Transcript Verbs - Weebly

Verbs
Verbs
Verbs are a necessary component
of all sentences. Verbs have two
important functions: Some verbs
put objects into motion while other
verbs help to clarify the objects in
meaningful ways.
Action Verbs
• Explode! Scream! Sneeze! Type! Kick!
What are these words doing? They are
expressing action, something that a
person, animal, force of nature, or thing
can do. As a result, we call these words
action verbs. Look at the examples below:
• In the library, Michelle giggles loudly.
• Giggling is something that Michelle can
do.
• Because of the spicy Jamaican pepper,
David reached for his glass of iced tea.
• Reaching is something that David can do.
• Carlos watched pretty women in skimpy
bikinis parading on the beach.
• Watching is something that Carlos can
do.
If you are unsure whether a sentence contains
an action verb or not, look at every word in the
sentence and ask yourself, "Can a person or
thing do this?"
During biology class, Omesh napped at his
desk.
Can you during? Is during something you can
do?
Can you biology? Is there someone biologying
outside the building right now?
Using Action Verbs
State an appropriate action verb.
• Our drama and history teachers ________ a
joint project for our class.
• First, our history teacher ________ us into four
small groups.
• Then he ________ the new assignment in detail.
Linking Verb
A linking verb connects a noun or pronoun
at or near the beginning of a sentence with
a word at or near the end. The verb be is
the most commonly used linking verb.
Forms of Be
am
are
is
was
were
am being
are being
is being
was being
were being
can be
could be
may be
might be
must be
shall be
should be
will be
would be
have been
has been
had been
could have been
may have been
might have been
must have been
shall have been
should have been
will have been
would have been
A number of other verbs can be used as
linking verbs.
appear
remain
taste
look
stay
grow
sound
feel
smell
become
seem
turn
Distinguishing Between Action
Verbs and Linking Verbs
To determine whether a verb is a linking
verb or an action verb, substitute am, is, or
are for the verb. If the sentence still
makes sense and if the new verb links a
word before it to a word after it, then the
original verb is a linking verb.
Linking:
The costume looks interesting.
(The costume is interesting?)
linking
Action:
My brother often looks for his little sister.
(My brother often is for his little sister?)
not linking
Main and Helping Verbs
The following verbs—be, do, have, will, and can—
are used often and have one thing in common:
They all help other verbs to create verb phrases.
Helping verbs help the main verb describe action
or a kind of idea to the subject.
A verb phrase consists of one or more helping
verbs followed by a main verb.
In the following examples, the helping verbs
are italicized. Notice how they help to
change the meaning of opened.
has opened
will have opened
could have been opened
is being opened
Some Helping Verbs
Forms of be:
is
had been
was being
might have been
should be
Other verbs:
do
does
did
have
has
had
can
could
may
might
must
shall
should
will
would
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 questions are also usually
separated. In the following examples, the
parts of each verb phrase are italicized.
She could certainly have been reached by
phone earlier.
This has not happened before.
Did you ever expect to see such a heavy
machine floating in the air.
Bibliography
Carroll, Joyce A., Edward E. Wilson, and Gary Forlini. Prentice
Hall Writing and Grammar. Boston, Massachusetts: Pearson
Prentice Hall, 2008.
Farbman, Evelyn. "Subject Verb Agreement." A Writer's Guide,
Sentence Sense. 2006. Capital Community College Hartford.
Sept. 08
<http://www.ccc.commnet.edu/sensen/part2/twelve/index.html.
Royster, Jacqueline J., and Mark Lester. Writer's Choice
Grammar Workbooks : Teacher's Wraparound Edition. New
York: Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, 1996.
Simmons, Robin L. "The Verb." Grammar Bytes. 2008. Sept. 08
<http://www.chompchomp.com/terms/verb.html.