Main verbs—also known as lexical verbs—are the heart of every English sentence. They show the main action, feeling, or state and carry the full meaning of what someone is doing or experiencing. In this guide, you’ll learn what main verbs are, how to use them, the different types (like action, stative, and linking verbs), and how they work with auxiliary verbs. With clear rules, examples, and common mistakes, this article will help you master main verbs in English—whether you’re a beginner or improving your grammar skills.
What Is a Main Verb in English?
A main verb, also called a lexical verb, shows the main action, state, or feeling in a sentence. It tells us what the subject does or what condition they are in. Main verbs give the sentence its real meaning — they describe what is actually happening.
Main verbs are essential in every sentence. Sometimes they stand alone, and sometimes they work with auxiliary verbs like be, do, or have to form questions, negatives, or different tenses.
How to Use Main Verbs in English Sentences
Main verbs usually come after the subject, but the structure changes depending on the sentence type.
1. Simple Sentences
In basic statements, the main verb follows the subject.
She eats breakfast at 8 a.m.
They live in Brazil.
I walk to school every day.
2. Sentences with Helping (Auxiliary) Verbs
When there’s a helping verb, the main verb comes right after it.
She is studying now.
We are watching a movie.
He has eaten already.
3. Questions
The auxiliary verb comes first, then the subject, then the main verb.
Do you like chocolate?
Have they finished the project?
4. Negatives
The auxiliary verb carries the “not,” and the main verb follows it.
She doesn’t like tea.
They are not going today.
Types of Main Verbs
Main verbs can be sorted into several types depending on how they act in a sentence. Let’s look at the main categories with simple explanations and examples.
1. Action Verbs
These verbs show physical or mental action. They answer the question: “What is the subject doing?”
Examples:
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He walks to school every morning.
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I read books at night.
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She remembers my birthday every year.
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They think it’s a good idea.
Action verbs can be physical (walk, eat, run) or mental (think, know, remember).
2. Stative Verbs
Stative verbs describe a state, not an action. They often show thoughts, emotions, relationships, or possession.
Examples:
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I know the answer.
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She has a dog.
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This phone belongs to me.
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We love that song.
Note: These verbs are usually not used in continuous (-ing) forms.
Incorrect: I am knowing the answer.
Correct: I know the answer.
3. Transitive Verbs
These verbs need an object to complete their meaning. They answer the question: “What?” or “Whom?”
Examples:
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She bought a new dress.
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We watched a movie last night.
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He cooked dinner for his family.
Without the object, the sentence feels incomplete:
Incomplete: She bought.
Complete: She bought a new dress.
4. Intransitive Verbs
These verbs do not take an object. The action stays with the subject.
Examples:
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They arrived late.
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He slept on the couch.
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The baby cried loudly.
The action is complete by itself — it does not need “what?” or “whom?”
5. Linking Verbs
These verbs connect the subject to more information. They do not show action but describe the subject.
Common linking verbs: be, become, seem, look, feel
Examples:
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She is tired today.
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This soup tastes delicious.
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He seems nervous.
In these sentences, the verb links the subject to an adjective or noun.
6. Regular and Irregular Main Verbs
Main verbs can be regular or irregular in the past tense and past participle forms.
Regular Verbs:
They follow a clear pattern: Base form + –ed
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work → worked
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talk → talked
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play → played
Irregular Verbs:
They change form in the past.
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go → went → gone
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eat → ate → eaten
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take → took → taken
You need to memorize irregular verbs, as they don’t follow a pattern.
Main Verbs vs. Auxiliary Verbs – What’s the Difference?
Main verbs and auxiliary verbs have different roles in a sentence. A main verb shows the main action, state, or feeling. It gives the sentence its main meaning and can usually stand alone. For example, in the sentence “He runs every day,” the verb “runs” is the main verb because it tells us what the subject is doing.
On the other hand, an auxiliary verb (also called a helping verb) does not show action by itself. Instead, it works with the main verb to help form tenses, questions, negatives, or the passive voice. It cannot stand alone in a sentence. For example, in the sentence “He is running now,” the verb “is” is the auxiliary verb, and “running” is the main verb.
Common Mistakes with Main Verbs
1. Forgetting the Main Verb
Incorrect: She very tired.
Correct: She is very tired.
2. Using Continuous Form with Stative Verbs
Incorrect: I am knowing the answer.
Correct: I know the answer.
3. Using the Wrong Verb Form
Incorrect: He go to school.
Correct: He goes to school.
4. Using a Verb That Needs an Object Without One
Incorrect: She gave.
Correct: She gave me a gift.
Frequently Used Main Verbs in English
Here are some of the most common main verbs, grouped by their function in a sentence. These verbs are frequently used in both spoken and written English.
| Action Verbs | Mental Verbs | Stative Verbs | Linking Verbs |
|---|---|---|---|
| run | think | know | be |
| walk | understand | believe | seem |
| talk | guess | want | feel |
| write | remember | like | look |
| cook | imagine | love | become |
| read | doubt | prefer | appear |
| drive | assume | own | smell |
| swim | expect | need | sound |
| clean | realize | hate | taste |
| eat | consider | belong | stay |
| sleep | wonder | depend | remain |
| play | agree | include | turn |
| open | know | contain | grow |
| close | believe | have | prove |
Notes:
- Action Verbs show what someone is doing physically or mentally.
- Mental Verbs involve thinking, understanding, or remembering.
- Stative Verbs describe a state, condition, or feeling rather than an action.
- Linking Verbs connect the subject to more information (usually a condition or state).
Quiz: Main Verbs in English
1. She usually _____ her emails before breakfast.
a) check
b) checked
c) checks
2. I _____ the report when the manager walked in.
a) finish
b) was finishing
c) finished
3. They _____ in that office for over ten years.
a) work
b) are working
c) have worked
4. He _____ to join us if he gets off work early.
a) wants
b) want
c) wanting
5. We _____ the new software last week.
a) try
b) tried
c) trying
6. I don’t think she _____ the answer to that question.
a) know
b) knows
c) knews
7. My phone _____ on the table when I left.
a) was
b) were
c) be
8. What time does the train usually _____?
a) leaves
b) leave
c) left
9. They _____ the house by the time we arrived.
a) cleaned
b) clean
c) had cleaned
10. I _____ him every day, but he never replies.
a) message
b) messaged
c) messaging
Quiz Answers
1) checks
2) was finishing
3) have worked
4) wants
5) tried
6) knows
7) was
8) leave
9) had cleaned
10) message
