Mastering English Verbs: A Complete Guide for IELTS and Beyond

Verbs are the heart of English sentences. They describe actions, states, and occurrences—making them essential in both written and spoken English. A strong command of verbs can dramatically boost your IELTS Writing and Speaking scores, helping you express ideas clearly and accurately. You can watch this YouTube video explainer by IELTS Guide Phil.

What Is a Verb?

A verb is a word that expresses an action, state, or occurrence. Every complete sentence must have at least one verb.

Examples:

She writes every day.
They are tired.
It rained last night.

Types of Verbs in English

1. Action Verbs (Dynamic Verbs)

Describe physical or mental actions.

Examples:

He runs every morning.
I think about the future often.

2. Stative Verbs

Express a state or condition rather than an action.

Examples:

I know the answer.
She believes in hard work.
It seems strange.

Note: Stative verbs are rarely used in continuous (–ing) forms.

3. Transitive and Intransitive Verbs

Transitive verbs need a direct object.
She reads a book.
Intransitive verbs do not need an object.
He sleeps peacefully.

Some verbs can be both:

She runs (intransitive).
She runs a business (transitive).

4. Linking Verbs

Connect the subject with additional information (not action).

Common linking verbs: be, seem, appear, become, feel, grow, look, sound, taste

Examples:

She is a doctor.
He seems tired.

5. Auxiliary (Helping) Verbs

Used with main verbs to show tense, voice, mood.

Primary auxiliaries: be, have, do
Modal auxiliaries: can, could, may, might, must, shall, should, will, would

Examples:

They have finished.
She is studying.
You should call him.

6. Modal Verbs

Express ability, possibility, necessity, or advice.

Modal	Usage	Example
can	ability/permission	I can swim.
should	advice	You should rest.
must	obligation	You must wear a seatbelt.
might	possibility	It might rain.

7. Phrasal Verbs

Verb + preposition/adverb = new meaning

Examples:

Give up = quit
Take off = remove (clothing) or depart (airplane)
Look after = care for

📝 Common in IELTS Speaking but should be used wisely in Writing.

Verb Tenses Overview

Understanding verb tenses is crucial for accuracy and cohesion in IELTS Writing and Speaking.

Tense	Example	Usage
Present Simple	I work at a bank.	Habits, facts
Present Continuous	I am studying now.	Current actions
Past Simple	She visited Rome.	Finished actions in the past
Present Perfect	They have lived here.	Past action with present relevance
Future Simple	He will come tomorrow.	Predictions, future decisions

There are 12 major tenses in English. Mastering their forms and usage helps ensure grammatical range and accuracy in IELTS.

Common Verb Mistakes

Mistake	Why It’s Wrong	Correct Version
He go to school every day.	Incorrect verb form (subject-verb agreement)	He goes to school every day.
I have saw the movie.	Wrong past participle	I have seen the movie.
She can sings well.	Modal verb + base form rule broken	She can sing well.
He is know the answer.	Misuse of continuous with stative verb	He knows the answer.

Dos and Don’ts of Verb Usage

Dos

Use the correct verb tense for time references.
Use auxiliary verbs properly in questions and negatives.
Match subject and verb (He does, not He do).
Vary your verbs in writing to avoid repetition.

Don’ts

Don’t mix tenses without reason.
Don’t overuse phrasal verbs in formal writing.
Don’t use base forms after modals incorrectly.
Don’t ignore irregular past forms (go → went, not goed).

Top Strategies for IELTS Success

IELTS Writing Task 2

Use a variety of tenses to show cause-effect (present perfect, past simple, future).
Employ modals for making suggestions or expressing certainty.
Avoid repetition—use synonyms and paraphrasing with varied verbs.

IELTS Speaking

Use phrasal verbs naturally in informal parts (Part 1 and 2).
“I look forward to the weekend.”
Show tense control when telling stories or describing routines.
Use modals for speculating in Part 3.
“It might improve in the future.”

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How do I know when to use “have” or “has”?
A: Use “has” with he, she, it and “have” with I, you, we, they.

She has a car.
They have two pets.

Q: What’s the difference between “do,” “does,” and “did”?
A:

Do/does = present tense auxiliaries
Did = past tense
Does is used with he, she, it
Do with I, you, we, they
Example: Does she play piano? / Did they go yesterday?

Q: Can I use “will” with “if” in conditionals?
A: Avoid using “will” in the if-clause of first conditionals.

❌ If he will come, we’ll start.
✅ If he comes, we’ll start.

Mini Quiz: Test Your Verb Knowledge

She ______ (go) to the gym every morning.
→ goes
They ______ (be) to Japan twice.
→ have been
I ______ (study) when you called.
→ was studying
He ______ (not do) his homework yet.
→ has not done
You ______ (must / go) to the doctor.
→ must go

Final Thoughts

Verbs are the core of expression in English. From complex tense structures to everyday action words, mastering verbs gives you the grammatical confidence needed to perform well in all parts of the IELTS test. Keep practicing, pay attention to form and meaning, and you’ll see noticeable improvement in both fluency and accuracy.

Keep Learning with IELTS Guide Phil

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