Chapter: Kinds of Verbs
📚 Vocabulary
English Grammar and Composition Classes Nine and Ten
⭐ Most Important Exam Words
main verbauxiliary verbprimary auxiliarymodal auxiliarytransitive verbintransitive verbdirect objectindirect objectfinite verbnon-finite verbinfinitivebare infinitivegerundparticiplepresent participlepast participleregular verbirregular verblinking verbsubject complementphrasal verbcausative verbbase formsimple pastpast participle
📃 Word Formation Rules
► Regular verbs generally form V2 and V3 by adding -ed or -d: work–worked–worked.
► If a verb ends in consonant + y, change y to i before adding -ed: study–studied–studied.
► If a verb ends in e, add only -d: love–loved–loved.
► For a short stressed verb ending in consonant-vowel-consonant, double the final consonant before -ed or -ing: stop–stopped–stopping.
► The present participle is generally formed by adding -ing: read–reading.
► For a verb ending in silent e, remove e before adding -ing: write–writing.
► The past participle of an irregular verb must be learned separately: go–went–gone.
► A gerund is an -ing form functioning as a noun, while a present participle is an -ing form functioning as an adjective or part of a verb phrase.
► A to-infinitive consists of to + base verb: to read, to write.
► After modal auxiliaries, use the bare infinitive: can go, must obey, should study.
1. Main Verbs / Principal Verbs (প্রধান ক্রিয়া) (8 words)
main verb[/meɪn vɜːb/]verbeasy
Meaning: প্রধান ক্রিয়া; the verb that expresses the main action or state
Alt: It can occur with or without an auxiliary verb.
Example: Rina writes a letter.
Syn: principal verbAnt: auxiliary verb
💡 Exam tip: Identify the verb that carries the main meaning of the sentence.
action[/ˈækʃən/]nouneasy
Meaning: কাজ বা ক্রিয়া; something done by a person or thing
Alt: An action is often expressed by a dynamic verb.
Example: The action of the horse surprised everyone.
Syn: deed, activityAnt: inaction
💡 Exam tip: Action verbs usually show movement or activity.
state[/steɪt/]nouneasy
Meaning: অবস্থা; a condition of being
Alt: State verbs describe possession, thought, feeling, or existence.
Example: I know the answer.
Syn: condition, situationAnt: action
💡 Exam tip: Know, believe, love, and own commonly express states.
write[/raɪt/]verbeasy
Meaning: লেখা; to form words on paper or a screen
Alt: It is an irregular verb: write, wrote, written.
Example: The student writes clearly.
Syn: compose, recordAnt: erase
💡 Exam tip: Remember its three forms: write–wrote–written.
build[/bɪld/]verbmedium
Meaning: নির্মাণ করা; to make something by joining materials
Alt: It may be transitive or used in a passive structure.
Example: Workers build bridges.
Syn: construct, makeAnt: destroy
💡 Exam tip: Build is irregular: build–built–built.
believe[/bɪˈliːv/]verbmedium
Meaning: বিশ্বাস করা; to accept something as true
Alt: It is generally a stative verb and is not normally used in the continuous form.
Example: We believe his story.
Syn: trust, acceptAnt: doubt
💡 Exam tip: Use believe, not usually believing, for a present mental state.
possess[/pəˈzes/]verbmedium
Meaning: অধিকার করা; to own or have something
Alt: It is a stative verb related to possession.
Example: She possesses great courage.
Syn: own, haveAnt: lack
💡 Exam tip: Possess generally does not take the continuous form.
occur[/əˈkɜːr/]verbmedium
Meaning: ঘটা; to happen
Alt: It is an intransitive verb and does not take a direct object.
Example: The accident occurred at night.
Syn: happen, take placeAnt: cease
💡 Exam tip: Do not write ‘occurred the accident’; use ‘the accident occurred’.
2. Auxiliary and Modal Verbs (সহায়ক ও ভাবপ্রকাশক ক্রিয়া) (8 words)
auxiliary verb[/ɔːɡˈzɪliəri vɜːb/]verbeasy
Meaning: সাহায্যকারী ক্রিয়া; a verb used with a main verb
Alt: It helps form tense, voice, questions, or negation.
Example: They are playing football.
Syn: helping verbAnt: main verb
💡 Exam tip: Be, have, and do are primary auxiliaries.
primary auxiliary[/ˈpraɪməri ɔːɡˈzɪliəri/]nounmedium
Meaning: প্রধান সহায়ক ক্রিয়া; be, have, or do used as an auxiliary
Alt: These verbs can also function as main verbs.
Example: Has he finished his work?
Syn: basic auxiliaryAnt: main verb
💡 Exam tip: Be forms continuous and passive structures; have forms perfect tenses; do forms questions and negatives.
modal auxiliary[/ˈməʊdəl ɔːɡˈzɪliəri/]nounmedium
Meaning: ভাবপ্রকাশক সহায়ক ক্রিয়া; a verb expressing ability, permission, duty, or possibility
Alt: Can, may, must, shall, should, will, would, and could are common modals.
