VerbsVerbs

What is a verb?What is a verb? A A verbverb is a word that shows an action or is a word that shows an action or

state of being. In other words, they explain state of being. In other words, they explain what something is or is doing. what something is or is doing.

He He ranran quickly. (action) quickly. (action) He He isis happy. (state of happy. (state of being)being)

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There are many kinds of There are many kinds of verbs. Here are some I verbs. Here are some I want you to knowwant you to know

1)1)Action and Linking Verbs Action and Linking Verbs

2)2)Helping and Main VerbsHelping and Main Verbs

Action VerbsAction Verbs

An An action verbaction verb shows action. It shows what shows action. It shows what someone (or something) is doing.someone (or something) is doing.

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are needed to see this picture.

Example: The boy swam in the lake.

(Swimming is an action.)

Linking VerbsLinking Verbs

A A linking verblinking verb connects the subject to a word (or connects the subject to a word (or words) that are describing the subjectwords) that are describing the subject

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The man is funny.

(Man is being linked to the descriptive word funny.)

Commonly Used Linking Commonly Used Linking VerbsVerbs

Forms of Be:Forms of Be:

Other Verbs:Other Verbs:

amam bebe beingbeing waswas

areare beenbeen is is wherewhere

appearappear growgrow seemseem staystay

become become looklook smellsmell tastetaste

feelfeel remainremain soundsound turnturn

Action or Linking?Action or Linking?

To find out if a verb is an action or linking verb, To find out if a verb is an action or linking verb, substitute a form of be for the verb. If the substitute a form of be for the verb. If the sentence still makes sense, it’s usually a sentence still makes sense, it’s usually a linking verb. If the sentence doesn’t make linking verb. If the sentence doesn’t make sense, it’s usually an action verb.sense, it’s usually an action verb.

* Note: Forms of be and seem are always linking verbsNote: Forms of be and seem are always linking verbs

Action vs. Linking Verb Action vs. Linking Verb ExamplesExamples

Joe Joe playsplays baseball. baseball. Joe Joe isis baseball. (The sentence does not make baseball. (The sentence does not make

sense, so it is an action verb.)sense, so it is an action verb.)

The roses The roses looklook pretty. pretty. The roses The roses areare pretty. (The sentence makes pretty. (The sentence makes

sense, so it is a linking verb.)sense, so it is a linking verb.)

Main VerbsMain Verbs

Some sentences have several verbs Some sentences have several verbs working together to mean one thing. The working together to mean one thing. The mainmain verbverb is the verb that’s most specific is the verb that’s most specific about what the subject is or is doing.about what the subject is or is doing.

The girl could have gone to the zoo.

The dog may eat dinner soon.

Helping VerbsHelping Verbs

When sentences have several verbs When sentences have several verbs working together, the working together, the helpinghelping verbsverbs are the are the verbs that are helping the main verb.verbs that are helping the main verb.

The girl could have gone to the zoo.

The dog may eat dinner soon.

A List of Helping Verbs…A List of Helping Verbs…

am, are, is, was, were, be, being, been, am, are, is, was, were, be, being, been, do, does, did, shall, will, may, must, do, does, did, shall, will, may, must, might, have, has, had, can, could, would, might, have, has, had, can, could, would, shouldshould

Note: Some helping verbs can also be Note: Some helping verbs can also be linking verbs. How do you know which is linking verbs. How do you know which is which? You have to see how they’re which? You have to see how they’re being used in the sentence.being used in the sentence.

Helping or Linking Verb?Helping or Linking Verb?

The boy The boy isis funny funny. (This is a linking verb . (This is a linking verb because because boyboy is being linked to the is being linked to the descriptive word descriptive word funnyfunny.).)

The boy The boy isis running running. (This is a helping . (This is a helping verb because verb because isis helps helps runningrunning make make sense.) sense.)

An Easy Tip to RememberAn Easy Tip to Remember

When trying to decide if a word is a When trying to decide if a word is a helping verb or linking verb, ask yourself helping verb or linking verb, ask yourself these two questions:these two questions:

Are there other verbs in the sentence?Are there other verbs in the sentence? Is this verb helping the other verbs make sense?Is this verb helping the other verbs make sense?

If the answer to these questions is yes, than you have a helping verb on your hands.

Time to ReviewTime to Review

Take some time now to review your Take some time now to review your notes. If you have any questions, please notes. If you have any questions, please be sure to ask. be sure to ask.