Download VERBS

VERBS
ACTION VERBS
Definition: An action verb tells what action
someone or something is performing
Examples:
Father packed our suitcases.
The ship chugged into the harbor.
PRACTICE!!
Circle the action verb in each sentence.
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Lines of people walked to the ship for the
voyage across the ocean.
On board, many passengers wondered
about their new homeland.
The waves lashed at the ship during storms.
Eventually, the immigrants completed the
journey.
Some cried at the sight of the Statue of
Liberty.
TRANSITIVE VERBS
Definition: A transitive verb is an action verb that
directs action from the performer of the action
toward the receiver of the action. The receiver of
the action is a person, place, or thing – that is, a
noun or pronoun.
Examples:
The captain rang the bell. (action directed at bell)
The captain sailed the ship. (action directed at ship)
INTRANSITIVE VERBS
Definition: An intransitive verb expresses
action or tells something about the subject
of the sentence but does not direct action
toward another noun or pronoun.
Examples:
The bell rang for dinner.
The ship sailed out to sea.
PRACTICE
After each verb, write transitive or intransitive. If you label a verb
transitive, identify the noun toward which the action is directed.
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Early settlers hoped for new lives in the
United States.
They explored the new territory.
Some colonists sailed back to their
homelands.
The other immigrants stayed in the U.S.
permanently.
These people shared a dream of a better
life.
They dared to cross the ocean.
LINKING VERBS
Definition: A linking verb connects a noun
or pronoun with a word that identifies or
describes it.
Examples:
New York is a city. (city identifies New York)
The best swimmers were Margie and Brad.
(Margie and Brad identify the swimmers)
Lucy seems unhappy.
(unhappy describes Lucy)
PRACTICE!!
Underline the form of be in each sentence. Then, draw an
arrow connecting the words that are linked by the verb.
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The Immigration Service determines
whether immigrants will be citizens.
Citizenship may have been open to people
of all origins.
The children may be cranky from waiting in
the long lines.
An elderly man is sick from the long trip.
It had been a difficult voyage.
THE MOST COMMON LINKING
VERB
BE
FORMS OF BE
am
Are
Is
Was
Were
Am being
Are being
Is being
Was being
Were being
can be
could be
may be
might be
must be
shall be
should be
will be
would be
Have been
Has been
Had been
Could have been
May have been
Might have been
Must have been
Shall have been
Should have been
Will have been
Would have been
OTHER LINKING VERBS
Appear
look
Become
remain
Feel
seem
Grow
smell
EXAMPLES:
She later became a citizen.
The cream tastes sour.
The food stayed fresh and crisp.
sound
stay
taste
turn
ACTION OR LINKING?
Tina felt weak.
(Tina is weak?)
Yes, it’s a linking verb.
If you can substitute
the word IS for the verb,
the verb is probably a
Tina felt the cloth.
(Tina is the cloth?)
No, it’s an action verb.
linking verb.
PRACTICE!!
Underline the verbs in each sentence. After each action
verb, write AV, and after each linking verb, write LV.
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The father looked at his family.
He felt sad about leaving them.
His family looked so tiny from the ship.
The rain smelled fresh, like his new start.
Suddenly, the Statue of Liberty appeared
through the fog.
The crowds on the ship appeared happy.
Farmers grew vegetable to sell in the city.