Example: You must obey the rules.
Syn: modal verbAnt: lexical verb
💡 Exam tip: A modal is followed by the base form of the main verb.
can[/kæn/]verbeasy
Meaning: পারা; to be able to
Alt: It can also express informal permission or possibility.
Example: Birds can fly.
Syn: be able toAnt: cannot
💡 Exam tip: Use can + base verb, never can + to-infinitive.
may[/meɪ/]verbeasy
Meaning: পারতে পারে বা অনুমতি থাকা; to express possibility or permission
Alt: May is often more formal than can for permission.
Example: May I come in?
Syn: might, be permitted toAnt: must not
💡 Exam tip: May + base verb; may not can express prohibition or lack of possibility.
must[/mʌst/]verbeasy
Meaning: অবশ্যই করতে হবে; to express strong necessity or obligation
Alt: It can also express a strong conclusion.
Example: Students must attend the examination.
Syn: have to, need toAnt: need not
💡 Exam tip: Must is followed by the base form and has no -s form.
should[/ʃʊd/]verbeasy
Meaning: উচিত; used to give advice or express duty
Alt: It may also express expectation.
Example: You should help the poor.
Syn: ought to, had betterAnt: should not
💡 Exam tip: Use should + base verb; ‘should to go’ is incorrect.
will[/wɪl/]verbeasy
Meaning: করবে; used to express future time or willingness
Alt: It helps form the simple future tense.
Example: I will visit Dhaka tomorrow.
Syn: be going toAnt: will not
💡 Exam tip: In formal exam writing, use will + base form for future statements.
3. Transitive and Intransitive Verbs (সকর্মক ও অকর্মক ক্রিয়া) (8 words)
transitive verb[/ˈtrænzətɪv vɜːb/]nounmedium
Meaning: সকর্মক ক্রিয়া; a verb that takes a direct object
Alt: The action passes from the subject to an object.
Example: The boy opened the door.
Syn: object-taking verbAnt: intransitive verb
💡 Exam tip: Ask ‘what?’ or ‘whom?’ after the verb to find its object.
intransitive verb[/ɪnˈtrænzətɪv vɜːb/]nounmedium
Meaning: অকর্মক ক্রিয়া; a verb that does not take a direct object
Alt: It may be followed by an adverb or a prepositional phrase.
Example: The baby slept peacefully.
Syn: non-object verbAnt: transitive verb
💡 Exam tip: An intransitive verb cannot be changed into passive voice directly.
object[/ˈɒbdʒɪkt/]nouneasy
Meaning: কর্ম; a word receiving the action of a transitive verb
Alt: It may be a noun, pronoun, phrase, or clause.
Example: She reads books.
Syn: receiver, complementAnt: subject
💡 Exam tip: In ‘She reads books’, ‘books’ is the direct object.
direct object[/dəˈrekt ˈɒbdʒɪkt/]nounmedium
Meaning: প্রত্যক্ষ কর্ম; the immediate receiver of an action
Alt: It answers ‘what?’ or ‘whom?’ after the verb.
Example: The teacher praised Karim.
Syn: objectAnt: subject
💡 Exam tip: A direct object is necessary when a transitive verb is used actively.
indirect object[/ˌɪndəˈrekt ˈɒbdʒɪkt/]nounmedium
Meaning: পরোক্ষ কর্ম; the person or thing receiving the direct object
Alt: It often comes before the direct object.
Example: Mother gave me a book.
Syn: recipientAnt: direct object
💡 Exam tip: In ‘gave me a book’, ‘me’ is indirect and ‘a book’ is direct object.
carry[/ˈkæri/]verbeasy
Meaning: বহন করা; to take something from one place to another
Alt: It is commonly used as a transitive verb.
Example: The porter carried the luggage.
Syn: transport, bearAnt: drop
💡 Exam tip: ‘Carried the luggage’ has a verb plus direct object.
arrive[/əˈraɪv/]verbmedium
Meaning: পৌঁছানো; to reach a place
Alt: It is normally intransitive and takes at or in before a place.
Example: The train arrived at the station.
Syn: reach, comeAnt: depart
💡 Exam tip: Do not say ‘arrive the station’; say ‘arrive at the station’.
laugh[/læf/]verbeasy
Meaning: হাসা; to make sounds showing amusement
Alt: It is generally used as an intransitive verb.
Example: The children laughed loudly.
Syn: giggle, chuckleAnt: cry
💡 Exam tip: Use ‘laugh at someone’, not a direct object after laugh alone.
