Verbs Review

Unit 1

Identifying Action Verbs

Identify the action verb and if it is physical or mental

• Eugene O’Neill’s father, an actor, toured the country.– toured: physical

• O’Neill learned about the theater from his father.– learned; mental

• O’Neill’s father sent him to Princeton University.– sent; physical

• Soon O’Neill developed an interest in the sea.–developed; mental

• He left home for two years of travel.– left; physical

• Later, a drama teacher at Harvard University inspired O’Neill. – inspired; mental

• O’Neill knew the value of his own work.– knew; mental

• He journeyed to Cape Cod for the summer.– journeyed; physical

Identifying Transitive & Intransitive Action Verbs

Indentify if the action verb is transitive or intransitive. If the sentence has a transitive action verb, state its object.

• The North and the South fought a war.– fought = transitive verb– war = object

• Differing opinions drove the North and South apart.– drove = transitive verb– North, South = object

• The director remembered this fine old theater from past performances .– remembered = transitive verb– theater = object

• Finally, the day of the first performance arrived.– arrived = intransitive verb

• The almost silent audience watched.– watched = intransitive verb

• The bus raced through the traffic light.– raced = intransitive verb

• The director inspected the scenery, costumes, and lights.

– inspected = transitive verb– Scenery, costumes, lights = object

• Many people bought tickets to the new play.– bought = transitive verb– tickets = object

• The war began.– began = intransitive verb

• Day after day, week after week, the cast rehearsed.– rehearsed = intransitive verb

• Many people bought tickets to the new play.– bought = transitive verb– tickets = object

• At the end of the play, everyone clapped wildly.– clapped = intransitive verb

Identifying the Direct ObjectIdentify the direct object in each sentence.

• I have read five books and magazines.– books, magazines = direct object

• The message reached the lawyer.– lawyer = direct object

• Mother invited Uncle Bill and Aunt Kari.– Uncle Bill, Aunt Kari = direct object

• The drivers are washing the concrete mixers.–mixers = direct object

• Like elephant tenders, they hose them down.– them = direct object

• Henry Ford introduced his first automobile as the “Quadricycle.”– automobile = direct object

• I remember him well.– him = direct object

• The bus driver closed the door.– door = direct object

• We made a videotape.– videotape = direct object

• He fed the dog.– dog = direct object

• Children drink milk.–milk = direct object

• I have read five books and magazines.– books, magazines = direct object

• The message reached the lawyer.– lawyer = direct object

• Mother invited Uncle Bill and Aunt Kari.– Uncle Bill, Aunt Kari = direct object

• The drivers are washing the concrete mixers.–mixers = direct object

• Like elephant tenders, they hose them down.– them = direct object

• Henry Ford introduced his first automobile as the “Quadricycle.”– automobile = direct object

• I remember him well.– him = direct object

• The bus driver closed the door.– door = direct object

• We made a videotape.– videotape = direct object

• He fed the dog.– dog = direct object

Identifying Subject, Verb, Direct Object, Indirect Object

Identify the subject, verb, direct object, indirect object.

• The orchestra leader brings the musicians the music.• leader = subject; brings = verb; music = direct

object; musicians = indirect object

• Dave gave each car and truck a new color.• Dave = subject; gave = verb; color = direct

object; car, truck = indirect object

• The sopranos learn their parts first.• sopranos = subject; learn = verb;

parts = direct object

• That famous director frequently gives performers drama lessons.• director = subject; gives = verb, lessons =

direct object; performers = indirect object

• She also gives children lessons in the afternoon.• she = subject; gives = verb; lessons = direct

object; children = indirect object

• She wrote plays and operas for many years.• she = subject; wrote = verb; plays, operas =

direct object

• Now she shows her students her special techniques.• she = subject; shows = verb; techniques = direct

object; students = indirect object

• The theater offers young people many opportunities.• theater = subject; offers = verb; opportunities =

direct object; people = indirect object

• Students ask actors and directors questions about different roles.• students = subject; ask = verb; questions =

direct object; actors, director = indirect object

• The expert director and producers bring the show success.• Director, producers = subject; bring = verb;

success = direct object; show = indirect object

• The actors memorize scripts.• actors = subject; memorize = verb,

scripts = direct object

Identifying Form of Be and Connecting Words

Underline the form of be, and draw a double-headed arrow connecting the words that are linked by the verb.

The Civil War was a long campaign.

The Civil War was a long campaign.

Many events were responsible for the Civil War.

Many events were responsible for the Civil War.

The Missouri Compromise was not enough to prevent slavery.

The Missouri Compromise was not enough to prevent slavery.

It was a solution to keep balance in the Senate.

It was a solution to keep balance in the Senate.

Later, the Compromise of 1850 was an agreement making California a free state.

