Table of Contents
Types of Verbs Exercises with Answers
Mastering different types of verbs is essential for strong grammar skills. This exercise set helps you practice action, stative, transitive, intransitive, helping, and linking verbs—with included answers for self-checking. Perfect for class 8, class 10, or general English practice!
Instructions
- Read each question carefully.
- Choose the correct verb type or form based on the sentence.
- Check your answers at the end.
- For extended practice, download our types of verbs exercises with answers PDF.
Focus Areas:
✔ Correct form of verb exercises (tenses, agreement)
✔ Verb questions with answers (identifying types)
✔ Class-specific practice (grade 8, 10)
Tip: For tricky verbs, ask: Is this showing an action (dynamic) or a state (stative)? Does it need an object (transitive)?
Types of Verbs Exercises with Answers
1. Regular vs. Irregular Verbs
Test your knowledge of regular and irregular verbs with this quiz!
- What is the main difference between regular and irregular verbs?
- a) Regular verbs change vowels in the past tense; irregular verbs don’t.
- b) Regular verbs add “-ed” for past forms; irregular verbs change unpredictably.
- c) Irregular verbs always end in “-en” in the past participle.
- d) Regular verbs are always longer than irregular verbs.
- Which of these is a regular verb?
- a) Sing
- b) Walk
- c) Eat
- d) Swim
- The past tense of “go” is “went.” What type of verb is “go”?
- a) Regular
- b) Irregular
- c) Both
- d) Neither
- Which sentence uses an irregular verb correctly?
- a) She keeped the secret.
- b) He drinked all the juice.
- c) They wrote a letter.
- d) We playted soccer yesterday.
- What is the past participle of the irregular verb “take”?
- a) Taked
- b) Took
- c) Taken
- d) Taking
- Which of these verbs follows the same pattern as “fly” (flew, flown)?
- a) Play (played, played)
- b) Know (knew, known)
- c) Talk (talked, talked)
- d) Jump (jumped, jumped)
- Identify the irregular verb in this group:
- a) Dance
- b) Sleep
- c) Cook
- d) Clean
1 ➔ b) Regular verbs add “-ed” for past forms; irregular verbs change unpredictably.
2 ➔ b) Walk (past: walked).
3 ➔ b) Irregular (“go” → “went,” not “goed”).
4 ➔ c) They wrote a letter. (“Wrote” is irregular; the others are incorrect forms.)
5 ➔ c) Taken (past participle of “take”).
6 ➔ b) Know (knew, known) – same vowel change pattern as “fly.”
7 ➔ b) Sleep (past: slept; irregular).
2 ➔ b) Walk (past: walked).
3 ➔ b) Irregular (“go” → “went,” not “goed”).
4 ➔ c) They wrote a letter. (“Wrote” is irregular; the others are incorrect forms.)
5 ➔ c) Taken (past participle of “take”).
6 ➔ b) Know (knew, known) – same vowel change pattern as “fly.”
7 ➔ b) Sleep (past: slept; irregular).
2. Helping Verbs vs. Linking Verbs
Test your understanding of auxiliary (helping) and linking verbs with this quiz!
- What is the primary function of a helping verb?
- a) To connect the subject to a description
- b) To assist the main verb in forming tenses or moods
- c) To replace the main verb in a sentence
- d) To express physical action
- Which of these is a linking verb?
- a) Run
- b) Must
- c) Appear
- d) Jump
- In the sentence “She is a doctor,” what type of verb is “is”?
- a) Helping verb
- b) Linking verb
- c) Action verb
- d) Transitive verb
- Identify the helping verb in this sentence: “They have been waiting for hours.”
- a) Have been
- b) Waiting
- Which sentence uses a linking verb correctly?
- a) The soup tastes delicious.
- b) He can swimming fast.
- c) She will goes to school.
- d) They are run in the park.
- What do linking verbs connect in a sentence?
- a) Two independent clauses
- b) The subject to a subject complement (adjective/noun)
- c) A verb to its direct object
- d) A preposition to its object
- Which of these verbs can function as BOTH a helping and a linking verb?
- a) Sing
- b) Be (e.g., “is,” “are”)c) Eat
- d) Run
1 ➔ b) To assist the main verb in forming tenses or moods.
2 ➔ c) Appear (e.g., “She appears tired” – links subject to description).
3 ➔ b) Linking verb (connects “she” to “doctor”).
4 ➔ a) Have (primary auxiliary verb) + been” (helping verb forming the present perfect continuous tense)
5 ➔ a) The soup tastes delicious. (“Tastes” links “soup” to “delicious.”)
6 ➔ b) The subject to a subject complement.
7 ➔ b) Be (e.g., helping: “She is running”; linking: “She is happy”).
2 ➔ c) Appear (e.g., “She appears tired” – links subject to description).
3 ➔ b) Linking verb (connects “she” to “doctor”).
