Introduction: Why Verb Forms English Matters
Every sentence needs a verb, and understanding verb forms English is the foundation of accurate communication. From speaking fluent English to excelling in exams, knowing verb forms—base, past, participle, and more—helps express actions across all tenses and contexts. In this comprehensive article, you’ll find 100+ practical verb forms with meanings, vital usage tips, and strategies for exam success.
Verb Forms in English: The Essentials
English verbs have five main forms:
- V1 (Base): the root form (eat)
- V2 (Past Simple): simple past (ate)
- V3 (Past Participle): used in perfect tenses (eaten)
- V4 (Present Participle/Gerund): -ing form (eating)
- V5 (Third-person Singular Present): used with he/she/it (eats)
Verb Forms English: 100+ Verb Forms with Meanings
Below is a diverse collection of more than 100 English verbs across their common forms, along with their meanings:
| Base (V1) | Past (V2) | Past Participle (V3) | Present Participle (V4) | 3rd Person Singular (V5) | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| begin | began | begun | beginning | begins | To start something |
| break | broke | broken | breaking | breaks | To damage/separate into parts |
| bring | brought | brought | bringing | brings | To take or carry to a place |
| build | built | built | building | builds | To make by putting parts together |
| buy | bought | bought | buying | buys | To get by paying money |
| call | called | called | calling | calls | To say or shout out |
| catch | caught | caught | catching | catches | To grab or seize |
| choose | chose | chosen | choosing | chooses | To select |
| come | came | come | coming | comes | To arrive at a place |
| cut | cut | cut | cutting | cuts | To divide with a sharp object |
| do | did | done | doing | does | To perform an action |
| draw | drew | drawn | drawing | draws | To make a picture |
| drink | drank | drunk | drinking | drinks | To consume liquid |
| drive | drove | driven | driving | drives | To operate a vehicle |
| eat | ate | eaten | eating | eats | To consume food |
| fall | fell | fallen | falling | falls | To drop downward |
| feel | felt | felt | feeling | feels | To sense |
| find | found | found | finding | finds | To discover |
| fly | flew | flown | flying | flies | To move in air |
| get | got | gotten/got | getting | gets | To receive or obtain |
| give | gave | given | giving | gives | To present voluntarily |
| go | went | gone | going | goes | To move from one place to another |
| grow | grew | grown | growing | grows | To increase in size |
| have | had | had | having | has | To possess |
| hear | heard | heard | hearing | hears | To perceive with ears |
| help | helped | helped | helping | helps | To assist |
| hit | hit | hit | hitting | hits | To strike |
| hold | held | held | holding | holds | To keep in hand |
| keep | kept | kept | keeping | keeps | To retain |
| know | knew | known | knowing | knows | To be aware of |
| learn | learned | learned | learning | learns | To gain knowledge |
| leave | left | left | leaving | leaves | To go away |
| let | let | let | letting | lets | To allow |
| like | liked | liked | liking | likes | To enjoy |
| live | lived | lived | living | lives | To exist |
| look | looked | looked | looking | looks | To direct eyes |
| lose | lost | lost | losing | loses | To not win or fail to keep |
| make | made | made | making | makes | To create |
| meet | met | met | meeting | meets | To come together |
| open | opened | opened | opening | opens | To move so as to allow access |
| pay | paid | paid | paying | pays | To give money |
| play | played | played | playing | plays | To take part in an activity |
| put | put | put | putting | puts | To place |
| read | read | read | reading | reads | To look at and comprehend written matter |
| ride | rode | ridden | riding | rides | To sit on and control movement |
| ring | rang | rung | ringing | rings | To make a bell sound |
| rise | rose | risen | rising | rises | To move upward |
| run | ran | run | running | runs | To move swiftly on feet |
| say | said | said | saying | says | To express in words |
| see | saw | seen | seeing | sees | To notice with the eyes |
| sell | sold | sold | selling | sells | To exchange for money |
| send | sent | sent | sending | sends | To cause to go somewhere |
| set | set | set | setting | sets | To put in a proper position |
| shake | shook | shaken | shaking | shakes | To move irregularly |
| show | showed | shown | showing | shows | To display |
| shut | shut | shut | shutting | shuts | To close |
| sing | sang | sung | singing | sings | To make musical sounds |
| sit | sat | sat | sitting | sits | To rest on the buttocks |
| sleep | slept | slept | sleeping | sleeps | To be in a natural resting state |
| speak | spoke | spoken | speaking | speaks | To talk |
| spend | spent | spent | spending | spends | To use money |
| stand | stood | stood | standing | stands | To be in an upright position |
| start | started | started | starting | starts | To begin |
| stop | stopped | stopped | stopping | stops | To cease movement |
| study | studied | studied | studying | studies | To learn about a subject |
| swim | swam | swum | swimming | swims | To move in water |
| take | took | taken | taking | takes | To acquire possession |
| teach | taught | taught | teaching | teaches | To impart knowledge |
| tell | told | told | telling | tells | To inform |
| think | thought | thought | thinking | thinks | To have an opinion |
| throw | threw | thrown | throwing | throws | To propel through air |
| try | tried | tried | trying | tries | To attempt |
| turn | turned | turned | turning | turns | To move around a point |
| understand | understood | understood | understanding | understands | To comprehend |
| use | used | used | using | uses | To employ |
| wait | waited | waited | waiting | waits | To remain until an event |
| wake | woke | woken | waking | wakes | To cease sleeping |
| walk | walked | walked | walking | walks | To move by taking steps |
| want | wanted | wanted | wanting | wants | To wish for |
| wear | wore | worn | wearing | wears | To have clothing on |
| win | won | won | winning | wins | To achieve victory |
| work | worked | worked | working | works | To engage in activity |
| write | wrote | written | writing | writes | To mark on a surface with a pen, pencil, etc. |
(100+ of the most common verbs and their key forms are included for exam and daily use.)
Tips & Information: Verb Forms English for Exams
- Memorize irregular verbs: Many exams test knowledge of irregular verb changes (e.g. go-went-gone).
- Identify the correct form: Understand tense and sentence requirement to select V1, V2, V3, etc.
- Practice transformations: Convert between present, past, participle, and continuous forms.
- Look for helping verbs: Perfect tenses use “have/has/had” + V3; continuous tenses use “am/is/are/was/were” + V4.
- Third-person rules: Present singular uses V5 (adds -s/-es).
- Watch for spelling changes: Drop ‘e’ for -ing (make → making), double consonants (sit → sitting).
- Use tables: Making your own list aids revision and mastery.
- Include meanings: Know what the verb means to use it correctly in sentences.
- Apply in sentences: Write your own examples for better recall.
- Review commonly confused verbs: (e.g., lie/lay, sit/set)
Conclusion: The Power of Verb Forms English
Mastering verb forms English is essential for clear communication, accurate writing, and exam excellence. With these 100+ examples and tips, you’ll confidently navigate any tense, pass competitive English grammar tests, and boost your English fluency in every conversation. Make verb forms your grammar superpower with regular study and usage!
Also Read: Adverbs Examples Sentences: 100+ Powerful Instances With Meanings For Exams
Interjection Examples: 100+ Expressions with Meanings & Exam Tips
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