Verbs That Start With T: A Comprehensive Grammar Guide

Verbs are the action words of the English language, forming the backbone of sentences and conveying a wide range of meanings. Mastering verbs, especially those starting with specific letters, can significantly enhance your vocabulary and improve your ability to express yourself clearly and accurately.

This article focuses on verbs that begin with the letter “T,” exploring their definitions, usage, and providing numerous examples to solidify your understanding. Whether you’re a student, a teacher, or simply an English enthusiast, this guide will offer valuable insights and practical exercises to help you confidently use “T” verbs in your writing and speaking.

Introduction
Definition of Verbs Starting With T
Structural Elements of Verbs Starting With T
Types and Categories of Verbs Starting With T
Examples of Verbs Starting With T
Usage Rules for Verbs Starting With T
Common Mistakes With Verbs Starting With T
Practice Exercises
Advanced Topics
- Subjunctive Mood
- Conditional Sentences
FAQ
Conclusion

Definition of Verbs Starting With T

Verbs starting with the letter “T” encompass a wide array of actions, states, and occurrences. These verbs, like all verbs, are crucial components of sentences, indicating what the subject is doing, being, or experiencing.

They can be classified based on their function (action, linking, auxiliary), transitivity (transitive, intransitive), and form (regular, irregular). Understanding these classifications is essential for using “T” verbs correctly and effectively in various contexts.

Verbs, in general, serve as the predicate of a sentence or clause. They express actions (run, jump), occurrences (happen, become), or states of being (is, seems). Verbs starting with “T” are no different, offering a diverse range of meanings from simple actions like “talk” and “touch” to more complex concepts like “transform” and “transcend.” The proper use of these verbs can significantly enhance the clarity and impact of your communication.

Structural Elements of Verbs Starting With T

The structural elements of verbs starting with “T” are consistent with those of all English verbs. They can be conjugated to indicate tense (past, present, future), aspect (simple, continuous, perfect, perfect continuous), mood (indicative, imperative, subjunctive), and voice (active, passive).

Understanding these elements allows you to manipulate verbs to express precise meanings and nuances.

Consider the verb “to talk.” Its structural elements can be illustrated as follows:

Base Form: talk
Past Simple: talked
Past Participle: talked
Present Participle: talking
Third-Person Singular Present: talks

These forms are created by applying standard English verb conjugation rules. However, some verbs starting with “T” are irregular, meaning their past simple and past participle forms do not follow the standard “-ed” ending.

For example, “tear” becomes “tore” and “torn.”

Types and Categories of Verbs Starting With T

Verbs starting with “T” can be categorized into several types based on their function and how they interact with other elements in a sentence. The main categories include transitive, intransitive, auxiliary, and phrasal verbs.

Transitive Verbs

Transitive verbs require a direct object to complete their meaning. The action of the verb is transferred to the object. For example, in the sentence “She tossed the ball,” “tossed” is a transitive verb and “the ball” is the direct object.

Intransitive Verbs

Intransitive verbs do not require a direct object. The action of the verb is complete in itself. For example, in the sentence “The baby trembled,” “trembled” is an intransitive verb.

Auxiliary Verbs

Auxiliary verbs (also known as helping verbs) are used with a main verb to form verb phrases. They help to indicate tense, mood, or voice. While “to be,” “to have,” and “to do” are the most common auxiliary verbs, verbs starting with “T” can sometimes function as auxiliaries in specific constructions. For example, “tend to” can act as an auxiliary to indicate a habitual action.

Phrasal Verbs

Phrasal verbs consist of a verb combined with a preposition or adverb (or both), creating a new meaning that is different from the original verb. For example, “take off” means to remove (clothing) or to depart (an aircraft). Many phrasal verbs start with “T,” such as “turn on,” “take over,” and “try out.”

Examples of Verbs Starting With T

The following sections provide extensive examples of verbs starting with “T,” organized by their category. Each table includes a variety of examples to illustrate their usage in different contexts.

Transitive Verb Examples

Here are some examples of transitive verbs that begin with the letter “T.” Transitive verbs, by definition, require a direct object to complete their meaning. Notice how each verb in the table below is followed by an object that receives the action.

