Download Action Verbs

Verbs
Action Verbs
An action verb tells what action a person or thing is performing.
In the sentence, “My father waited at the station for the train,” the verb waited tells what
the father did.
In the sentence, “The swans float gracefully on the water,” the verb float tells what the
swans do.
The performers of the action (father, swans) are the subjects of the verbs.
Action verbs can express visible action or mental action.
walk
stand
put
open
Visible Action
spin
sing
slide
chase
Mental Action
wonder
remember
think
dream
believe
consider
worry
decide
Practice
1. The Concorde flies quickly across the Atlantic.
2. For many weeks Columbus and his crew worried about reaching land.
3. Juan dreamed of his family in Cuba.
4. The quarterback threw a long pass.
5. The receiver barely caught the ball.
6. Elizabeth Kenny developed a treatment for polio.
7. She considered warmth and exercise to be the best therapy.
8. He remembers many events from World War II.
9. Weeds suddenly sprouted all over our front lawn.
10. She believed in justice and freedom for all.
Transitive and Intransitive Verbs
Some action verbs are transitive.
An action verb is transitive if the receiver of the action is named in the sentence.
The receiver of the action is called the object of the verb.
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Sandy opened the window with great difficulty.
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The truck suddenly hit the pedestrian.
In the first example, window receives the action of the verb opened. Opened is transitive
because the sentence has an object (window) that tells what Sandy opened. In the second
example, hit is transitive because the sentence includes a word that tells whom the truck
hit. This word is pedestrian.
Practice
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Lightening struck the new building.
Later in the day, Beth prepared the entire report.
Congress bought its first two navy vessels on October 13, 1775.
The train reached the station two hours late.
According to legend, Lincoln wrote the Gettysburg Address while on his way to
Pennsylvania.
Intransitive Verbs
An action verb can also be intransitive.
An action verb is intransitive if no receiver of the action is named in
the sentence.
A sentence with an intransitive verb will not have an object.
My sister smiled.
The bus raced through the traffic light.
Practice
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Her ring fell between the planks of the boardwalk.
My brother laughed for an hour at the joke.
The explorers traveled along the banks of the river.
We talked for hours after dinner.
Fort Pierre grew slowly from a small trading post near Bad River in
Missouri.
Helping Verbs
Verbs such as jump, talk, and wait are called main verbs.
Sometimes, however, verbs are made up of several words such as
had jumped, might have talked, would have understood, and
could have been waiting. In this case, the verbs that come before
the main verb are called helping verbs. They help express the
meaning of the main verb.
A helping verb is a verb that comes before the main verb and
adds to its meaning.
A main verb and one or more helping verbs form a verb phrase.
Sheila was sleeping.
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Sheila had been sleeping.
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Verb Phrase
Verb Phrase
Common Helping Verbs
am
are
is
was
were
be
being
been
have
has
had
can
could
do
does
did
may
might
must
shall
should
will
would
Practice
1. No one can explain the exact formation of snowflakes.
2. A snowflake might begin as an uncomplicated shape.
3. Eventually, it will look like a crystal.
4. Its growth could be caused by a slight push.
5. It will grow even more with a second push.
Direct Objects and Indirect Objects
A direct object is a noun or pronoun that appears with an action
verb and receives the action of the verb.
A direct object answers the question What? or Whom?
A direct object may be compound.
Mrs. Gomez picked us.
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Fred asked a question.
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The detective followed Abe into the garden.
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Practice
1. The jeweler displayed the bracelet in his window.
2. Kathy sings the opening song at the concert tonight.
3. One lucky person won the lottery.
4. The boss told the truth.
5. Patty noticed the daisies and lilies that I planted in my yard.
6. In the gym, Randy performed acrobatics on the mat.
7. Justine practices piano each Tuesday afternoon.
8. Mr. Murray locks the door at 6:00 P.M.
9. The plumber fixed the faucet and the drain.
10. Dr. Travis examined my teeth yesterday and said I have no
cavities.
Indirect Objects
A sentence that has a direct object can also have an indirect object.
An indirect object is another type of complement. It helps
complete the meaning of a sentence.
An indirect object is a noun or pronoun located between an action
verb and a direct object.
An indirect object answers the question To or for whom? or To or
for what? after an action verb.
Yolanda sent Marge a letter.
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We gave the magazine a title.
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An indirect object cannot be part of a prepositional phrase. In the
sentence Yolanda sent a letter to Martha. Martha belongs to a
prepositional phrase. It is not an indirect object.
Indirect objects can be compound.
Rose sold John and Eric the tickets.
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Practice
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Several students brought the teacher an apple.
Sandra, please give him this message.
The family lent the museum their paintings.
Our agency finds people beautiful apartments.
Verb and Complement Practice
Directions: Write each of the following sentences on your own paper.
Label the subject, verb (verb phrase), direct object, and indirect
objects. Then, tell if the sentence is transitive or intransitive.
Remember, not every action verb takes a direct object. And, also
remember, a sentence cannot have an indirect object if it doesn’t
have a direct object.
1. I selected three mystery books for you.
2. Historians have written about Nathan Hale’s bravery.
3. He was serving in the army during the American Revolution.
4. The coach gave him a special award.
5. We sent her a bouquet of flowers.
6. After dinner they told us the good news.
7. Have you shown them the new puppy?
8. Uncle Bob should have reached Boston by now.
9. Have you ever wanted to ski at Mount Washington?
10. She had carefully arranged her plans a week in advance.
11. Her ring fell between the planks of the boardwalk.
12. My brother laughed for an hour at the joke.
13. Jan out the groceries away.
14. At noon, the flood waters reached the top of the barrier.
15. The tiny poodle stepped daintily around the patches of mud.