What exactly is a verb ?

Question: I had always been taught it was an "action" word: The verb to run, for example - I ran to the store, I was running for the bus - I'm going to run in the big race. But I was researching on line, and it shows the word "like" can be a verb ? They gave simple examples, such as: " I like hamburgers," or "I like Mary, but I don't know how to tell her." I sort of see with the "I like Mary," because there's some "Liking" going on, that connotes activity, even if it's just pitter-patter of a fluttering heart and overactive brain waves, but isn't saying you like hamburgers just a statement, without action ?

Answer: There are 2 kinds of verbs: "action" verbs, and "linking" verbs. Words like "run," "hit," and "eat" are action verbs. As in "I ate the chocolate." The most common "linking" verb is "be" and its other forms: "is," "are," "was," etc. As in "Godiva is a brand of chocolate." The word "like" in "I like hamburgers" is probably a very "weak" action verb. But, it's important to remember that verbs don't require action at all: for example, "Godiva is a brand of chocolate." "is" is a verb.

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