4. Finite and Non-finite Verbs (সমাপিকা ও অসমাপিকা ক্রিয়া) (8 words)
finite verb[/ˈfaɪnaɪt vɜːb/]nounmedium
Meaning: সমাপিকা ক্রিয়া; a verb showing tense and agreeing with the subject
Alt: Every complete clause normally contains a finite verb.
Example: She sings well.
Syn: tensed verbAnt: non-finite verb
💡 Exam tip: Find the verb that changes according to tense or subject.
non-finite verb[/ˌnɒnˈfaɪnaɪt vɜːb/]nounmedium
Meaning: অসমাপিকা ক্রিয়া; a verb form that does not show tense or subject agreement
Alt: Infinitives, gerunds, and participles are non-finite forms.
Example: To read is useful.
Syn: untensed verbAnt: finite verb
💡 Exam tip: A non-finite verb cannot be the only verb of a complete independent clause.
infinitive[/ɪnˈfɪnətɪv/]nounmedium
Meaning: ক্রিয়ার মূল রূপ; the base form of a verb, often preceded by to
Alt: It may function as a noun, adjective, or adverb.
Example: To learn is to grow.
Syn: to-infinitive, verb baseAnt: finite verb
💡 Exam tip: After a modal, use the bare infinitive without ‘to’.
bare infinitive[/beə ɪnˈfɪnətɪv/]nounmedium
Meaning: to-বিহীন মূল ক্রিয়া; the base form used without to
Alt: It follows modals and some verbs of perception or causation.
Example: You must obey your parents.
Syn: base form, zero infinitiveAnt: to-infinitive
💡 Exam tip: Write ‘can go’, not ‘can to go’.
gerund[/ˈdʒerənd/]nounmedium
Meaning: ক্রিয়াবাচক বিশেষ্য; an -ing form functioning as a noun
Alt: A gerund can be the subject or object of a sentence.
Example: Swimming is good exercise.
Syn: verbal nounAnt: finite verb
💡 Exam tip: In ‘Reading improves knowledge’, ‘Reading’ is a gerund.
participle[/pɑːˈtɪsɪpəl/]nounmedium
Meaning: ক্রিয়াবিশেষণীয় রূপ; a verb form used in verb phrases or as an adjective
Alt: Present participles end in -ing; past participles often end in -ed or have irregular forms.
Example: The broken chair was repaired.
Syn: verbal adjectiveAnt: finite verb
💡 Exam tip: ‘Broken’ is a past participle used as an adjective.
present participle[/ˈprezənt pɑːˈtɪsɪpəl/]nounhard
Meaning: বর্তমান কৃদন্ত; the -ing form of a verb
Alt: It helps form continuous tenses and may modify a noun.
Example: The crying baby needs milk.
Syn: -ing formAnt: past participle
💡 Exam tip: Do not confuse a present participle with a gerund; function determines the name.
past participle[/pɑːst pɑːˈtɪsɪpəl/]nounmedium
Meaning: অতীত কৃদন্ত; the third form of a verb
Alt: It helps form perfect tenses and passive voice.
Example: The letter was written by Mina.
Syn: third form, V3Ant: present participle
💡 Exam tip: Use V3 after have, has, had, and forms of be in passive structures.
5. Regular and Irregular Verbs (নিয়মিত ও অনিয়মিত ক্রিয়া) (8 words)
regular verb[/ˈreɡjələr vɜːb/]nouneasy
Meaning: নিয়মিত ক্রিয়া; a verb forming its past tense and participle with -ed or -d
Alt: The spelling may change slightly before the ending is added.
Example: They played cricket yesterday.
Syn: weak verbAnt: irregular verb
💡 Exam tip: For most regular verbs, V2 and V3 are formed by adding -ed.
irregular verb[/ɪˈreɡjələr vɜːb/]nouneasy
Meaning: অনিয়মিত ক্রিয়া; a verb whose past forms do not follow the usual -ed rule
Alt: Its forms must often be memorized.
Example: He went home early.
Syn: strong verbAnt: regular verb
💡 Exam tip: Learn the three principal forms: V1, V2, and V3.
play[/pleɪ/]verbeasy
Meaning: খেলা বা বাজানো; to take part in a game or use an instrument
Alt: It is regular: play, played, played.
Example: The girls played badminton.
Syn: enjoy, performAnt: work
💡 Exam tip: After a vowel, simply add -ed to form played.
study[/ˈstʌdi/]verbeasy
Meaning: পড়াশোনা করা; to learn through reading or practice
Alt: The final y changes to i before -ed.
Example: Nadia studied English last night.
Syn: learn, reviewAnt: neglect
💡 Exam tip: Consonant + y changes to i: study–studied.
go[/ɡəʊ/]verbeasy
Meaning: যাওয়া; to move from one place to another
Alt: It is irregular: go, went, gone.
Example: They went to school.
