Parts of Speech II

Verbs, Linking Verbs, Helping Verbs, and Verb Tenses

What is a Verb? Verbs tell what something is doing. Verbs that show action are called

action verbs. Juan plays soccer. Jonathan hits the ball. Edgar makes the basket.

What is a Linking Verb? Linking Verbs connect a noun,

pronoun, or adjective to the subject that it describes or talks about.

Examples of linking verbs include: Is, am, was, are, were, shall be, and will be He was hungry. The band is famous. John will be ready for college.

What are Helping Verbs? A helping verb is used before another

verb to help make the meaning of the main verb clearer.

Here’s a BIG list of helping verbs: Am, are, is, was, were, had, have, do,

does, did, may, might, must, shall, will, can I was dancing at the party. She is dancing at the party. He will dancing at the party.

More Helping Verbs These helping verbs are used in verb

phrases to change the meaning of the main verb: Could, would, should, can, may, might

You play in the park. You could play in the park. You should play in the park. You might play in the park.

Verb Tense A verb’s tense shows when something

has happened or will happen. Most verbs change form depending on

the time of the action. If the action is happening now, the verb

is in present tense. I ride my bike.

Verb Tense If the action happened before (like

yesterday), the verb is in past tense. I rode my bike yesterday.

For singular nouns and pronouns (such as he, she, or it), add an -s to a present tense verb. He rides his bike.