Download Verb, Adverbs, Conjunctions, Interjections Practice sheets

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VERB, ADVERB, PREPOSITION, CONJUNCTION, INTERJECTION PRACTICE
A verb is a word that expresses action or shows a state of being.
A verb is a necessary part of every sentence. It has the job of telling something about the subject. When a
verb expresses action, the action may be physical (jump) or mental (believe). Verbs that express physical or
mental action are called action verbs. Action verbs: Move, run, hit, jump, whirl, eat, talk, understand,
think, wonder, speculate, prefer.
Some verbs do not show action of any kind. They help to make a statement by linking the subject to a word
in the predicate that describes or explains it. These verbs are called linking verbs. The linking verbs
include various forms of to be (am, is, are, was, were, will be, has been). Besides to be other common
linking verbs are appear, become, feel, grow, look, remain, seem, smell, sound, taste.
Linking verbs: Mrs. Polanski is the mayor of Toledo. (is links Mrs. Polanski and mayor.)
I became sad at the sight. (became links I and sad)
Our school looks very old. (looks links school and old)
Exercise 1 Circle the verbs in the following sentences.
1. Amanda accompanied Tom on rhythm guitar.
2. They formed a rock group with two other friends.
3. Toad Hall Revival was the name of their band.
4. After several months of practice, the group sounded very good.
5. Suddenly the vocalist moved to another city.
6. Jessica took the place of the original singer.
Helping Verbs: Often, the exact meaning of a verb cannot be made clear without the help of a special kind
of verb—a helping verb. Below is a list of helping verbs.
do, does, did
may have
should, would, could
has been, had been
am, is, are,
might have
might have been
would have been
be, been,
could have
will have been
has, have, had,
will have
could have been
will, shall,
should have
should have been
must, might,
would have
may have been
Exercise 2 Underline the helping verb with two lines. Underline the main verb with one line.
1. Your parents might be expecting you tonight.
2. Uncle Ted must have missed the train.
3. You should have been changing your clothes.
4. You might have been chosen by the committee.
5. You should be here for the beginning of the meeting.
6. Hanson might go out of business if they cut their hair.
ADVERBS
An adverb is a word used to modify a verb, an adjective, or another adverb.
Examples
My father spoke sharply to me. (Sharply modifies the verb spoke.)
That pencil is too soft. (Too modifies the adjective soft.)
The game ended rather suddenly. (Rather modifies the adverb suddenly.)
We can sort the various adverbs by the kinds of questions they answer about verbs, adjectives, and
adverbs. Examples: Arlene went out. (Where did Arlene go?)
They left yesterday. (When did they leave?)
We seldom hurry. (How often do we hurry?)
Jim dresses neatly. (How does Jim dress?)
Most adverbs answer the question where? when? (or how often?) or how. The how adverbs, most of which
end in -ly, form by far the largest group. Here are some of the most frequently used adverbs of each kind.
Where?
away, around, back, elsewhere, here, nowhere, down, up, out, outdoors,
somewhere, there, upstairs, inside
When?
always, finally, later, monthly, never, now, once, often, promptly, seldom,
(How often)
sometimes, soon, then, today, twice, usually, weekly, monthly.
How?
badly, boldly, brightly, coldly, happily, loudly, lovingly, patiently, quickly, sadly,
shyly, slowly, somehow, thoroughly, well, fast.
A few adverbs are used with adjectives and adverbs to answer the question how much? They are power
adverbs, because they give more power to the words they modify.
Examples: He came home very soon.
How Much?
This is more important.
Constance is unusually intelligent.
Almost, more, much, only, quite, somewhat, too, very, especially, exceptionally,
hardly, largely, nearly, particularly, really, scarcely, so, surprisingly.
Exercise 3
Circle the adverb in each sentence below, and draw an arrow from the adverb to the word it
modifies. Watch out for adverbs which are separated from the words they modify, especially from verbs as
in the example.
1. Yesterday, I decided on a special project.
2.
I carefully shortened the legs of an old dresser.
3.
Next I placed a piece of plywood on top of a the dresser.
4.
Awkwardly, I nailed the plywood onto the top of the dresser.
5.
I proudly showed my parents this new desk.
6.
They then suggested a new coat of paint.
7.
I looked around for a brush.
8.
Dad had left a can of paint somewhere.
9.
Finally we found the paint in the garage.
PREPOSITIONS
A preposition is a word used to show the relation of a noun or a pronoun to some other word in the sentence.
When you write a sentence about two different things, you often want to show how one thing is related to the
other. Take a cat and a tree, for instance. You could say the cat was in the tree, under the tree, near the tree,
behind the tree. In, under, near, and behind are prepositions.
Examples
I will gladly lend that book to you.
The red house on the corner is ours.
The dog hid underneath the porch.
He ran after the bus.
The following is a list of the most commonly used PREPOSITIONS
about
around
between
like
on
to
above
at
beyond
in
outside
toward
across
before
by
inside
over
under
after
behind
down
into
past
up
against
below
during
near
since
upon
along
beneath
for
of
through
within
among
beside
from
off
throughout
without
with
Prepositional Phrase: a group of words which begins with a preposition and ends w/ a noun or pronoun
Examples:
along a road
for you and them
near me below the bridge between you and me
The noun or pronoun that follows a preposition is called the object of the preposition.
Examples
A man on a horse rode across the field.
A man on a brown horse rode across the wet, rocky field.
Generally, a preposition does not stand alone in a sentence. Usually, it begins in a group of words that ends
with a noun or a pronoun.
Exercise 4 Circle each preposition and underline the complete prepositional phrase.
1.
Three hundred people came to the wedding.
2.
Grandmother lives with her daughter.
3.
He trudged through the deep snow.
4.
Ray will attend the wedding with his friends.
5.
Within the class, ten students were below the required grade level.
6.
We took a sleigh ride over the mountains and into the valley.
7.
Don’t stand beneath the mistletoe!
8.
The deer leaped gracefully across the fence.
9.
I spied a lazy turtle behind the stone.
CONJUNCTIONS ARE JOINING WORDS
Words used to connect words or groups of words are called conjunctions. The most common conjunctions
are and, but, and or. Remember the FANBOYS! (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so)
Exercise 5 Circle the conjunction that joins two subjects. Both subject are doing the action of the verb.
1.
Wendy and Stan washed the dishes.
2.
Any boy or girl will understand this story.
Circle the conjunction that joins two verbs. The subject is doing more than one action.
1.
Wendy washed and dried the dishes.
2.
We listened but heard nothing.
Circle the conjunction that joins two sentences. (If the sentences are more than four words each, use a
comma before the conjunction.)
1.
All four of us wanted to go, but Tom had to cancel at the last minute.
2.
Either we should arrive on time, or we should not go at all.
3.
I am so tired, so don’t wait up.
4.
I love the words, yet I don’t like the song.
INTERJECTIONS
Exercise 6 Circle the following interjections.
1. Wow! You did great on the English test.
2. Yippee! I am so have it is Friday.
3. Darn! I can’t go to the dance tonight.