GRAMMAR/WRITING

Verbs

Many VERBS express action Three types of verbs

Main Action: Tells what the subject is doing Linking: Join the person/place/thing to something

said about the person/place/thing Secondary

Helping: attached to main verb

Action Verb

Ask yourself: “What is the subject doing?” People applauded. Gloria wrote the answers on the board. She keeps special papers in it. The letter from the contest officials awarded

her first prize. It tells her to “fly” over any obstacle. Daisy Russel lives in Missouri.

Linking Verbs

Some verbs do not show action. Join the person/place/thing to something said

about the person/place/thing Some examples: is, are, was, were

Gloria is a teacher. Daisy is looking through her “brag book”. One letter in the book is especially important to

her. Her entry was an essay about her life. The eagle on the front of her brag book has a

special meaning.

Helping Verbs

Helping verbs are verbs that, as their name suggests, help the main verb in a sentence by extending the meaning of the verb. be (including am, is, are, was, were, been) have, has had do, does, did can could may might will would shall should must ought to

Identify the Subject, Verb/Predicate

Action/Helping Verb (in front of main verb)

Linking Verb (connects the subject and action)

To find the verb: Ask yourself who or what is the sentence

about? (subject) Then, look for the action. Subject- person, place or thing that is doing

the action Predicate- what the subject is doing? Look

for the action****

Subject

Who or What the sentence is about Can be a person, place, or thing

Most birds can fly.

Daniel can come with us to the movie.

Dinner will be ready in fifteen minutes.

A large number of swimmers competed in the race this year.

This beautiful 15th century painting is priceless.

Predicate

Says what the subject is doing Most birds can fly.

Daniel can come with us to the movie.

Dinner will be ready in fifteen minutes.

A large number of swimmers competed in the race this year.

This beautiful 15th century painting is priceless.

People applauded. Gloria wrote the answers on the board. She keeps special papers in it. The letter from the contest officials awarded her first

prize. It tells her to “fly” over any obstacle. Daisy Russel lives in Missouri. Gloria is a teacher. Daisy is looking through her “brag book”. One letter in the book is especially important to her. Her entry was an essay about her life. The eagle on the front of her brag book has a

special meaning.