v - start visual mode, mark lines, then do a command (like y-yank) V - start linewise visual mode Ctrl + v - start visual block mode o - move to other end of marked area O - move to other corner of block aw - mark a word ab - a block with () aB - a block with {} at - a block with <> tags ib - inner block with () iB - inner block with {} it - inner block with <> tags Esc - exit visual mode
NOTE: Instead of b or B one can also use ( or { respectively.