main verbnoun [ C ]
uk/ˌmeɪn ˈvɜːb/us/ˌmeɪn ˈvɝːb/in a clause, the verb that contains the meaning, compared with any auxiliary verbs that go with it:
In "I should have been studying", "studying" is the main verb.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Linguistics: verb forms, tenses & types of verbs
- accusative
- arose
- art
- aspect
- began
- bent
- conjugate
- ditransitive
- historic present
- linking verb
- passivize
- past participle
- predicate
- progressive
- the future perfect
- the pluperfect
- the present simple
- the third person
- transitive
- wast
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