Verbs

A verb is a type of word. It is a doing word. It is an action. Here are some verbs. If you learn a language learn these verbs first:

speak understand go come want sleep eat drink like have be give take work
remember forget learn
walk run have to (must) stand sit live die pay get listen hear think know study read write put do make stay run watch see touch feel look smell taste say can will

Verbs and Sentences

Every sentence has a verb. Look at these sentences:

I speak English.
I understand English.
I understand you.
I understand.
I eat bread.
I drink water.
I sleep on the floor.
I think.
I feel.
I live.
I dream.
I love.
I am.
I understand.

Say the verbs aloud.

Verbs and Tenses

Every verb has a tense. Tense means “time”. Here is a list of tenses:

Present Simple Tense

Listen to this conversation (Lake Eyre) to hear these examples of present simple tense in context.

“It rains in that area.”

“The rivers run.”

“You walk on the beach.”

Present Continuous Tense

Listen to this conversation (Miyako Part 22) to hear these examples of present continuous tense

I am reading.

What are you reading?

Are you reading the book in English?

Past Simple Tense

Listen to this conversation (Studying in India) to hear these examples of past simple tense in context.

“When did you first go there?”

“I flew.”

“We stayed in Tokyo for about a week.”

“I asked the head of the school.”

Past Continuous Tense

Listen to this conversation (Hitching Around Australia) to hear this example of past continuous tense in context:

“I was living mostly in Melbourne.”

Present Perfect (simple) Tense

Listen to this conversation ( Japanese Animals) to hear this examples of present perfect (simple tense) in context:

“I have not seen one of those.”

Present Perfect Continuous tense

Listen to this conversation (Mosquito City 7) to hear these examples of present perfect continuous tense in context.

“We have been drifting for two days.”

“We have been eating fish and chips for two days.”

Past Prefect Tense (simple)

Listen to this conversation (Incredible Animal Experiences) to hear these examples of past perfect (simple) tense in context.

“It had let us approach”

“It had got its antlers stuck.”