Which part of speech describes an action and typically has different tenses?

A verb is the part of speech that specifically describes an action, occurrence, or state of being. One of the defining characteristics of verbs is their ability to be modified to show different tenses, such as past, present, and future. This tense variability allows them to indicate when an action takes place, providing essential context in both written and spoken language.

For example, the verb "run" can change to "ran" to indicate past action, and "will run" to signify future action. This flexibility is key in constructing sentences that accurately convey time and progression related to actions performed.

Understanding this aspect of verbs helps distinguish them from other parts of speech. Nouns refer to people, places, or things; adjectives describe or modify nouns, while adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs, often providing details about how an action is performed but not directly describing the action itself.