Verb	Example Sentence
Take	She took the book from the shelf.
Teach	The professor teaches history.
Tell	He told her a secret.
Thank	I thank you for your help.
Think	She thinks about her future.
Throw	The pitcher threw the ball.
Tie	He tied his shoelaces.
Tip	They tipped the waiter generously.
Toss	He tossed the keys to his friend.
Touch	She gently touched his hand.
Track	The hunters tracked the deer through the forest.
Trade	The companies traded stocks on the exchange.
Train	The coach trains the athletes rigorously.
Transfer	The bank transferred the funds to her account.
Transform	The artist transformed the old barn into a studio.
Translate	She translated the book from French to English.
Transport	The trucks transport goods across the country.
Trap	The police trapped the suspect in the building.
Treat	The doctor treated the patient with care.
Trim	He trimmed the hedges in the garden.
Trust	I trust his judgment completely.
Try	She tried her best on the exam.
Tame	The lion tamer tamed the wild beast.
Taste	The chef tasted the soup before serving it.
Test	The scientists tested the new vaccine.
Tidy	She tidied her room before the guests arrived.
Tolerate	I cannot tolerate such behavior.
Tackle	The football player tackled his opponent.

Intransitive Verb Examples

Here are examples of intransitive verbs starting with “T.” Intransitive verbs do not take a direct object; the action is complete within the verb itself. Notice how these verbs are not followed by a noun or pronoun receiving the action.

Verb	Example Sentence
Talk	They talked for hours.
Tremble	The ground trembled during the earthquake.
Thrive	Plants thrive in sunlight.
Travel	We travel frequently for work.
Tire	I tire easily in the heat.
Teem	The lake teems with fish.
Think	I think therefore I am.
Tumble	The acrobat tumbled across the stage.
Transpire	The meeting transpired without any issues.
Tarry	Do not tarry, we must leave now.
Testify	He testified in court.
Thank	She thanked God for her blessings.
Tiptoe	The cat tiptoed silently across the floor.
Toll	The bell tolled solemnly.
Toil	Farmers toil in the fields all day.
Trickle	Water trickled down the rocks.
Triumph	Good will always triumph over evil.
Trouble	I don’t want to trouble you with my problems.
Trust	You have to trust in yourself.
Try	One must always try to do their best.
Throb	My head throbbed with pain.
Tingle	My fingers tingle in the cold.
Thaw	The snow began to thaw in the spring sunshine.
Tingle	My skin tingled after my walk in the sun.
Tip	The scale tipped slightly to the left.
Tolerate	I cannot tolerate such rudeness any longer.
Tumble	The old building started to tumble.

Auxiliary Verb Examples

While less common, some verbs starting with “T” can function as auxiliary verbs, primarily in specific idiomatic expressions. These expressions often involve the verb “to” followed by another verb.

The table below illustrates such cases.

Verb	Example Sentence
Tend to	He tends to arrive late.
Try to	We try to help those in need.
Threaten to	The storm threatened to worsen overnight.
Trouble to	Don’t trouble to call him; he won’t answer.
Turn to	They turned to prayer in their hour of need.
Take to	She took to painting as a hobby.

Phrasal Verb Examples

Phrasal verbs are combinations of a verb and a preposition or adverb, creating a new meaning. Many common and useful phrasal verbs start with “T.” Understanding these verbs is crucial for fluent English.

Verb	Meaning	Example Sentence
Take after	Resemble	He takes after his father in appearance.
Take away	Remove	Please take away the dishes.
Take back	Withdraw	I take back what I said.
Take down	Write down	Please take down these notes.
Take in	Deceive	Don’t be taken in by his lies.
Take off	Depart	The plane will take off soon.
Take on	Assume responsibility	She will take on the new project.
Take out	Remove	He took out the trash.
Take over	Assume control	The company was taken over by a larger firm.
Take up	Start a hobby	He took up painting in his retirement.
Tear down	Demolish	They tore down the old building.
Tear up	Rip into pieces	She tore up the letter in anger.
Tell off	Reprimand	The teacher told the student off for misbehaving.
Think over	Consider carefully	I need to think over your proposal.
Throw away	Discard	Please throw away the garbage.
Throw up	Vomit	He threw up after eating the spoiled food.
Touch on	Mention briefly	The speaker touched on several important issues.
Track down	Find after searching	The police tracked down the suspect.
Try on	Test clothing for size	She tried on the dress before buying it.
Try out	Test something to see if you like it	He tried out the new car.
Turn around	Change direction	The company managed to turn around its fortunes.
Turn down	Reject	She turned down the job offer.
Turn in	Submit	Please turn in your assignments on time.
Turn off	Switch off	Please turn off the lights when you leave.
Turn on	Switch on	She turned on the television.
Turn out	Appear or happen in a particular way	It turned out to be a beautiful day.
Turn up	Arrive unexpectedly	He turned up late for the meeting.
Tune in	Watch or listen to a broadcast	Don’t forget to tune in next week for the next episode.

