What is verb? How to use in English

Definition & pronunciation of verb

verbnoun

động từ

/vɜːb//vɜːrb/

Where does the word verb come from?

The word "verb" in English can be traced back to the Latin language, where it originated as "verbum," meaning "word." In medieval times, grammar was studied in the context of Latin, and the term "verbum" came to specifically refer to a part of speech that conveyed action or state of being, and was translated into French and Middle English as "verbe" and "werbe," respectively. As the study of grammar became more formalized in medieval Europe, a distinction was made between nouns, which named things, and verbs, which expressed action or state of being. The term "verb" also came to refer to other aspects of language, such as conjugations, as it evolved from the simple meaning of "word." The modern English usage of the term "verb" can be traced back to the 14th century, where it appeared in the Middle English grammatical treatise, "Tria sermocina." In this text, the term was used to describe a classification of words that conveyed action or state of being. In summary, the word "verb" in English descended from the Latin word "verbum," which meant "word," but came to specifically refer to a part of speech that expressed action or state of being in medieval grammatical studies. Its usage has evolved over time to encompass a broader range of linguistic concepts.

Vocabulary summary verb

typenoun

meaning(linguistics) verb

exampletransitive verb

exampleintransitive verb

Example of vocabulary verbnamespace

  • Jennifer verbally agreed to complete the project by the end of the week.
  • The chef skillfully prepared the meal using a variety of verbs in the kitchen.
  • The author's use of vivid verbs brought the story to life.
  • Simon exhausted himself by verbally arguing with his colleague for hours.
  • As she verbally criticized her team's performance, Sarah noticed their spirits began to deflate.

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