Verbs

In session 29 we are looking at verbs in the English language. We use them to describe actions or activities. Here are some examples: Read, write, speak, listen, ask, answer, think, explain.

Of course, there are a lot more verbs. But you don't need to know them all. When you speak German you don't use hundreds of different verbs either. How many German verbs do you use in your daily conversation? It is important for you to make a list of the verbs you use most frequently when you speak German, because you can then go ahead and learn the English equivalents to those German verbs. When you learn one new English verb every day, you soon will have a solid active vocabulary. The next step is then to combine those verbs with nouns and adjectives so you can increase your wordpower. As you know many words in the English language can be verbs as well as nouns. Listen to the following examples:

My new customer is a very silent person -- she doesn't talk much. We sometimes talk on the telephone.
The personnel manager will give a talk next week.
There will be an interesting talk show on television tonight.
In our company we often work at the weekends because there is a lot of work.
I usually go to work by train. My colleague often says to me: Please, don't disturb me -- I'm working.

So, how verbs can you find in this session? How many of them do you know? Watch out for more verbs to come and be ready!