Verb

 

What is a Verb? (क्रिया क्या है?)

A verb is a word that shows an action, state, or condition of the subject.
Verb (क्रिया) वह शब्द होता है जो किसी काम, स्थिति, या अवस्था को दर्शाता है।

Examples:
She runs fast. (वह तेज़ दौड़ती है।)
He is happy. (वह खुश है।)
They sleep early. (वे जल्दी सोते हैं।)

Meaning a Verb Shows - (Verb क्या दर्शाती है)

1. Action (कार्य)

English: An action done by the subject
Hindi: Subject द्वारा किया गया काम

Examples:
She writes a letter.
(वह एक पत्र लिखती है।)

They play cricket.
(वे क्रिकेट खेलते हैं।)

2. State (अवस्था)

English: A condition or situation, not an action
Hindi: कोई काम नहीं, बल्कि अवस्था

Examples:
He is happy.
(वह खुश है।)

I am tired.
(मैं थका हुआ हूँ।)

3. Possession (स्वामित्व / अधिकार)

English: Shows ownership
Hindi: किसी चीज़ का होना

Examples:
She has a car.
(उसके पास एक कार है।)

I have a pen.
(मेरे पास एक पेन है।)

Position of Verb in a Sentence - (Verb वाक्य में कहाँ आती है)

A verb usually comes after the subject.
Verb सामान्यतः subject के बाद आती है।

Example:
She teaches English.
(वह अंग्रेज़ी पढ़ाती है।)

Short Definition (One-line)

A verb tells what the subject does or is.
Verb बताती है कि subject क्या करता है या क्या है।

1. What is a Transitive Verb?

The action of the verb passes from the subject to the object. A transitive verb is a verb that needs an object to complete its meaning.

Why is it called “Transitive”? (इसे सकर्मक क्यों कहते हैं?)

The word transitive means “to pass over.” Here, the action passes over to the object.
“Transitive” का अर्थ है आगे जाना। इसमें क्रिया का प्रभाव कर्म पर पड़ता है।

1. What is an Object? (कर्म क्या है?)

An object is the person or thing that is affected by the action of the verb.

Object (कर्म) वह व्यक्ति या वस्तु होती है जिस पर क्रिया का प्रभाव पड़ता है।

A. Direct Object – Receives the Action Directly - (Direct Object – जिस पर सीधा प्रभाव पड़े)

A direct object is the person or thing that directly receives the action of the verb. Ask the question “what?” or “whom?” after the verb — the answer is the direct object.

Direct Object (सीधा कर्म) वह होता है जिस पर क्रिया का सीधा प्रभाव पड़ता है। क्रिया के बाद “क्या?” या “किसे?” पूछने पर जो उत्तर मिले, वही direct object होता है।

Examples (Direct Object)

She wrote a letter.
(उसने एक पत्र लिखा।)

wrote what? → a letter (Direct Object)

He kicked the ball.
(उसने गेंद को लात मारी।)

kicked what? → the ball

B. Indirect Object – Receives the Benefit of the Action - (Indirect Object – जिसे लाभ मिले)

An indirect object is the person who receives the benefit of the action or for whom something is done.

Indirect Object (अप्रत्यक्ष कर्म) वह व्यक्ति होता है जिसके लिए काम किया गया हो या जिसे उस क्रिया का लाभ मिले।

Examples (Indirect Object)

She gave me a gift.
(उसने मुझे एक उपहार दिया।)

Gave what? → a gift (Direct Object)
Gave to whom? → me (Indirect Object)

He bought her a dress.
(उसने उसके लिए एक कपड़ा खरीदा।)

bought what? → a dress (Direct Object)
bought for whom? → her (Indirect Object)

2. What is an Intransitive Verb?

An intransitive verb does not pass its action because there is no object to receive it; the action remains with the subject.

अकर्मक क्रिया का प्रभाव किसी पर नहीं पड़ता क्योंकि क्रिया को ग्रहण करने वाला कोई कर्म नहीं होता; क्रिया subject तक ही सीमित रहती है।

When we say an intransitive verb does not pass on its action, it means:

1. The action starts and ends with the subject itself.
2. There is no receiver of the action.
3. No object is affected by the action.

जब हम कहते हैं कि अकर्मक क्रिया का प्रभाव किसी पर नहीं पड़ता, इसका अर्थ है:

1. क्रिया subject से शुरू होकर वहीं समाप्त हो जाती है।
2. क्रिया को कोई पाने वाला (receiver) नहीं होता।
3. किसी वस्तु या व्यक्ति पर क्रिया का असर नहीं पड़ता।

Example of passing action (Transitive)

Ram kicked the ball.