4 ➔ a) Have (primary auxiliary verb) + been” (helping verb forming the present perfect continuous tense)
5 ➔ a) The soup tastes delicious. (“Tastes” links “soup” to “delicious.”)
6 ➔ b) The subject to a subject complement.
7 ➔ b) Be (e.g., helping: “She is running”; linking: “She is happy”).
3. Transitive vs. Intransitive Verbs: Understanding the Difference
Test your understanding of transitive and intransitive verbs with this quiz!
- What is the key difference between transitive and intransitive verbs?
- a) Transitive verbs have no object, intransitive verbs do.
- b) Transitive verbs require a direct object, intransitive verbs do not.
- c) Intransitive verbs always have an indirect object.
- d) Transitive verbs cannot be used in the past tense.
- In the sentence “She sings beautifully,” is the verb transitive or intransitive?
- a) Transitive (requires an object)
- b) Intransitive (no object needed)
- Which sentence contains a transitive verb?
- a) The cat sleeps on the sofa.
- b) He drives a fast car.
- c) They arrived late.
- d) The wind blows fiercely.
- Identify the direct object in this sentence: “Maria baked a cake.”
- a) Maria
- b) Baked
- c) A cake
- d) (No direct object)
- Can an intransitive verb ever take a direct object?
- a) Yes, if the sentence is in the past tense.
- b) No, intransitive verbs never take direct objects.
- c) Only in questions.
- d) Yes, if the verb is also used transitively.
- Which of these verbs can be both transitive and intransitive?
- a) “Run” (e.g., She runs daily. / He runs a business.)
- b) “Sleep” (e.g., She sleeps early.)
- c) “Exist” (e.g., Ghosts exist.)
- d) “Fall” (e.g., Leaves fall in autumn.)
- Choose the correct sentence with an intransitive verb:
- a) She closed the window.
- b) The baby cried all night.
- c) He fixed the bicycle.
- d) They painted the wall.
1 ➔ b) Transitive verbs require a direct object, intransitive verbs do not.
2 ➔ b) Intransitive (no object needed).
3 ➔ b) He drives a fast car. (“A fast car” is the direct object.)
4 ➔ c) A cake (direct object of “baked”).
5 ➔ b) No, intransitive verbs never take direct objects. (Some verbs can be both, but purely intransitive ones do not.)
6 ➔ a) “Run” can be both (“He runs daily” = intransitive; “He runs a business” = transitive). The other verbs function as intransitive verbs (e.g., “She sleeps early”, “Ghosts exist”, “Leaves fall in autumn.”)
7 ➔ b) The baby cried all night. (No object; “cried” is intransitive here.)
2 ➔ b) Intransitive (no object needed).
3 ➔ b) He drives a fast car. (“A fast car” is the direct object.)
4 ➔ c) A cake (direct object of “baked”).
5 ➔ b) No, intransitive verbs never take direct objects. (Some verbs can be both, but purely intransitive ones do not.)
6 ➔ a) “Run” can be both (“He runs daily” = intransitive; “He runs a business” = transitive). The other verbs function as intransitive verbs (e.g., “She sleeps early”, “Ghosts exist”, “Leaves fall in autumn.”)
7 ➔ b) The baby cried all night. (No object; “cried” is intransitive here.)
4. Transitive or Intransitive Verbs
Test your knowledge of transitive and intransitive verbs with this quiz!
- Which of the following verbs is intransitive?
- a) Bring
- b) Sleep
- c) Send
- d) Give
- Identify the transitive verb in this sentence: “She opened the door quietly.”
- a) She
- b) Opened
- c) Quietly
- d) Door
- Choose the sentence with an intransitive verb:
- a) He kicked the ball.
- b) They laughed loudly.
- c) She ate an apple.
- d) We bought a car.
- Which sentence has a transitive verb?
- a) The baby cried all night.
- b) Birds fly south in winter.
- c) He reads a book every day.
- d) The sun rises early.
- In the sentence “The train arrived late,” is the verb transitive or intransitive?
- a) Transitive
- b) Intransitive
- Which verb requires a direct object?
- a) Fall
- b) Sit
- c) Write
- d) Run
- Select the correct sentence using a transitive verb:
- a) She dances gracefully.
- b) He left quickly.
- c) They built a house.
- d) The flowers bloomed.
1 ➔ b) Sleep
2 ➔ b) Opened
3 ➔ b) They laughed loudly.
4 ➔ c) He reads a book every day.
5 ➔ b) Intransitive
6 ➔ c) Write
7 ➔ c) They built a house.
2 ➔ b) Opened
3 ➔ b) They laughed loudly.
4 ➔ c) He reads a book every day.
5 ➔ b) Intransitive
6 ➔ c) Write
7 ➔ c) They built a house.
