A verb is either an action verb or an existence verb. Nearly every existence verb is derived from the verb to be. The verb to be takes on many forms. All of these sentences use forms of the verb to be:
I am a teacher.
You are my student.
She is a girl, and he is a boy.
We were late.
It was dark by dinnertime.
Notice that in each sentence, the subject is not doing any action. The subject is just being – or existing.
An existence verb shows no action. The subject is only existing. Most existence verbs are forms of the verb to be.
▶It’s your turn. Choose an existence verb to place into the blank in this sentence. A squirrel ___ in my backyard. Did you choose a verb that shows no action, only being? Good for you!