Later, the Compromise of 1850 was an agreement making California a free state.

The other states were “slave” or “free” by choice.

The other states were “slave” or “free” by choice.

Indentifying Linking Verbs and Connecting Word

Underline the linking verb. Then, draw a double-headed arrow connecting the words that are linked by the verb.

At the outset, both sides felt confident of a victory.

At the outset, both sides felt confident of a victory.

However, their goals remained different.

However, their goals remained different.

The Confederacy stayed focused on its goal of independence.

The Confederacy stayed focused on its goal of independence.

The goal of the North looked impossible.

The goal of the North looked impossible.

The North appeared stronger at the beginning.

The North appeared stronger at the beginning.

Distinguishing Between Action Verbs and Linking Verbs

Find and underline the verb in each sentence below. Determine if it is a linking verb or an action verb.

Grandpa looks the other way.Grandpa looks the other way. action verb

The plants grow taller.The plants grow taller. linking verb

Can you feel the sun on your face?Can you feel the sun on your face? action verb

Those lions sound ferocious.Those lions sound ferocious. linking verb

Will you taste this soup?Will you taste this soup? action verb

They feel happy about their work.They feel happy about their work. linking verb

Identifying Predicate Nouns & Predicate Pronouns

Identify the predicate noun or predicate pronoun in each sentence below.

Europe was the home of some early automobiles.Europe was the home of some early automobiles.

Americans quickly become fans of the automobiles.Americans quickly become fans of the automobiles.

Man car models were poor designs.Man car models were poor designs.

Henry Ford was the man who had financial backing for his invention.

Henry Ford was the man who had financial backing for his invention.

He was the inventor of the Model A.He was the inventor of the Model A.

Ford was also the inventor of the Model T, his most popular automobile.

Ford was also the inventor of the Model T, his most popular automobile.

Identifying Predicate AdjectivesIdentify the predicate adjective in each sentence

below.

The Museum of Automobile History in Syracuse, New York, is exciting and interesting to people of all ages.

The Museum of Automobile History in Syracuse, New York, is exciting and interesting to people of all ages.

Information on thousands of cars is available and accessible to all visitors.

Information on thousands of cars is available and accessible to all visitors.

The display of collector’s items is sleek and huge.The display of collector’s items is sleek and huge.

The museum has become both a historic site and a showroom for classic cars.

The museum has become both a historic site and a showroom for classic cars.

It will be a popular attraction and tourist site for years to come.

It will be a popular attraction and tourist site for years to come.

Stating Present and Past Tense VerbsState the correct form of the verb in parentheses.

Then tell whether it is in the present tense or past tense.

A month ago our music teacher (introduce) my sister and me to opera.introduced; past

Opera is a form that (combine) music and drama into one production.combines; present

That combination (suit) my sister and me perfectly.suits; present/suited; past

Last week we (attend) a light opera by Gilbert and Sullivan..attended; past

Every day that week the show (start) precisely on time.started; past

Subject Verb AgreementSelect one answer from the choices provided after each

sentence.

Either the physicians in this hospital or the chief administrator (is/are) going to have to make a decision. - is

(Is/Are) my boss or my sisters in the union going to win this grievance? - Are

Some of the votes (seem/seems) to have been miscounted.- seem

The tornadoes that tear through this county every spring (are/is) more than just a nuisance.- are

Everyone selected to serve on this jury (have/has) to be willing to give up a lot of time. - has

Kara Wolters and her teammates (presents/present) a formidable opponent on the basketball court. - present

He seems to forget that there (are/is) things to be done before he can graduate. - are

Some of the grain (appear/appears) to be contaminated.- appears

Indentifying Helping Verb & Main VerbsFor each sentence below, identify the helping

verb/s and the main verb.

More people should have been encouraged to study flight.helping verbs: should have beenmain verb: encouraged

During the eighteenth century, few people had applied themselves to the study of flight.helping verb: hadmain verb: applied

Flapping-wing machines had been studied by Leonardo da Vinci during the fifteenth century.helping verbs: had beenmain verb: studied

Three important aviation devices were being invented in Europe.helping verbs: were beingmain verb: invented

These early inventions might have been an inspiration to Leonardo.helping verbs: might havemain verb: been

Indentifying Verb Phrases

State the complete verb phrase from each sentence below.

Patty did not leave the airport until after four.verb phrase: did leave

The airplane, like many other life-changing inventions throughout history, was not immediately recognized for its potential.verb phrase: was recognized

Prior to World War I, the airplane had occasionally been presented at county fairs.verb phrase: had been presented

Daredevil pilots would often draw large crowds and a few investors.verb phrase: would draw

The United States War Department had quickly expressed interest in the heavier-than-air craft.verb phrase: had expressed

BibliographyCarroll, 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.