VERBS

* A VERB IS A WORD THAT EXPRESSES ACTION OR A

STATE OF BEING

Action VerbExpresses the action a subject is performing.

John (subject) runs (action verb).

State of action: Run

Some action verbs also show mental action or ownership/possession Mental action: I (subject) study (action verb).

Ownership/Possession: She (subject) has (action verb) cats.

There are 3 different types of verbs:1. Action Verb2. Helping Verb3. Linking Verb

Helping/Auxiliary Verbs•Helping verbs are found in verb phrases

• A verb phrase includes a main verb and one or more helping verbs

The helping verb comes before the main verb•For example: The whales will have migrated (action verb).•A verb phrase may be interrupted by other wordsFor example: The students could certainly learn (action verb) more about the sea.

Common Helping Verbsbe am, is are, was were, be being,

been

have has have had

do Do does did

Others may, might

must, can,

could, shall,

should, will, would

Linking verb•Linking verbs link the subject with another word in the sentence. • The other word renames or describes the subject.•Often times, linking verbs are forms of the verb “to be”For example:

• The farm is my home. We are tired. They were heroes.

Linking VerbsLinking verbs are not ALWAYS form of “to be”—remember, the key is that they link the subject with a word that renames or describes that subject, so often they will be verbs that deal with the senses. Check out these examples:

• The room smells disgusting. • This blanket feels soft. • Meatloaf tastes rubbery.