry passed the water bottle to Kevin, who was sitting in the first row. (Indirect object – Kevin, Direct object – the water bottle)
• The little girl ran around the park for two hours.
• Francey walked to school every day.
• My mom cleaned the house today. (Direct object – the house)
• Seena did not like the movie. (Direct object – the movie)

In the above examples, the verbs ‘gave’ and ‘passed’ in the first two sentences are seen to take a direct object and an indirect object, whereas the verbs ‘ran’ and ‘walked’ take no object at all. In the last two sentences, the verbs ‘cleaned’ and ‘did not like’ take a direct object and no indirect object.

Verbs that take a direct object alone are called transitive verbs, and those verbs that do not take either a direct object or an indirect object are called intransitive verbs . There is yet another category of verbs that take both the direct object and the indirect object, and they are called ditransitive verbs .

Also explore: Difference between singular and plural verbs ┃ Finite verbs ┃ Non-finite verbs ┃ Stative verbs ┃ Verbs exercises ┃ Subject-verb agreement exercises for class 9

A verb is used in different ways to indicate the time in which the subject is performing an action. There are various verb forms that are used to do the same. Let us look at the different verb forms explained below.

The raw or original form of the verb, how it originally exists in the English language, without any inflexions or conjugations, is called the root verb.

Some examples of root verbs are as follows:

Simple Present – Third Person Singular

The third person singular form of the verb in the present tense is mostly the verb in the singular form. When using the third person singular pronouns such as he, she and it, and the nouns that can be substituted by the third person singular pronouns, the verb is singular (mostly done just by adding an ‘s’ to the root verb) so that it agrees with the subject in the sentence.

For example:

Kenny likes to have mangoes after every meal. (The noun ‘Kenny’ can be substituted with the third person singular pronoun ‘he’)

The cat chases every rat it catches sight of. (The noun ‘The cat’ can be substituted with the third person singular pronoun ‘it’)

She hates going to work on Saturdays and Mondays.

Present Participle

The present participle is used in the continuous form of tenses to indicate an action that is continuing or in progress at that particular moment or sometime in the past or in the future . These words are formed just by adding an ‘ing’ to the root verb. For verbs ending with an ‘e’, in most cases, the present participle is formed by removing the ‘e’ and then adding ‘ing’ to the remaining portion of the verb.

Jhanvi is watching a movie along with her cousin. (Present Continuous Tense)

My mother is baking cakes (Present Continuous Tense)

All my brothers were playing dodgeball in the evening. (Past Continuous Tense)

Simple Past

There is a change in the spelling of the root verb when it is used to indicate the simple past tense form of the verb. There is no one rule to write a verb in the simple past tense; it changes for each verb – some verbs like ‘give’ and ‘bring’ take a different spelling, and some verbs like ‘cut’ and ‘put’ remain the same when used in the past tense. However, most verbs can be made into the past tense by adding an ‘ed’ at the end of the root verb.

• The doctor asked me to take tablets for ten days. (The rook verb here is ‘ask’)
• Nelson bought the car he checked out last week. (The root verbs here are ‘buy’ and ‘check’)
• The baby drank the milk completely. (The root verb here is ‘drink’)

Past participle

The past participle form of the verb is used to denote the perfect tense forms in a sentence. In some cases, the past tense and the past participle remain the same, but there are a number of verbs that have different spellings when used as a simple past tense verb and a past participle.

• I have searched the entire loft for that box, but I did not find it. (The root verb here is ‘search’, ‘have searched’ is the verb in the sentence that indicates the perfect tense and ‘searched’ is the past participle)
• Dylan had read the book already.

In the above example, the root verb here is ‘read’, ‘have read’ is the verb in the sentence that indicates the perfect tense and ‘read’ is the past participle. In this case, all forms of the verb take the same spelling but have a different pronunciation.

Any verb can be transformed into a gerund by adding ‘ing’ to the root verb. Gerunds, when it stands by themselves, can be used as nouns. A gerund can be used as a verb when used with an auxiliary verb to indicate an action that is continuing at a particular period of time.

• He is eating an apple.
• Joy will be coming home next week.
• Walking every day is good exercise.
• Drinking and driving is dangerous.

Infinitives

Infinitives, like gerunds, can be used to turn verbs into nouns by adding a preposition ‘to’ in front of the root verb.

