what is the difference between a noun and a verb

The present continuous form of an action verb indicates repeated actions 'He is kicking the ball (repeatedly)'. If a verb represents a state it is a stative verb. 'Pain' and 'love' are abstract nouns.Ī verb can represent an action 'He kicks the ball.' Or a state 'He lives in New York'. 'Cat' is a physical object, so is 'food'. One way is to ask if the noun names a physical object or not. We can sub categorise nouns in many ways.

There are also other categories, such as adjective, adverb. 'Love is good' (Love is a noun).Ī word becomes a noun or a verb when it is used in a sentence. Some words (eg love) can function both as nouns and verb but in a sentence, each word will either be functioning as a noun or a verb.

All nouns are similar, for example, nouns can be the subject of a sentence: 'The cat is good', 'New York is good', 'Pain is good'. Nearly all languages have categories of words that name things 'Cat' 'New York' 'Pain', and a category of words that represent actions 'run' 'enjoy' 'be'.Īll verbs are similar grammatically, for example, they have a present participle: 'running' 'enjoying' 'being'.

What is the difference between a noun and a verb