VerbsThey’re what’s happening!

Action VerbsAn action verb tells what action someone or

something is performing.

My father carries the ladder.The ship chugged into the harbor.I believe it will snow tonight.Sally remembered to bring her puzzle.

Some actions, like carries or chugged can be seen; others, such as believe or remembered cannot.

Transitive and Intransitive VerbsAction verbs can be either transitive or

intransitive. An action verb is transitive if the receiver of the action is named in the sentence. The receiver of the action is called the object of the verb.

Peter opened the window with great difficulty.

The truck suddenly hit the trashcan.

An action verb is intransitive if there is no receiver of the action named in the sentence. Intransitive verbs do not have objects.

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.

Some action verbs can be either transitive or intransitive. You need to determine if the verb has an object or not.

Transitive: Kyra painted the front door.Intransitive: The artist painted in his studio.

Transitive: The captain sailed the ship.Intransitive: The ship sailed to sea.

Transitive: The teacher rang the bell.Intransitive: The bell rang for class to begin.

Linking VerbsA linking verb is a verb that connects a subject

with a noun, pronoun, or adjective in the predicate that describes or identifies it.

Sheridan was a Union general.general is a predicate noun that identifies Sheridan, the subject.

The winners were Tony and I.Tony and I are predicate nouns that identify winners,

the subject.

We felt extremely tired after all our running.tired is a predicate adjective that identifiesWe, the

subject.

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

Other Linking VerbsSeveral other verbs also work as linking

verbs. They connect the parts of a sentence in the same way as the forms of be.

The chief remained calm during the battle.calm is a predicate adjective that describes chief, the subject.

Other Linking VerbsOther Linking Verbs

appear look sound

become remain stay

feel seem taste

grow smell turn

Action Verb or Linking Verb?Some verbs can be used as either linking verbs or action

verbs.

Linking: The water looked polluted.Action: The inspectors looked at the water.

Linking: The people grew unhappy.Action: The people grew corn.

To test whether a verb is a linking verb or an action verb, replace the verb with is, am, or are. If the sentence still makes sense, then the verb is a linking verb.

The water is polluted.The people are unhappy.

Helping VerbsSometimes a verb in a sentence is just one

word. However, a verb can often be made up of several words as well. This is what we call a verb phrase.

The verbs that are added before another verb to make a verb phrase are called helping verbs.

Run -> had run, will have run, might have run, should have run, will be running

Recognizing Helping VerbsThe forms of be can be used as helping verbs.

am growinghas been warnedwas being toldwill be remindedwill have been waitingis openingwas being trainedshould be writtenhad been sentmight have been played

However, many other different verbs can also form verb phrases.

do rememberhas writtenwould hopeshall seecan believecould finishmay attemptmust have thoughtshould have grownmight winwill jumphave planneddoes want

Sometimes the words of a verb phrase are separated by other words, like not or certainly.

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?