VerbsACTION WORDS

Types of Verb Actions

Physical Mental State of Being

Swim Think Exist

Write Observe Seem

Climb Question Become

Twirl Confuse Be

Verbs that Express States of BeingThese "actions" are sometimes difficult to identify because we don't often think of them as actions. However, the words describing these actions are verbs. Below is a list of some common verbs that people don't always recognize:

To Be Verbs

Be Am Is

Are Was Were

Being Been Will Be

Helping VerbsSometimes we need to use two verbs to help us describe an action. Helping verbs only appear in sentences with at least two verbs.

I am soaring.

Main Verb

Helping Verb

Helping VerbsThe list below is a list of helping verbs:

be being has do can wouldam been have does will mayis was had did shall might

are were should mustcould

Helping VerbsBut remember, in order to be a helping verbs, these verbs need to be in front of a main verb. Otherwise they are the main verb, not a helping verb.

I am running. I am a runner.

be being has do can wouldam been have does will mayis was had did shall might

are were should mustcould

Helping Verb

Main Verb Main Verb

Based on the following examples, what do you think a Linking Verb is?CONCEPT ATTAINMENT

Concept Attainment

EXAMPLES

I am clean.

NON-EXAMPLES

I am cleaning the carpet.

Concept Attainment

EXAMPLES

She was a spectacular dancer.

NON-EXAMPLES

She was dancing spectacularly.

Concept Attainment

EXAMPLES

They are the best football team.

NON-EXAMPLES

They are playing the best football team.

Concept Attainment

EXAMPLES

This book is really interesting.

NON-EXAMPLES

This book is lying on the floor.

Concept Attainment

EXAMPLES

My brownie tastes like chicken!

NON-EXAMPLES

I tasted your brownie and agree!

Concept Attainment

EXAMPLES

The students were growing impatient.

NON-EXAMPLES

The students were growing a garden.

Concept Attainment

EXAMPLES

I am clean.

She was a spectacular dancer.

They are the best football team.

This book is really interesting.

My brownie tastes like chicken!

The students were growing impatient.

NON-EXAMPLES

I am cleaning the carpet

She was dancing spectacularly.

They are playing the best football team.

This book is lying on the floor.

I tasted your brownie and agree!

The students were growing a garden.

Linking VerbsLinking verbs help describe a state of being. They are called linking verbs because they “link” the subject of the sentence to its description.

I am a student.

Linking Verb

Subject Description

She is very clever.

This story grows more intense.

This brownie tastes like chicken!

Linking Verbs

Subject

Linking Verb

Description

Linking VerbsThe list below is a list of linking verbs:

be being appear lookam been become tasteis was feel smell

are were grow sound

Linking VerbsSome verbs can be used to describe a physical action AND to describe a state of being. When they are used to describe state of being, they are being used as linking verbs.

The rabbit appeared. He appears hungry.

My teacher grew a beard. My plant grew two inches!

Linking Verb

Linking Verb

Verb PhrasesIn class this year we have already learned about different kinds of phrases within a sentence.

Noun Phrases: groups of words that describe a noun

a spider

a silly spider

a silly, pink-polka-dotted spider wearing tap shoes

Verb PhrasesIn class this year we have already learned about different kinds of phrases within a sentence.

Prepositional Phrases: a groups of words that describe location or ownership

in the web

for the fly

from the shadows

Verb PhrasesVerb phrases are an important part of a sentence to be able to identify, too.

Verb Phrases: groups of helping, linking, and main verbs that describe an action

caterwaul

has been caterwauling

should have been caterwauling

Verb PhrasesVerb phrases may be short, with only one verb phrase in each sentence:

There once was an old lady.

She swallowed a fly.

Perhaps, she will die.

Verb PhrasesOr verb phrases can be long, with more than one verb phrase in each sentence :

Little Miss Muffett sat on a tuffet eating her curds and whey.

Along came a spider and sat down beside her, and

frightened Miss Muffett away.

Verb PhrasesOr verb phrases can be long, with more than one verb phrase in each sentence :

It had been a long, stormy night. The wind had been

howling and the rafters had been creaking. No one heard the

soft, tiny feet that were quietly tapping.

Verb PhrasesBut, remember! Only verbs are counted as part of a verb phrase:

It had been a long, stormy night. The wind had been

howling and the rafters had been creaking. No one heard the

soft, tiny feet that were quietly tapping.

Common MistakesBut, remember! Only verbs are counted as part of a verb phrase:

The spider was quickly crawling across the floor.

It could not believe its arachnid eyes!

A tasty housefly miserably awaiting its doom.

Common MistakesBut, remember! Only verbs are counted as part of a verb phrase:

The spider was quickly crawling across the floor.

It could not believe its arachnid eyes!

A tasty housefly miserably awaiting its doom.

This sentence is incomplete. It needs a helping verb.

Common MistakesBut, remember! Only verbs are counted as part of a verb phrase:

The spider was quickly crawling across the floor.

It could not believe its arachnid eyes!

A tasty housefly was miserably awaiting its doom.

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