does a three word sentence always need a verb?

"Of course not." <---(see, no verb!!) Actually, the answer is *Yes*: by definition, a complete sentence *must* include a verb. Often - especially in spoken English - you may find sentence _fragments_ that do not contain verbs. But even a three-word sentence is not a _complete_ sentence if it doesn't have a verb. So my example ("Of course not") is just a fragment, not an actual sentence. Hope this helps!

You say all sentences contain a verb - but I can think of one that doesn't: "The bear dreams at night." I am just learning, and this video is my current progress. So I suspect I am wrong - my goal is that someone can understand what I am thinking and show me how I should be thinking instead - if I am indeed wrong in how I current think of it. Thanks.

The word 'dreams' is both a noun and a verb depending on how you use it! I had a weird dream last night. He had a weird dream last night. In this case, 'dream' is a noun and 'had' is the verb. The bear dreams at night. The bear couldn't stop dreaming last night. In this case, 'dreams' and 'dreaming" is a verb because the bear is actively dreaming.

is there any possible sentence that does not contain a verb?

I’ve learned that all sentences contains verbs!

what is the guys name? Is it dave or sal?

David. In the last 2 seconds he says, “David out.”

Is there any way to take a noun and then change it into a verb?

Yes. Start with the noun, "mine" (a place where ore is extracted from the earth). Now look at that word in the following sentence: "The miners mine in the mine that is mine." If that doesn't work for you, ask for another. I LOVE doing these things.

How those this help me know what a verb is?

This helps you know what a verb is by teaching the nature of verbs to you. Give it a listen, and you'll learn.

I am unsure if I understand how verbs work can someone help me understand verbs, please?

Let the course's excellent teacher, David Rheinstrom, teach you. Listen to every lesson in this section on verbs, and you'll come to understand verbs. That's the best advice I can give.

Why do all sentences have to have a verb?

Hi Tiffany and moyeposi, All sentences must have a verb in order to be a complete thought. If it is not a complete thought it is not a sentence. A sentence is made up of a subject and predicate. The predicate is basically the verb. Hope that helps! - JK

The word verb can't actually be a verb can it?

The word verb is not a verb because a verb is an action word so it shows action to the noun. The word verb would be a noun because it is a thing.

Does every sentence need a Verb?

Yes, along with a subject and a complete idea.

Main content

Course: Grammar > Unit 2

Lesson 1: Introduction to verbs

Introduction to verbs

Name: Introduction to verbs
Uploaded: 2016-03-25T21:47:01Z
Description: What is a verb? Verbs have a few different functions, but the main one is to express action. For example, in the sentence "the bear roars", "roars" is the verb. "Roars" is the action that the bear is doing. All sentences must contain at least one verb to be considered a complete sentence.

Google Classroom

What is a verb? Verbs have a few different functions, but the main one is to express action. For example, in the sentence "the bear roars", "roars" is the verb. "Roars" is the action that the bear is doing. All sentences must contain at least one verb to be considered a complete sentence.

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Kat
Posted 5 years ago. Direct link to Kat's post “does a three word sentenc...”
does a three word sentence always need a verb?
Comment on Kat's post “does a three word sentenc...”
(48 votes)
- Polina Vitić
  Posted 5 years ago. Direct link to Polina Vitić's post “"Of course not." <---(see...”
  "Of course not." <---(see, no verb!!)
  
  Actually, the answer is Yes: by definition, a complete sentence must include a verb. Often - especially in spoken English - you may find sentence fragments that do not contain verbs.
  
  But even a three-word sentence is not a complete sentence if it doesn't have a verb. So my example ("Of course not") is just a fragment, not an actual sentence.
  
  Hope this helps!
  Comment on Polina Vitić's post “"Of course not." <---(see...”
  (70 votes)
Paul Shepherd
Posted 7 years ago. Direct link to Paul Shepherd's post “You say all sentences con...”
You say all sentences contain a verb - but I can think of one that doesn't:
"The bear dreams at night."
I am just learning, and this video is my current progress. So I suspect I am wrong - my goal is that someone can understand what I am thinking and show me how I should be thinking instead - if I am indeed wrong in how I current think of it. Thanks.
Button navigates to signup pageComment on Paul Shepherd's post “You say all sentences con...”
(12 votes)
Answer
- Bek
  Posted 4 years ago. Direct link to Bek's post “The word 'dreams' is both...”
  The word 'dreams' is both a noun and a verb depending on how you use it!
  
  I had a weird dream last night. He had a weird dream last night. In this case, 'dream' is a noun and 'had' is the verb.
  
