Types of Verbs English verbs are divided into three groups: Normal Verbs, Non-Continuous Verbs, and Mixed

Verbs. Group I Normal Verbs Most verbs are "Normal Verbs." These verbs are usually physical actions which you can see somebody doing. These verbs can be used in all tenses. Normal Verbs to run, to walk, to eat, to fly, to go, to say, to touch, etc. Examples:

I eat dinner every day. I am eating dinner now.

Group II Non-Continuous Verbs The second group, called "Non-Continuous Verbs," is smaller. These verbs are usually things you cannot see somebody doing. These verbs are rarely used in continuous tenses. They include: Abstract Verbs to be, to want, to cost, to seem, to need, to care, to contain, to owe, to exist... Possession Verbs to possess, to own, to belong... Emotion Verbs to like, to love, to hate, to dislike, to fear, to envy, to mind... Examples:

He is needing help now. Not Correct He needs help now. Correct He is wanting a drink now. Not Correct He wants a drink now. Correct

Group III Mixed Verbs The third group, called "Mixed Verbs," is the smallest group. These verbs have more than one meaning. In a way, each meaning is a unique verb. Some meanings behave like "Non-Continuous Verbs," while other meanings behave like "Normal Verbs." Mixed Verbs to appear, to feel, to have, to hear, to look, to see, to weigh... List of Mixed Verbs with Examples and Definitions: to appear:

Donna appears confused. Non-Continuous Verb DONNA SEEMS CONFUSED. My favorite singer is appearing at the jazz club tonight. Normal Verb MY FAVORITE SINGER IS GIVING A PERFORMANCE AT THE JAZZ CLUB TONIGHT.

to have:

I have a dollar now. Non-Continuous Verb I POSSESS A DOLLAR. I am having fun now. Normal Verb I AM EXPERIENCING FUN NOW.

to hear:

She hears the music. Non-Continuous Verb SHE HEARS THE MUSIC WITH HER EARS. She is hearing voices. Normal Verb SHE HEARS SOMETHING OTHERS CANNOT HEAR. SHE IS HEARING VOICES IN HER MIND.

to look:

Nancy looks tired. Non-Continuous Verb SHE SEEMS TIRED. Farah is looking at the pictures. Normal Verb SHE IS LOOKING WITH HER EYES.

to miss:

John misses Sally. Non-Continuous Verb HE IS SAD BECAUSE SHE IS NOT THERE.

Debbie is missing her favorite TV program. Normal Verb SHE IS NOT THERE TO SEE HER FAVORITE PROGRAM.

to see:

I see her. Non-Continuous Verb I SEE HER WITH MY EYES. I am seeing the doctor. Normal Verb I AM VISITING OR CONSULTING WITH A DOCTOR. (ALSO USED WITH DENTIST AND LAWYER.) I am seeing her. Normal Verb I AM HAVING A RELATIONSHIP WITH HER. He is seeing ghosts at night. Normal Verb HE SEES SOMETHING OTHERS CANNOT SEE. FOR EXAMPLE GHOSTS, AURA, A VISION OF THE FUTURE, ETC.

to smell:

The coffee smells good. Non-Continuous Verb THE COFFEE HAS A GOOD SMELL. I am smelling the flowers. Normal Verb I AM SNIFFING THE FLOWERS TO SEE WHAT THEIR SMELL IS LIKE.

to taste:

The coffee tastes good. Non-Continuous Verb THE COFFEE HAS A GOOD TASTE. I am tasting the cake. Normal Verb I AM TRYING THE CAKE TO SEE WHAT IT TASTES LIKE.

to think:

He thinks the test is easy. Non-Continuous Verb HE CONSIDERS THE TEST TO BE EASY. She is thinking about the question. Normal Verb SHE IS PONDERING THE QUESTION, GOING OVER IT IN HER MIND.

to weigh:

The table weighs a lot. Non-Continuous Verb THE TABLE IS HEAVY. She is weighing herself. Normal Verb SHE IS DETERMINING HER WEIGHT.