Usage Rules for Verbs Starting With T

Using verbs starting with “T” correctly involves adhering to standard English grammar rules, including tense agreement, subject-verb agreement, and understanding the irregularities of certain verbs.

Tense Agreement

Tense agreement requires that the verbs in a sentence or paragraph are consistent in tense, unless there is a logical reason to shift tenses. For example: “He talked about his trip, and I listened attentively.” Both verbs are in the past tense.

Subject-Verb Agreement

Subject-verb agreement requires that the verb agrees in number with its subject. Singular subjects take singular verbs, and plural subjects take plural verbs. For example: “She takes the bus to work” (singular) vs. “They take the bus to work” (plural).

Irregular Verbs

Many verbs starting with “T” are irregular, meaning their past simple and past participle forms do not follow the standard “-ed” ending. It is crucial to memorize these forms.

Some examples include:

Tear: tore, torn
Tell: told, told
Think: thought, thought

The following table provides a more comprehensive list of irregular verbs starting with “T.”

Base Form	Past Simple	Past Participle
Tear	Tore	Torn
Tell	Told	Told
Think	Thought	Thought

Common Mistakes With Verbs Starting With T

Several common mistakes occur when using verbs starting with “T.” These errors often involve incorrect tense usage, subject-verb disagreement, or misuse of irregular verb forms.

Incorrect	Correct	Explanation
He taked the book.	He took the book.	“Take” is irregular; the past simple is “took.”
She think it’s a good idea.	She thinks it’s a good idea.	Singular subject “she” requires the singular verb form “thinks.”
They was talking loudly.	They were talking loudly.	Plural subject “they” requires the plural verb form “were.”
I have teared the paper.	I have torn the paper.	“Tear” is irregular; the past participle is “torn.”
He telled me a story.	He told me a story.	“Tell” is irregular; the past simple is “told.”

Practice Exercises

The following exercises will help you practice using verbs starting with “T” correctly. Each exercise focuses on a different aspect of verb usage.

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks

Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verb provided in parentheses.

Question	Answer
1. She _______ (take) the bus to work every day.	1. takes
2. They _______ (talk) for hours last night.	2. talked
3. He _______ (think) about his future.	3. thinks
4. We _______ (try) to help those in need.	4. try
5. The ground _______ (tremble) during the earthquake.	5. trembled
6. She _______ (tear) the letter into pieces.	6. tore
7. He _______ (tell) me a secret.	7. told
8. They _______ (thank) us for our help.	8. thanked
9. The plants _______ (thrive) in the sunlight.	9. thrive
10. He _______ (throw) the ball to his friend.	10. threw

Exercise 2: Sentence Construction

Construct sentences using the given verbs starting with “T.”

Verb	Example Sentence
Take	He will take the exam next week.
Teach	The professor teaches advanced mathematics.
Tell	Please tell me the truth.
Think	I think it will rain tomorrow.
Travel	They plan to travel to Europe next summer.
Try	Always try your best in everything you do.
Transform	The artist transformed the canvas into a masterpiece.
Trust	You must trust your instincts.
Tackle	The team needs to tackle this problem head-on.
Taste	The soup tasted delicious.

Exercise 3: Error Correction

Identify and correct the errors in the following sentences.

Incorrect Sentence	Correct Sentence
She taked the responsibility.	She took the responsibility.
They was travel to Italy.	They were traveling to Italy.
He thinked about it all day.	He thought about it all day.
I have teared the paper by mistake.	I have torn the paper by mistake.
She tell me everything yesterday.	She told me everything yesterday.
He thrive in difficult situations.	He thrives in difficult situations.
They thank to their parents.	They thanked their parents.
I will tried my best.	I will try my best.
She tremble when she is nervous.	She trembles when she is nervous.
He throwed the ball very far.	He threw the ball very far.

Advanced Topics

For advanced learners, understanding the subjunctive mood and conditional sentences involving verbs starting with “T” can further refine their English skills.

Subjunctive Mood

The subjunctive mood is used to express wishes, suggestions, commands, or hypothetical situations. While less common in modern English, it still appears in certain constructions. For example: “I suggest that he take a break.” (Note the base form “take” is used instead of “takes”).

Conditional Sentences

Conditional sentences express hypothetical situations and their consequences. Verbs starting with “T” can play a crucial role in these sentences. For example: “If he tried harder, he would succeed.”