  The bear dreams at night. The bear couldn't stop dreaming last night. In this case, 'dreams' and 'dreaming" is a verb because the bear is actively dreaming.
  Comment on Bek's post “The word 'dreams' is both...”
  (30 votes)
Grace
Posted 4 years ago. Direct link to Grace's post “Is there any way to take ...”
Is there any way to take a noun and then change it into a verb?
Button navigates to signup pageButton navigates to signup page
(5 votes)
Answer
- David Alexander
  Posted 4 years ago. Direct link to David Alexander's post “Yes. Start with the noun...”
  Yes. Start with the noun, "mine" (a place where ore is extracted from the earth). Now look at that word in the following sentence: "The miners mine in the mine that is mine." If that doesn't work for you, ask for another. I LOVE doing these things.
  Comment on David Alexander's post “Yes. Start with the noun...”
  (16 votes)
Alia
Posted a year ago. Direct link to Alia's post “what is the guys name? Is...”
what is the guys name? Is it dave or sal?
Button navigates to signup pageComment on Alia's post “what is the guys name? Is...”
(6 votes)
Answer
- auroratanque
  Posted a year ago. Direct link to auroratanque's post “David. In the last 2 seco...”
  David. In the last 2 seconds he says, “David out.”
  Comment on auroratanque's post “David. In the last 2 seco...”
  (9 votes)
stevenviv
Posted 7 years ago. Direct link to stevenviv's post “is there any possible sen...”
is there any possible sentence that does not contain a verb?
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(9 votes)
Answer
- aprilflower37
  Posted 2 years ago. Direct link to aprilflower37's post “I’ve learned that all sen...”
  I’ve learned that all sentences contains verbs!
  Comment on aprilflower37's post “I’ve learned that all sen...”
  (3 votes)
Tiffany #Doggy Lover 🐶
Posted 7 years ago. Direct link to Tiffany #Doggy Lover 🐶's post “Why do all sentences have...”
Why do all sentences have to have a verb?
Button navigates to signup pageComment on Tiffany #Doggy Lover 🐶's post “Why do all sentences have...”
(4 votes)
Answer
- [SKLZ] ▁ ▂ ▄ ▅ ▆ ▇ █ נк █ ▇ ▆ ▅ ▄ ▂ ▁
  Posted 7 years ago. Direct link to [SKLZ] ▁ ▂ ▄ ▅ ▆ ▇ █ נк █ ▇ ▆ ▅ ▄ ▂ ▁'s post “Hi Tiffany and moyeposi, ...”
  Hi Tiffany and moyeposi,
  
  All sentences must have a verb in order to be a complete thought. If it is not a complete thought it is not a sentence. A sentence is made up of a subject and predicate. The predicate is basically the verb.
  
  Hope that helps!
  - JK
  Comment on [SKLZ] ▁ ▂ ▄ ▅ ▆ ▇ █ נк █ ▇ ▆ ▅ ▄ ▂ ▁'s post “Hi Tiffany and moyeposi, ...”
  (12 votes)
Tobi bayo
Posted 2 years ago. Direct link to Tobi bayo's post “How those this help me kn...”
How those this help me know what a verb is?
Button navigates to signup pageComment on Tobi bayo's post “How those this help me kn...”
(5 votes)
Answer
- David Alexander
  Posted 2 years ago. Direct link to David Alexander's post “This helps you know what ...”
  This helps you know what a verb is by teaching the nature of verbs to you. Give it a listen, and you'll learn.
  Comment on David Alexander's post “This helps you know what ...”
  (8 votes)
gumball 2000
Posted 7 years ago. Direct link to gumball 2000's post “The word verb can't actua...”
The word verb can't actually be a verb can it?
Button navigates to signup pageComment on gumball 2000's post “The word verb can't actua...”
(4 votes)
Answer
- ✭ℤ𝕠𝕖🌺
  Posted 4 years ago. Direct link to ✭ℤ𝕠𝕖🌺's post “The word verb is not a ve...”
  The word verb is not a verb because a verb is an action word so it shows action to the noun. The word verb would be a noun because it is a thing.
  Button navigates to signup page
  (5 votes)
Zelly B
Posted a year ago. Direct link to Zelly B's post “I am unsure if I understa...”
I am unsure if I understand how verbs work can someone help me understand verbs, please?
Button navigates to signup pageButton navigates to signup page
(5 votes)
Answer
- David Alexander
  Posted a year ago. Direct link to David Alexander's post “Let the course's excellen...”
  Let the course's excellent teacher, David Rheinstrom, teach you. Listen to every lesson in this section on verbs, and you'll come to understand verbs. That's the best advice I can give.
  Comment on David Alexander's post “Let the course's excellen...”
  (6 votes)
Vedhiryan Bunga
Posted 4 years ago. Direct link to Vedhiryan Bunga's post “Does every sentence need ...”
Does every sentence need a Verb?
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(4 votes)
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- Frederick Xu
  Posted 4 years ago. Direct link to Frederick Xu's post “Yes, along with a subject...”
  Yes, along with a subject and a complete idea.
  Comment on Frederick Xu's post “Yes, along with a subject...”
  (5 votes)

Video transcript

- [Voiceover] Hello, grammarians. Today I'd like to introduce you to the verb, which is another part of speech. But I suppose the most fruitful place for us to begin is by asking, "What is a verb?" A verb is a part of speech that has a bunch of different functions, but one of its most important functions is that it can express or show action. Verbs can show action. In order to demonstrate this, I have brought along a little cartoon bear, and I'm going to use this bear in several sentences, each of which will contain a verb. Because all sentences contain verbs. So I'm gonna write a couple of sentences about the bear, and every time I use a verb, I'm gonna write it in yellow like that. Here we go. The bear roars. The bear runs. The bear sleeps. Now, each one of these words in yellow is a verb. Each one of them is an action, and this is the first thing that verbs can do. Verbs can show action in sentences. And, in fact, all sentences must contain verbs. You can learn anything. David out.