Verbs

Parts of Speech
Verbs
Verbs
• Verb – a word that expresses action or
a state of being
• The verb says something about the
subject
• Every sentence must have a verb!
• Verbs are Classified into 3 types:

• 1. main or helping
• 2. action or linking
• 3. transitive or intransitive verbs
Main Verbs
• Main – single word that is used to express
the action or state of being
• Ex: jump, walk, think
• Ex:
– The dog barked all night.
– Since only one verb is used, it is the main
verb.
Helping Verbs
• Helping/Auxiliary – helps the main verb
to express action or a state of being
• The dog has been barking all night.
• The helping verbs has and been assist (or
help) the main verb barking.
• Ex:
– can speak
– will learn
– should have been fed
Common Helping Verbs
http://www.yout
ube.com/watch
?v=ca2MoQvv8
FA&feature=fvs
r
Or to another tune….
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-F2JWK
Y63K0
Verb phrase
• Verb Phrase: the main verb and its
helping verb put together
• Ex:
• Many students can speak Spanish.
• I will be learning all the state capitals
tonight.
• The dog should have been fed by now.
Common Verb Phrases
• See how many you can make using main
and helping verbs you know!
Note:
• Sometimes the verb phrase is interrupted by another
part of speech
• Ex:
• Suzanne should not call so late at night.
• The verb phrase should call is interrupted by the adverb
not.
• The scientists didn’t think the asteroid would hit the

earth.
• The verb phrase did think is interrupted by –n’t.
• Did you watch the new video?

• The verb phrase Did watch is interrupted by the subject
you.
Action Verbs
• Action Verbs – expresses either physical or
mental activity
• Ex:
• Physical activity:
• I have used a computer in math class.
• Please cook dinner, Jerome.
• Mental activity:
• Fran understands the science assignment.
• The Magician is thinking of a number.
Linking Verb
• Linking Verbs – connects, or links, the subject to a word or
word group that identifies or describes the subject.
• Ex:
• Sandra Cisneros is a writer.
• The verb is connects writer with the subject Sandra Cisneros.
• The fireflies are beautiful.

• The verb phrase are connects beautiful with the subject fireflies.
• The new superintendent was she.

• The verb was connects she with the subject superintendent.
Other examples
• Linking verbs that • Other linking verbs:
form the verb be: • Appear
• Am • Grow
• Is • Seem
• Are • Stay
• Was • Become
• Were • Look
• Has been • Smell
• Have been • Taste
• May be • Feel
• Can be • Remain
• Should be • Sound
• Would have been • turn
SOME WORDS CAN BE USED AS
EITHER Linking or action
verbs!
• They sounded the bell for a fire drill.
• Mom sounded happy about her new job.
• The judge will look at my science project.

• Ann will look funny in her gorilla costume.
Here’s a Test to tell the
difference!
1. Remove the verb from the sentence
The judge ____________ at my project.
1. Replace it with one of these words
(is/are/was/were) depending on the tense.
The judge is at my science project.
1. If the sentence still makes sense, the verb you
took out was a LINKING verb.
2. If the sentence doesn’t make sense, the verb
you took out was an ACTION verb.
So what are these?
• Mom sounds happy on the phone
• LINKING
• They always sound the bell for lunch.
• Action
• The judge will look at my science project.
ACTION
• Ann will look funny in her gorilla costume.
LINKING
PRACTICE
Identify the verb.
Tell whether the verb used is an ACTION or a LINKING verb.
• The alphabet chart is helpful linking.

• is - linking
• Many people communicate with these letters.

• Communicate - action
• Many people use forms of sign language.

• Use - action
• At first, it may be a challenge.

• May be - linking
• Football players sometimes give signals in sign language.

• Give - action

Verbs

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Verbs

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Verbs

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Parts of Speech

• Verbs are Classified into 3 types:

• The scientists didn’t think the asteroid would hit the

• Did you watch the new video?

• The fireflies are beautiful.

• The new superintendent was she.

• The judge will look at my science project.

• The alphabet chart is helpful linking.

• Many people communicate with these letters.

• Many people use forms of sign language.

• At first, it may be a challenge.

• Football players sometimes give signals in sign language.

You might also like