Here’s a summary of the different types of conditional sentences and how verbs starting with “T” might be used in them:

Zero Conditional: If + present simple, present simple (general truths) – “If you touch a hot stove, you get burned.”
First Conditional: If + present simple, will + base form (likely future events) – “If she takes the job, she will move to New York.”
Second Conditional: If + past simple, would + base form (unlikely future events) – “If I travelled to space, I would take many pictures.”
Third Conditional: If + past perfect, would have + past participle (hypothetical past events) – “If he had tried harder, he would have succeeded.”

FAQ

Here are some frequently asked questions about verbs starting with “T.”

What is the difference between “take” and “bring”?
Take means to carry something from one place to another, focusing on the departure point. Bring means to carry something to a place, focusing on the arrival point. For example, “Take this book to the library” (you are at the starting point) and “Bring the book to me” (you are at the destination point).
How do I know if a verb starting with “T” is transitive or intransitive?
A transitive verb requires a direct object to complete its meaning, while an intransitive verb does not. To determine if a verb is transitive, ask “What?” or “Whom?” after the verb. If you can answer the question with a noun or pronoun, the verb is transitive. For example, “She tossed the ball.” Tossed what? The ball (transitive). “The baby trembled.” Trembled what? (no answer, intransitive).
What are some common phrasal verbs starting with “T”?
Some common phrasal verbs starting with “T” include “take off,” “take over,” “turn on,” “turn off,” “try out,” and “throw away.” These verbs have meanings that are different from the individual words that make them up.
How can I improve my understanding of irregular verbs starting with “T”?
Memorization is key. Create flashcards, use online resources, and practice using these verbs in sentences. Regular exposure and practice will help you internalize the irregular forms.
When should I use the subjunctive mood with verbs starting with “T”?
Use the subjunctive mood to express wishes, suggestions, commands, or hypothetical situations. For example, “I suggest that he take a break.” It is most commonly found after verbs like suggest, recommend, demand, and insist.
What is the difference between “think” and “believe”?
Think implies a process of reasoning or consideration, often based on incomplete information. Believe implies a stronger conviction or acceptance of something as true, often based on faith or trust. For example, “I think it will rain” (based on observation) versus “I believe in God” (based on faith).
How do I use ‘tend to’ correctly?
The phrase ‘tend to’ is used to describe a habitual or likely behavior. It is always followed by the base form of a verb. For example, “He tends to arrive late” means he usually arrives late. You can also use it to describe general tendencies: “People tend to be happier in the summer.”
What’s the correct way to use ‘try to’ versus ‘try and’?
While both phrases are commonly used, ‘try to’ is generally considered more grammatically correct. ‘Try and’ is more informal, but widely accepted in spoken English. For example, “Try to finish your homework” is more formal than “Try and finish your homework,” but both convey the same meaning.
How can I remember the different meanings of phrasal verbs starting with ‘T’?
Phrasal verbs can be tricky because their meanings are not always obvious from the individual words. Context is key. Pay attention to how the phrasal verb is used in different situations. Create flashcards with example sentences, and practice using them in your own writing and speaking.
When is it appropriate to use ‘trouble’ as a verb?
‘Trouble’ as a verb means to cause inconvenience or worry to someone. It is often used in negative constructions to politely decline assistance or apologize for causing a burden. For example, “I don’t want to trouble you” or “I’m sorry to trouble you with this.”

Conclusion

Mastering verbs starting with the letter “T” is an essential step in enhancing your English language proficiency. By understanding their definitions, structural elements, types, and usage rules, you can communicate more effectively and accurately.

Remember to pay attention to tense agreement, subject-verb agreement, and the irregularities of certain verbs. Regular practice and exposure to various contexts will further solidify your understanding and help you avoid common mistakes.

Keep practicing, and you’ll be able to confidently use “T” verbs in your writing and speaking.

In summary, verbs that start with ‘T’ offer a rich and diverse vocabulary for expressing actions, states, and occurrences. From transitive verbs like ‘take’ and ‘teach’ to intransitive verbs like ‘tremble’ and ‘thrive,’ and the nuanced phrasal verbs such as ‘take off’ and ‘turn on,’ these words are fundamental to English communication.

By continuously practicing and incorporating these verbs into your daily language use, you will significantly improve your overall command of English grammar and vocabulary.

Verbs That Start With T: A Comprehensive Grammar Guide

Table of Contents

Definition of Verbs Starting With T

Structural Elements of Verbs Starting With T