“verbs sizzle, snap, and move. a verb may just be the most crucial word in a sentence. without...
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VERBS “Verbs sizzle, snap, and move. A verb may just be the most crucial word in a sentence. Without verbs, nothing would ever happen – nothing could even exist. A well-chosen verb can enliven student writing more than another other part of speech.”
- Jeff Anderson
ACTION VERBSAn action verb tells what action someone or
something is performing.
EXAMPLES: Father carries the ladder.
The ship chugged into the harbor. I believe it will snow. Sandor remembered to bring his puzzle.
*Some actions, such as carries or chugged, can be seen. Some actions, such as believe or remembered, cannot be seen.*
USING TRANSITIVE VERBSAn action verb is a transitive if the receiver of
the action is named in the sentence.– The receiver of the action verb is called the object
of the verbExamples:
Pete opened the window with great difficulty. verb object
The truck suddenly hit the trashcan. verb object
USING INTRANSITIVE VERBSAn action verb is intransitive if there is no receiver
of the action named in the sentence. - An intransitive verb does not have an object.
Examples: The race began. The bus driver raced through the traffic light. Seventh grade students gathered in the gym.
The clock alarm rang at eight o’clock.
USING INTRANSITIVE VERBS continued…• Some action verbs can be transitive or intransitive. You
need to determine if the verb has an object or not.
TRANSITIVE VERB: Kyra painted the front door.INTRANSITIVE VERB: The artist painted in his studio.
TRANSITIVE VERB: The captain sailed the ship.INTRANSITIVE VERB: The ship sailed out to sea.
TRANSITIVE VERB: The teacher rang the bell.INTRANSITIVE VERB: The bell rang for class to begin.
LINKING VERBSA linking verb is a verb that connects a subject with
a word that describes or identifies it.
EXAMPLES: Sheridan was a Union general. subject linking verb predicate nominative
The winners were Tony and I. subject linking verb predicate nominative
We felt extremely tired after all our running. subject linking verb predicate nominative
IDENTIFIES
IDENTIFIES
DESCRIBES
Recognizing Forms of BeThe most common linking verb is be. This verb has many forms.
FORMS OF BE
am can be has been
are could be have been
is may be had been
was might be could have been
were must be may have been
am being shall be might have been
are being should be must have been
is being will be shall have been
was being would be should have been
were being will have been
would have been
Using Other Linking Verbs Several other verbs also function as linking
verbs. They connect the parts of a sentence the same way as the forms of be.
EXAMPLE: The chief remained calm during the battle. subject linking verb predicate adjective
DESCRIBES
OTHER LINKING VERBS
appear look sound
become remain stay
feel seem taste
Grow smell turn
Action Verb or Linking Verb? Some verbs can be used either as linking verbs or
action verbs.
LINKING: The water looked polluted. (Looked links water to polluted.)
ACTION: The inspectors looked at the water. (The inspectors performed an action.)
LINKING: The people grew unhappy. (Grew links people and unhappy.)
ACTION: The people grew poor crops. (The people performed an action.)
HELPING VERBS Helping verbs are added before another verb
to make a verb phrase.
EXAMPLES: run might have run had run should have run will have run will be running
*Notice how these helping verbs change the meaning of the verb run
Recognizing Helping VerbsForms of be are often used as helping verbs
SOME FORMS OF BE USED AS HELPING VERBS
HELPING VERBS MAIN VERBS
am growing
has been warned
was being told
will be reminded
will have been waiting
is opening
was being trained
should be written
had been sent
might have been played
Other Helping Verbs
Many different verb phrases can be formed using one or more of these helping verbs. These are just a few.
HELPING VERBS MAIN VERBS VERB PHRASES
do remember do remember
has written has written
would hope would hope
shall see shall see
can believe can believe
could finish could finish
may attempt may attempt
must have thought must have thought
should have grown should have grown
might win might win
will jump will jump
have planned have planned
does want does want
Other Helping Verbs continued… Sometimes the words in a verb phrase are separated by
other words, such as not or certainly. The parts of the verb phrase in certain types of questions could also be separated.
Words Separated:She could certainly have come earlier.This has not happened before.Marie has certainly not contacted us.He had carefully kept all the records.Did you ever expect to see an elephant?When will we open our presents?Can they really build their own home?They must not have taken the bus.Would you ever want to go skiing?