Some Verbs Can Be Especially Confusing: to be:

Joe is American. Non-Continuous Verb JOE IS AN AMERICAN CITIZEN. Joe is being very American. Normal Verb JOE IS BEHAVING LIKE A STEREOTYPICAL AMERICAN. Joe is being very rude. Normal Verb JOE IS BEHAVING VERY RUDELY. USUALLY HE IS NOT RUDE. Joe is being very formal. Normal Verb JOE IS BEHAVING VERY FORMALLY. USUALLY HE IS NOT FORMAL.

NOTICE: Only rarely is "to be" used in a continuous form. This is most commonly done when a person is temporarily behaving badly or stereotypically. It can also be used when someone's behavior is noticeably different. to feel:

The massage feels great. Non-Continuous Verb THE MASSAGE HAS A PLEASING FEELING. I don't feel well today. Sometimes used as Non-Continuous Verb I AM A LITTLE SICK. I am not feeling well today. Sometimes used as Normal Verb I AM A LITTLE SICK.

NOTICE: The second meaning of "feel" is very flexible and there is no real difference in meaning between "I don't feel well today" and "I am not feeling well today."

Active / Passive Verb Forms Active Form In active sentences, the thing doing the action is the subject of the sentence and the thing receiving the action is the object. Most sentences are active. [Thing doing action] + [verb] + [thing receiving action] Examples:

Passive Form In passive sentences, the thing receiving the action is the subject of the sentence and the thing doing the action is optionally included near the end of the sentence. You can use the passive form if you think that the thing receiving the action is more important or should be emphasized. You can also use the passive form if you do not know who is doing the action or if you do not want to mention who is doing the action. [Thing receiving action] + [be] + [past participle of verb] + [by] + [thing doing action] Examples:

Active / Passive Overview Active Passive

Simple Present

Once a week, Tom cleans the house.

Once a week, the house is cleaned by Tom.

Present Continuous

Right now, Sarah is writing the letter.

Right now, the letter is being written by Sarah.

Simple Past

Sam repaired the car.

The car was repaired by Sam.

Past Continuous

The salesman was helping the customer when the thief came into the store.

The customer was being helped by the salesman when the thief came into the store.

Present Perfect

Many tourists have visited that castle.

That castle has been visited by many tourists.

Present Perfect Continuous

Recently, John has been doing the work.

Recently, the work has been being done by John.

Past Perfect

George had repaired many cars before he received his mechanic's license.

Many cars had been repaired by George before he received his mechanic's license.

Past Perfect Continuous

Chef Jones had been preparing the restaurant's fantastic dinners for two years before he moved to Paris.

The restaurant's fantastic dinners had been being prepared by Chef Jones for two years before he moved to Paris.

Simple Future
WILL

Someone will finish the work by 5:00 PM.

The work will be finished by 5:00 PM.

Simple Future
BE GOING TO

Sally is going to make a beautiful dinner tonight.

A beautiful dinner is going to be made by Sally tonight.

Future Continuous
WILL

At 8:00 PM tonight, John will be washing the dishes.

At 8:00 PM tonight, the dishes will be being washed by John.

Future Continuous
BE GOING TO

At 8:00 PM tonight, John is going to be washing the dishes.

At 8:00 PM tonight, the dishes are going to be being washed by John.

Future Perfect
WILL

They will have completed the project before the deadline.

The project will have been completed before the deadline.

Future Perfect
BE GOING TO

They are going to have completed the project before the deadline.

The project is going to have been completedbefore the deadline.

Future Perfect Continuous

The famous artist will have been painting the mural for over six months by the time it is finished.

The mural will have been being painted by the famous artist for over six months by the time it is finished.

Future Perfect Continuous

The famous artist is going to have been painting the mural for over six months by the time it is finished.

The mural is going to have been being paintedby the famous artist for over six months by the time it is finished.

Used to

Jerry used to pay the bills.

The bills used to be paid by Jerry.

Would Always

My mother would always make the pies.

The pies would always be made by my mother.

Future in the Past WOULD

I knew John would finish the work by 5:00 PM.

I knew the work would be finished by 5:00 PM.

Future in the Past WAS GOING

I thought Sally was going to make a beautiful dinner tonight.

I thought a beautiful dinner was going to be madeby Sally tonight.