VERBS

• What do you know?

VerbsThe verb is perhaps the most important part of speech in English. Without a verb, there can be no sentence.

A verb is a words that expresses time while showing an action, a condition, or the fact that something exists.For example:“Artists paint portraits.” (the verb paint shows an action)“Treasures are on display.” (the verb are shows condition)“The king was there.” (the verb was expresses existence)

Action VerbsAn action verb tells what happens. Sit and throw, for example, are action verbs.An action verb is a verb that tells what action someone or something is performing.

EXAMPLES: The king rules.Famine struck the people.

The person or thing that performs the action is called the subject of the verb. The verb rules tells what the subject king does. The verb struck tells what the subject famine did.

Action Verbs

•Action verbs show mental action as well as visible action.

EXAMPLES: visible action: We chose two books about China.mental action: They remember the film about

China.

Complete Exercise A.

Transitive and Intransitive Verbs•An action verb is transitive if it directs action toward

someone or something named in the sentence.•An action verb is intransitive if it does not direct action

toward someone or something named in the sentence.• The receiver of the action of a transitive verb is called the object of

the verb.

• TRANSITIVE: Bill reads books about Asia. (books is the object, or receiver of the action)• INTRASITIVE: Bill reads every night before going to bed.

Linking Verbs•Linking verbs do not show action. •A linking verb helps one word in a sentence name or describe the condition of another word in the sentence.•A linking verb is a verb that connects a word at or near the beginning of a sentence with a word at or near the end.

Linking Verbs- Forms of Be

•In English, the most common linking verb is some form of the verb be.•Notice how the forms of be- is, are, and was- connect words at the beginning of the following sentences with words at the end.•EXAMPLES: Sara is an astronaut.

He was glad.

Forms of the verb “be”THE FORMS OF BE

amareiswaswere

am beingare beingis beingwas beingwere being

can becould bemay bemight bemust beshall beshould bewill bewould be

have beenhas beenhad beencould have beenmight have beenmust have beenshall have beenshould have beenwill have beenwould have been

Note About Verbs Expressing Existence

• The verb be is not always used as a linking verb. Sometimes, it simply expresses existence, generally showing where something is located.

EXAMPLES:• The missile should be on the launch pad.•Here is your ticket.

Other Linking Verbs• Other verbs may be used the same way as be to link two parts of a

sentence.

• In the following examples, you can see how these verbs act as linking verbs by helping words at the end of the sentences name or describe the place or thing at the beginning.

• The situation on board remained serious.• The astronauts grew anxious.

OTHER LINKING VERBSAPPEAR FEEL LOOK SEEM SOUND TASTE

BECOME GROW REMAIN SMELL STAY TURN

Linking Verb OR Action Verb???• To determine whether a verb is a linking or action verb, you can substitute

the verb with am, are, or is. • If the substituted verb makes sense and connects two words, then the original verb

is being used as a linking verb in that sentence.• If the substituted verb makes the sentence illogical or fails to connect two words,

then the original verb is an action verb.

LINKING VERBS ACTION VERBS

The pears taste sweet.The pears are sweet. (linking)

Apollo 13 appears ready.Apollo 13 is ready. (linking)

The runner grew tired.The runner is tired. (linking)

I taste the red pepper.I am the red pepper. (not linking)

Apollo 13 appears suddenly.Apollo 13 is suddenly. (not linking)

He grew a beard.He is a beard. (not linking)

PRACTICE

• COMPLETE “EXERCISE E” ON THE WORKSHEET, THEN CONTINUE VIEWING THE NOTES.

Helping Verbs

•Helping verbs are verbs that can be added to another verb to make a single verb phrase.

•Often, a single verb is formed from as many as four words. Helping verbs may be added to a verb such as sung to make a verb phrase such as should have been sung.

Recognizing Helping Verbs

• Any of the many forms of be as well as some other verbs can be used as helping verbs.

HELPING VERNBS OTHER THAN THE FORMS OF BE DO HAVE SHALL CAN

DOES HAS SHOULD COULD DID HAD WILL MAY

PRACTICE

• COMPLETE “EXERCISE F” ON THE WORKSHEET, THEN CONTINUE VIEWING THE NOTES.

Verb Phrases• VERB PHRASES are created by the addition of helping verbs to other verbs.• Below are a few examples, but the possibilities are almost endless.

VERB PHRASESHELPING VERBS VERBS

am did can will be should have might have been

talking play write studying seen considered

Helping verbs are also called auxiliary verbs or auxiliaries because they add meaning to other verbs.

• Notice how using helping verbs can change the meaning of a sentence.

• WITHOUT HELPING VERBS: They sing in the morning.• WITH HELPING VERBS: They will sing in the morning.

They might sing in the morning.

Finding Helping Verbs in Sentences

• Verb phrases are often interrupted by other words.• Other words may sometimes separate helping verbs from main verbs in

sentences.

• WORDS TOGETHER: They will be flying in the morning.• WORDS SEPARATED: They will definitely not be going with us.

Have you and the others met our friends?

PRACTICE

• COMPLETE “EXERCISE F” ON THE WORKSHEET, THEN CONTINUE VIEWING THE NOTES.