Action = kicked
Receiver = the ball
Action passes from Ram to the ball

Intransitive verb — action stops at the subject

The baby cried.

Question: cried what? ❌
No receiver
Action stays with the baby

She laughed.

laughed whom? what? ❌
Laughter does not go to anyone
Action ends with the subject

Note: Ask:

What? / Whom? after the verb

If no answer → Intransitive

3. What is an Auxiliary Verb? (Auxiliary Verb क्या है?)

An auxiliary verb (also called a helping verb) is a verb that helps the main verb to express tense, time, mood, voice, emphasis, question, or negation.

Auxiliary Verb (सहायक क्रिया) वह क्रिया होती है जो मुख्य क्रिया (Main Verb) की सहायता करके काल, समय, भाव, वाच्य, प्रश्न और नकारात्मक वाक्य बनाती है।

Note: Auxiliary verbs cannot stand alone when used as auxiliaries; they work with a main verb.

Auxiliary verbs are used to:

1. Show tense (काल)

2. Form questions (प्रश्नवाचक वाक्य)

3. Form negative sentences (नकारात्मक वाक्य)

4. Show continuity or completion of an action

5. Make passive voice

6. Express ability, permission, obligation (modals)

Types of Auxiliary Verbs:

1. Primary Auxiliary Verbs

2. Modal Auxiliary Verbs

1. There are three primary auxiliary verbs:

1. BE (is, am, are, was, were)
2. HAVE (has, have, had)
3. DO (do, does, did)

2. Modal Auxiliary Verbs

can, could, may, might, will, would, shall, should, must, ought to

4. What is a Gerund?

A gerund is the –ing form of a verb that works as a noun in a sentence.
Gerund क्रिया का –ing रूप होता है, जो वाक्य में noun (संज्ञा) की तरह काम करता है।

Important: जब –ing form noun का काम करे, तब वह gerund कहलाता है, न कि verb।

Example:
Swimming is good for health. ✅ (Gerund – noun)
She is swimming now. ❌ (Verb, not gerund)

 

A. Gerund as a Subject

A gerund can be the subject of a sentence.

Examples:
Reading improves knowledge.
(पढ़ना ज्ञान बढ़ाता है।)

Smoking is injurious to health.
(धूम्रपान स्वास्थ्य के लिए हानिकारक है।)

B. Gerund as an Object

A gerund can be used as the object of a verb.

Examples:
I like reading.
(मुझे पढ़ना पसंद है।)

She enjoys dancing.
(वह नाचना पसंद करती है।)

C. Gerund after Prepositions

After a preposition, we always use a gerund, not an infinitive.

Examples:
He is fond of playing cricket.
(उसे क्रिकेट खेलना पसंद है।)

She is afraid of speaking English.
(वह अंग्रेज़ी बोलने से डरती है।)

D. Gerund after Certain Verbs

Common verbs followed by gerund:
enjoy, avoid, admit, deny, finish, mind, suggest, practice, consider, stop (sometimes)

Examples:
She enjoys reading novels.
(वह उपन्यास पढ़ने का आनंद लेती है।)

They avoid telling lies.
(वे झूठ बोलने से बचते हैं।)

E. Gerund as Complement

A gerund can complete the meaning of a sentence.

Examples:
My hobby is painting.
(मेरा शौक चित्र बनाना है।)

His favorite activity is travelling.
(उसकी पसंदीदा गतिविधि यात्रा करना है।)

F. Gerund in Compound Nouns

Examples:
Swimming pool
(तैराकी का तालाब)

Reading room
(पढ़ने का कमरा)

Note: What is a Compound Noun?

A compound noun is a noun that is made by joining two or more words to form one new noun with a single meaning. Compound nouns are used to name people, places, things, or ideas clearly and briefly.

