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?