Syn: move, travelAnt: come
💡 Exam tip: Never use ‘goed’; the past form is went.
eat[/iːt/]verbeasy
Meaning: খাওয়া; to take food into the mouth
Alt: It is irregular: eat, ate, eaten.
Example: She has eaten breakfast.
Syn: consume, takeAnt: fast
💡 Exam tip: After has or have, use eaten, not ate.
take[/teɪk/]verbmedium
Meaning: নেওয়া; to carry or receive something
Alt: It is irregular: take, took, taken.
Example: He took my pen.
Syn: carry, receiveAnt: give
💡 Exam tip: Use took for simple past and taken after have or be in the relevant structures.
see[/siː/]verbeasy
Meaning: দেখা; to notice with the eyes
Alt: It is irregular: see, saw, seen.
Example: I saw a rainbow.
Syn: observe, noticeAnt: overlook
💡 Exam tip: The past participle is seen, not saw, after has or have.
6. Linking, Phrasal, and Causative Verbs (সংযোজক, বাগধারামূলক ও প্রযোজক ক্রিয়া) (8 words)
linking verb[/ˈlɪŋkɪŋ vɜːb/]nounmedium
Meaning: সংযোজক ক্রিয়া; a verb linking the subject to a subject complement
Alt: Be, seem, become, feel, look, and appear are common examples.
Example: The sky became dark.
Syn: copular verbAnt: action verb
💡 Exam tip: A linking verb is followed by a complement, not usually an object.
complement[/ˈkɒmplɪmənt/]nounmedium
Meaning: পরিপূরক; a word or phrase completing the meaning of a subject or verb
Alt: A subject complement describes or renames the subject.
Example: Rahim is a doctor.
Syn: completion, subject complementAnt: object
💡 Exam tip: In ‘Rahim is a doctor’, ‘a doctor’ is a subject complement.
seem[/siːm/]verbeasy
Meaning: মনে হওয়া; to appear to be true
Alt: It commonly links the subject with an adjective or infinitive.
Example: The plan seems difficult.
Syn: appear, lookAnt: disappear
💡 Exam tip: Use an adjective after seem when describing the subject.
become[/bɪˈkʌm/]verbmedium
Meaning: হয়ে ওঠা; to begin to be something
Alt: It can function as a linking verb before an adjective or noun complement.
Example: He became a successful writer.
Syn: grow, turn intoAnt: remain
💡 Exam tip: Become is irregular: become–became–become.
phrasal verb[/ˈfreɪzəl vɜːb/]nounmedium
Meaning: বাগধারামূলক ক্রিয়া; a verb combined with an adverb or preposition
Alt: Its meaning may differ from the original verb.
Example: Please turn off the light.
Syn: multi-word verbAnt: simple verb
💡 Exam tip: Learn phrasal verbs as complete units because their meanings can change.
look after[/lʊk ˈɑːftər/]verbeasy
Meaning: দেখাশোনা করা; to take care of someone or something
Alt: It is a separable or inseparable-style phrasal expression depending on the object form.
Example: She looks after her younger brother.
Syn: care for, tendAnt: neglect
💡 Exam tip: ‘Look after’ means care for, not simply look behind.
causative verb[/ˈkɔːzətɪv vɜːb/]nounhard
Meaning: প্রযোজক ক্রিয়া; a verb showing that one person causes another to act
Alt: Make, let, have, and get are common causative verbs.
Example: The teacher made the students work hard.
Syn: cause verbAnt: preventive verb
💡 Exam tip: After make, use object + bare infinitive: made him go.
make[/meɪk/]verbmedium
Meaning: করানো বা তৈরি করা; to cause something or create something
Alt: As a causative verb, it is followed by object + bare infinitive.
Example: The joke made everyone laugh.
Syn: create, forceAnt: destroy
💡 Exam tip: Use ‘made him go’, not ‘made him to go’.
💡 Exam Tips
• To identify a transitive verb, ask ‘what?’ or ‘whom?’ after the verb.
• A transitive verb can usually be changed into passive voice, but an intransitive verb cannot be changed directly.
• In a verb phrase, the last verb is usually the main verb and the preceding verbs are auxiliaries.
• After do, does, or did in questions and negatives, use the base form: Did he go?
• After has, have, or had, use the past participle: has eaten, have written, had gone.
• After a modal auxiliary, use the base form without ‘to’: may come, can swim, must work.
• A finite verb changes according to tense or subject; a non-finite verb does not.
• Distinguish a gerund from a present participle by function: noun function means gerund, adjective or verb-phrase function means participle.
• Linking verbs connect the subject with a complement: The flower is beautiful.
• Memorize irregular verbs in three forms, especially go–went–gone, take–took–taken, write–wrote–written, and see–saw–seen.
• In subject–verb agreement, a singular subject generally takes a singular finite verb in the simple present: He plays.
• Do not use ‘to’ after make or a modal: made him go, can go.