5. Gap-Fill Exercise: Transitive vs. Intransitive Verbs
Fill in the blanks with the correct verb from the word bank. Some verbs can be used more than once. Then, decide whether the verb is transitive or intransitive.
Word Bank: slept, wrote, ate, fell, opened, laughed, drives, disappeared, broke, reads
- She ______ a letter to her friend. (______)
- The baby ______ for ten hours last night. (______)
- He ______ his favorite book every evening. (______)
- The glass ______ when it hit the floor. (______)
- They ______ loudly at the joke. (______)
- The teacher ______ the window to let in fresh air. (______)
- The cat ______ all the fish on the plate. (______)
- A strange man ______ into the crowd. (______)
- She ______ a taxi for her job. (______)
- The old tree ______ during the storm. (______)
Tip:
- Transitive verbs must have a direct object (ask “What?” or “Whom?” after the verb).
- Intransitive verbs do not take an object.
1. ➔ wrote (transitive – “a letter” is the direct object)
2. ➔ slept (intransitive – no object)
3. ➔ reads (transitive – “his favorite book” is the direct object)
4. ➔ broke (intransitive – no object; if transitive: He broke the glass.)
5. ➔ laughed (intransitive – no object)
6. ➔ opened (transitive – “the window” is the direct object)
7. ➔ ate (transitive – “all the fish” is the direct object)
8. ➔ disappeared (intransitive – no object)
9. ➔ drives (transitive – “a taxi” is the direct object)
10. ➔ fell (intransitive – no object)
2. ➔ slept (intransitive – no object)
3. ➔ reads (transitive – “his favorite book” is the direct object)
4. ➔ broke (intransitive – no object; if transitive: He broke the glass.)
5. ➔ laughed (intransitive – no object)
6. ➔ opened (transitive – “the window” is the direct object)
7. ➔ ate (transitive – “all the fish” is the direct object)
8. ➔ disappeared (intransitive – no object)
9. ➔ drives (transitive – “a taxi” is the direct object)
10. ➔ fell (intransitive – no object)
6. Action Verbs vs. Stative Verbs
Test your understanding of dynamic (action) and stative (non-action) verbs with this quiz!
- What is the key difference between action and stative verbs?
- a) Action verbs describe thoughts, while stative verbs describe movements.
- b) Action verbs show physical/mental activities, while stative verbs express states or conditions.
- c) Stative verbs can be used in continuous tenses, but action verbs cannot.
- d) Action verbs are always irregular.
- Which of these is a stative verb?
- a) Run
- b) Love
- c) Jump
- d) Write
- Why can’t we say, “I am believing you” in standard English?
- a) “Believe” is an action verb.
- b) “Believe” is a stative verb and rarely used in continuous tenses.
- c) The sentence is missing an object.
- d) “Am believing” is future tense.
- Identify the action verb in this sentence: “She dances gracefully at the party.”
- a) She
- b) Dances
- c) Gracefully
- d) Party
- Which sentence correctly uses a stative verb?
- a) “I am understanding the lesson now.”
- b) “This soup tastes too salty.”
- c) “They are wanting pizza for dinner.”
- d) “He is owing me money.”
- Which of these verbs can be BOTH action and stative depending on context?
- a) Fly
- b) Have
- c) Sleep
- d) Exist
- Choose the sentence with an action verb:
- a) “They own a beautiful house.”
- b) “She prefers tea over coffee.”
- c) “He builds sandcastles at the beach.”
- d) “We know the answer.”
Tip: Stative verbs usually describe:
- Emotions (love, hate)
- Possession (own, belong)
- Senses (see, hear)
- Mental states (know, believe)
1 ➔ b) Action verbs show physical/mental activities; stative verbs express states (e.g., emotions, possession).
2 ➔ b) Love (stative – describes an emotion, not an action).
3 ➔ b) “Believe” is stative; we say “I believe you,” not “I am believing you.”
4 ➔ b) Dances (action – describes a physical activity).
5 ➔ b) “This soup tastes too salty.” (“Taste” is stative here; no action is performed).
6 ➔ b) Have (stative: “I have a car” / action: “I’m having a shower”).
7 ➔ c) “He builds sandcastles at the beach.” (“Builds” is an action verb).
2 ➔ b) Love (stative – describes an emotion, not an action).
3 ➔ b) “Believe” is stative; we say “I believe you,” not “I am believing you.”
4 ➔ b) Dances (action – describes a physical activity).
5 ➔ b) “This soup tastes too salty.” (“Taste” is stative here; no action is performed).
6 ➔ b) Have (stative: “I have a car” / action: “I’m having a shower”).
7 ➔ c) “He builds sandcastles at the beach.” (“Builds” is an action verb).
Related Pages
- Linking Verbs
- What Are Irregular Verbs?
- Helping Verbs vs. Linking Verbs: What’s the Difference?
- Mastering Verb Conjugation in English: A Complete Guide
- Transitive And Intransitive Verbs