• Would you like to have something?
• I like to dance in my free time.
• I am going to talk to my friend.

Active Voice and Passive Voice

According to the position of the subject and object in a sentence, the voice of the verb can be determined. A sentence in which the subject does the action is called the active voice, and a sentence in which the indirect object or the direct object is switched to make it the subject is called the passive voice.

• Active Voice – The doctor checked the patient.
• Passive Voice – The patient was checked by the doctor.

Verbs can be conjugated to denote the tense you need. There are four tense forms , namely the simple tense, the continuous tense, the perfect tense and the perfect continuous tense. These tense forms are used to represent three time periods such as the present, past and future, thereby forming twelve main tense forms in total.

You can learn more about tenses and how to conjugate them in detail by reading the article on tenses.

Here are some points for you to keep in mind when using verbs in your speech or writing.

• Always try to use an active voice in your speech and writing as it is preferred widely and conveys the message in a quick and simple manner. Do not use the passive voice unless it is absolutely necessary.
• When you conjugate verbs to indicate different tense forms, see to it that the subject and the verb agree with each other.
• Improve your vocabulary. Try to learn the specific verbs for every action instead of modifying other verbs to convey the same. For example, stroll means a leisurely walk, and jabber means to talk in a very excited, rapid and incomprehensible manner, yelp means a short and sharp cry to indicate pain or an alarm.

Frequently Asked Questions on Verbs in English Grammar

What is a verb.

Verbs happen to be an essential part of speech, without which it would be impossible to indicate what the subject is doing. It refers to all actions, including those related to feelings and emotions. Verbs come in different types and forms so that they can perform differently in order to provide complete meaning.

What is the definition of a verb?

The Oxford Learners’ Dictionary defines a ‘verb’ as “a word or group of words that express an action (such as eat), an event (such as happen) or a state (such as exist)”. According to the Cambridge Dictionary, a ‘verb’ is defined as “a word or phrase that describes an action, condition, or experience”. The Collins Dictionary provides a much more elaborate definition of a verb. According to them, “A verb is a word such as ‘ sing’, ‘ feel’, or ‘ die’ which is used with a subject to say what someone or something does or what happens to them, or to give information about them”.

What are the types of verbs?

Verbs can be generally classified into three main categories with reference to what they signify, such as verbs referring to actions, verbs referring to experiences or feelings and verbs referring to a state or condition. Furthermore, it can be classified into auxiliary verbs (otherwise called helping verbs), modal verbs, phrasal verbs and linking verbs.

What are the different verb forms in the English language?

In the English language, there are eight to nine verb forms which include the root verb, the third person singular present form of the verb, the present participle, the simple past, the past participle, the gerunds, the infinitives, the active voice and the passive voice.

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Verb To Be PPT

Download these verb to be PPT lessons and use it in class today. These ESL PowerPoint presentations are for lessons about the verb  to be. ‘To be’ is an irregular verb . As such, its form is very different from other verbs in English. The verb ‘to be’ appears very often in English so it is important for students to learn the different forms of this ‘be verb’. The PowerPoint lessons below include the present tense of the verb to be ( am, are, is ) and the past simple form of the verb to be ( was, were ).

Related: Verb To Be Worksheets

Verb To Be PPT 1: Present Tense

This first PowerPoint lesson covers the present tense of the verb to be, and includes a review quiz at the end. 

Verb To Be PPT 2: Past Simple Tense

This second PowerPoint lesson covers the past simple tense of the verb to be, and includes a review quiz at the end.

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10 Tips for a Persuasive Presentation

Powerful presentation is persuasion. here's how to elevate your impact..

Posted May 11, 2024 | Reviewed by Ray Parker

• Presentations aim to effect change. It's essential to be clear about what change you want to see.
• Powerful presenters embrace and extend empathy to seek first to understand their audience.
• Substance and style both matter to create an audience-informed communication experience.
• Persuasive presentations are relevant, reasoned, real, and resonant.

How many of us realize that giving a presentation or making a speech is all about persuasion , influence, and emotional intelligence ? Impactful presenters understand the power of empathy to understand and engage their audience, the efficiency and kindness of having a clear objective and message, and the importance of substance and style—all as a way to connect in a way that engages and inspires.

Much has been written on the power and behavioral science of persuasion, not least by expert Robert Cialdini. His bestselling book Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion explains seven research-based universal principles of influence .