Compound Noun (संयुक्त संज्ञा) वह संज्ञा होती है जो दो या दो से अधिक शब्दों को जोड़कर बनती है और एक ही अर्थ देती है। Compound nouns का प्रयोग व्यक्ति, स्थान, वस्तु या विचार के नाम बताने के लिए किया जाता है।

Compound Nouns Based on Word Formation

Noun + Noun

toothpaste, classroom, bookshelf
(दाँत का पेस्ट, कक्षा, किताबों की अलमारी)

Adjective + Noun

blackboard, greenhouse, software
(ब्लैकबोर्ड, ग्रीनहाउस, सॉफ्टवेयर)

Verb + Noun

swimming pool, washing machine
(तैराकी का तालाब, कपड़े धोने की मशीन)

Noun + Verb

sunrise, haircut
(सूर्योदय, बाल कटवाना)

5. What is an Infinitive Verb?

An infinitive verb is the base form of a verb. It is usually used with “to” and does not change according to tense, number, or subject.

Infinitive verb क्रिया का मूल रूप होता है। यह सामान्यतः “to” के साथ प्रयोग होती है और काल, व्यक्ति या वचन के अनुसार नहीं बदलती।

Examples: to go (जाना), to eat (खाना), to read (पढ़ना)

Forms of Infinitive

1. To-Infinitive (पूर्ण infinitive)

When “to” + base verb is used, it is called a to-infinitive.

Structure:

to + V1

Examples:

I want to learn English.
(मैं अंग्रेज़ी सीखना चाहता हूँ।)

She likes to sing.
(उसे गाना पसंद है।)

He decided to leave early.
(उसने जल्दी जाने का फैसला किया।)

2. Bare Infinitive (Zero infinitive)

When the base verb is used without “to”, it is called a bare infinitive.

Examples:

I can speak English.
(मैं अंग्रेज़ी बोल सकता हूँ।)

She made me wait.
(उसने मुझे इंतज़ार करने पर मजबूर किया।)

Let him go.
(उसे जाने दो।)

Uses of Infinitive Verb

A. Infinitive as a Subject

An infinitive can act as the subject of a sentence.

Examples:

To err is human.
(गलती करना मानवीय है।)

To speak English fluently is my goal.
(धाराप्रवाह अंग्रेज़ी बोलना मेरा लक्ष्य है।)

B. Infinitive as an Object

Examples:

I want to sleep.
(मैं सोना चाहता हूँ।)

She plans to travel abroad.
(वह विदेश यात्रा की योजना बना रही है।)

C. Infinitive to Show Purpose

Infinitive is often used to show purpose or reason.

Examples:

He went to the market to buy fruits.
(वह फल खरीदने के लिए बाज़ार गया।)

She studies hard to pass the exam.
(वह परीक्षा पास करने के लिए मेहनत करती है।)

D. Infinitive After Adjectives

Examples:

It is easy to learn English.
(अंग्रेज़ी सीखना आसान है।)

She is happy to help you.
(वह आपकी मदद करने में खुश है।)

E. Infinitive After Question Words

Examples:

I don’t know what to do.
(मुझे नहीं पता क्या करना है।)

Tell me how to solve this problem.
(मुझे बताओ इस समस्या को कैसे हल करना है।)

F. Infinitive in Passive Form

Structure: to be + V3

Examples:

The work needs to be finished.
(काम पूरा किया जाना चाहिए।)

This rule is to be followed strictly.
(इस नियम का सख्ती से पालन किया जाना चाहिए।)

6. What is a Participial Verb?

A participial verb (or participle) is a verb form that works like an adjective and describes a noun or pronoun.

Participial Verb (Participle) क्रिया का वह रूप है जो विशेषण की तरह किसी noun या pronoun की विशेषता बताता है।

यह क्रिया + विशेषण दोनों का काम करता है।

Why is it called Participial Verb?

English:
Because it participates in two roles:

1. It comes from a verb

2. It describes a noun (like an adjective)

Hindi:
क्योंकि यह दो काम करता है:

1. क्रिया से बनता है

2. विशेषण की तरह noun को वर्णित करता है

Types of Participles

There are three main types:

1. Present Participle

2. Past Participle

3. Perfect Participle

1. Present Participle

Form: Verb + ing

A present participle shows an ongoing action and modifies a noun.
Present participle किसी चल रहे कार्य को दर्शाता है और noun की विशेषता बताता है।

Examples:

The crying baby is hungry.
(रोता हुआ बच्चा भूखा है।)

She saw a running train.
(उसने चलती हुई ट्रेन देखी।)

A shining star lit the sky.
(चमकता हुआ तारा आकाश को रोशन कर रहा था।)

2. Past Participle 

Form: Verb का 3rd form (V³)

A past participle shows a completed action or a passive meaning.
Past participle पूर्ण हो चुके कार्य या कर्मवाच्य अर्थ को दर्शाता है।

Examples:

The broken glass was on the floor.
(टूटा हुआ शीशा ज़मीन पर था।)

A written letter was found.
(लिखा हुआ पत्र मिला।)

The tired workers rested.
(थके हुए मजदूरों ने आराम किया।)

3. Perfect Participle

Form: Having + V³

A perfect participle shows that one action was completed before another action.

Perfect participle दर्शाता है कि एक काम दूसरे काम से पहले पूरा हो चुका था।

Examples:

Having finished his work, he went home.
(अपना काम पूरा करके, वह घर चला गया।)

Having eaten food, she slept.
(खाना खाकर, वह सो गई।)

Participial Phrase

A participial phrase consists of a participle + its object or modifiers.

जब participle के साथ उसके object या अन्य शब्द जुड़ जाएँ, तो उसे participial phrase कहते हैं।

Examples:

Walking along the road, he met his friend.
(सड़क पर चलते हुए, वह अपने दोस्त से मिला।)

Broken by the storm, the tree fell down.
(तूफान से टूटा हुआ, पेड़ गिर गया।)

Participial Verb vs Main Verb

Example:

She is reading a book.
Reading = main verb (continuous tense)

The reading girl is my sister.
Reading = participial verb (adjective)

Hindi Explanation:
पहले वाक्य में reading क्रिया है।
दूसरे वाक्य में reading लड़की की विशेषता बता रहा है।

7. What is a Linking Verb?

A linking verb is a verb that does not show action. It links the subject to a word or phrase that describes, renames, or gives more information about the subject.

Linking verb वह क्रिया होती है जो कोई काम नहीं दिखाती, बल्कि subject को उसकी पहचान, अवस्था या गुण से जोड़ती है।

Note: Linking verb subject और उसके complement के बीच सेतु (link) का काम करती है।

What does a Linking Verb connect?

It connects the subject to:

1. a noun (identity)

2. an adjective (quality / state)

यह subject को:

1. संज्ञा (noun) से — पहचान बताने के लिए

2. विशेषण (adjective) से — गुण या अवस्था बताने के लिए जोड़ती है

Common Linking Verbs

1. Forms of BE

is, am, are, was, were, be, being, been

2. Sense verbs (when they show state)

look, feel, smell, taste, sound

3. Condition / change verbs

seem, appear, become, grow, remain, stay, turn

A. Linking verb + Noun

She is a teacher.
(वह एक अध्यापिका है।)

is links she to teacher (identity)

He became a doctor.
(वह डॉक्टर बन गया।)

became links he to doctor

B. Linking verb + Adjective

The sky is blue.
(आसमान नीला है।)

is links sky to blue

She looks tired.
(वह थकी हुई लगती है।)

looks shows state, not action

Linking Verb vs Action Verb

Example with SAME verb:

She looks happy. (Linking verb)
(वह खुश लगती है।)

She looks at the sky. (Action verb)
(वह आसमान को देखती है।)

Trick:
अगर verb कोई काम दिखाए → Action
अगर verb अवस्था/गुण बताए → Linking

Subject Complement

The word that comes after a linking verb is called Subject Complement.

Types:

1. Predicate Noun (noun after linking verb)

2. Predicate Adjective (adjective after linking verb)

Examples:

He is a student.
(student = predicate noun)

She is intelligent.
(intelligent = predicate adjective)

Short Exam Definition

A linking verb connects the subject to a word that describes or identifies it.
Linking verb वह क्रिया है जो subject को उसकी पहचान या अवस्था से जोड़ती है।

Finite Verb

A finite verb is a verb that changes according to the subject and tense. It shows time (present/past) and agrees with the subject.

Key points

1. Shows tense

2. Changes with subject (person/number)

3. Can be the main verb of a sentence

Examples

1. I write a letter.

2. She writes a letter.

3. They wrote a letter.

Here, write / writes / wrote are finite because they change with subject and tense.

Non-Finite Verb

A non-finite verb is a verb that does not change according to the subject or tense. It does not show time by itself.

Key points

1. No tense

2. No agreement with subject

3. Cannot act alone as the main verb

Types of non-finite verbs

1. Infinitive (to + verb / bare infinitive)

   1. to read, to write, to go

   2. I want to learn English.

2. Gerund (verb + ing used as a noun)

   1. reading, writing

   2. Reading is a good habit.

3. Participle

   1. Present participle: verb + ing

      1. Running, he fell down.

   2. Past participle: third form of verb

      1. Broken glass lay on the floor.