From my experience as a leadership coach working with thousands of people worldwide, I have compiled a list of ten essentials to elevate our presentation.

1. Maintain an "other" focus. What do you know about your audience and how can you find out more? Ask yourself what kind of a speaker will appeal to your audience, what arguments are likely to resonate with them, and what feelings you want to inspire so the audience will positively respond to your ask.

If your audience is predominantly data-driven, you may want to use more evidence-based arguments. If the audience is mixed, a combination of data, authority, and storytelling may be more appropriate. Extend Daniel Goleman’s three types of empathy to gather intelligence , understand your audience, and tailor your intervention to connect more profoundly.

2. Determine a specific objective. Presentations aim to effect change in some way. What change do you want to see in your audience?

For instance, gaining their approval for a certain investment, soliciting their buy-in for a change, or creating a sense of enthusiasm for an idea or initiative. The purpose of a presentation is to bring about change so make sure you are clear on what kind of change you want to bring about.

3. Design a grabber. Our attention spans have shrunk as we have more and more competing demands on our attention . If you want to get someone’s attention, you need to grab it at the outset and try and hold on.

You can do this in several different ways. Throw out a question that demands a response from the audience. Give a surprising fact or statistic, or quote from a well-known figure. Tell a story or an anecdote. A good grabber captures the attention of everyone there and makes them focus on what you have to say.

4. Crystalize your message and construct your arguments. Your message is the heart of your speech. Craft a brief phrase that clearly defines your proposal in 10-12 words—for example, “This post is about crafting presentations that inspire and engage others to elevate their presentations.”

Make it memorable by choosing inspiring words, symbols, catchy expressions, something that will remain in the audience's mind. As Brené Brown says: “Clear is kind,” and a clear message provides a path to develop your ideas.

When you have a clear and concise message, it helps you formulate your arguments. Think of developing your arguments using the rule of three —three compelling arguments to convince but not overwhelm your audience.

5. Prepare a call to action. Remember, we want to change our audience in some way, so we need to make our ask clearly and concretely. Consider your call to action in terms of what you want your audience to think/feel/do:

• Think: “I want you to think about how you can improve your presentations.”
• Feel: “I want you to feel enthusiastic and motivated so that you can elevate your power to persuade.”
• Do: “I want you to try out some of these tips and tools for yourself.”

6. Craft a memorable closing. Close the speech in an elegant and memorable way. We need people to remember what we've told them, so prepare it well.

This is not the time to improvise. Try to connect your closing to your opening grabber, which makes the presentation more memorable. Good preparation means preparing everything to the very end—finish well.

7. Plan your delivery. A dynamic speaker draws listeners in by using vocal variety (tone, intonation, speed, volume, pace, pauses, silence) and body language (posture, gestures, expression, and movement) to highlight important points and hold the audience’s attention. Be intentional: How will you use your voice and your body to emphasize a thought or idea? Think about it: If you increased the time you spent on style or delivery by 20 percent, what would it mean for the impact you make?

8. Think about how you will engage your audience. You want the audience to feel considered throughout. Include pauses so they can process what’s being said; connect with individuals throughout the room and make deliberate eye contact while speaking, especially when delivering key points. Read and respond to the audience by changing how you deliver as you go based on the audience’s nonverbal communication .

9. Rehearse and practice. Practice is one of the most crucial elements of presenting—and probably the most neglected one. If this is new to you, start by reading your presentation in front of a mirror to get comfortable speaking your presentation.

Next, video yourself and watch out for nervous or distracting habits to eliminate them and identify any areas where you can improve your delivery. If you are feeling brave, practice in front of an audience and ask for feedback.

10. Prepare your success rituals and mantra. Public speaking and/or stage fright can feel debilitating for some. Have your calm-down ritual prepared and ready to go before you start your presentation. This might be a certain gesture, a power pose, breathwork, or a mantra.

Try this tip: Identify three adjectives to describe how you would like to show up during this presentation. This sets an intention and helps focus our cognitive and emotional resources on success.

Powerful presenters embrace and extend empathy to seek first to understand their audience. They use this intelligence to carefully make choices about substance and style to create an audience-informed communication experience that feels relevant, reasoned, real, and resonant and creates a pathway for change.

Palena Neale, Ph.D. , is a women’s leadership coach, lecturer, and founder of unabridged, a boutique leadership development practice.

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