Download Verbs When you studied nouns and pronouns, you learned about

Verbs
When you studied nouns and pronouns, you learned about words that name people,
places, and things. To state your ideas, you also need words to express action or
condition. Words that let you say what people are doing or what is happening are
verbs.
A verb is an important part in every sentence as no sentence is complete without
one. There are three types of verbs:
1. verbs that express action
2. verbs that help other verbs
3. verbs that link a noun or pronoun
Many verbs express actions or activities that can be completed.
Ex.: The archaeologist digs.
We walked on the beach.
Other verbs express condition-they link a noun or a pronoun with words that
describe the condition of the noun or pronoun. They are often used just to say that
something is.
Ex.: The ruins were spectacular.
I wondered about the tides.
The weather has been bad.
Action Verbs
An action verb indicates the action of a person or thing. The action can be visible or
mental, and it tells what the subject of the sentence does.
Examples of visible action: Linda climbed the maple tree.
Marty ordered a cheeseburger.
The band marched onto the field.
Verbs indicating mental action cannot be seen or heard directly. They are thinking
activities, but they are still actions.
Examples of mental action: The students understand the assignment.
Everyone believes you.
Jim wished for a sunny day.
Linking Verbs
A linking verb joins nouns and pronouns to a word that identifies or describes the
noun or pronoun.
It links the subject of a sentence with a predicate noun or a predicate adjective.
Predicate Noun-renames or identifies the subject
Predicate Adjective-describes the subject
Examples of linking verbs with predicate nouns:
The Black Hills are really mountains.
Someday the mountain top will become a huge statue.
Chief Crazy Horse was a Sioux Indian chief.
Examples of linking verbs with predicate adjectives:
She appeared shy to strangers.
The statue is rough now.
Hiawatha felt unhappy because of the wars.
Linking Verbs
look
appear
sound
seem
stay
taste
turn
grow
remain
become
feel
Some verbs can be used as either linking verbs or action verbs. To test whether a
verb is a linking verb or an action verb, replace the verb with: is, am, or are. If a
sentence still makes sense, then the verb is a linking verb.
Let’s test your knowledge. Is the underlined verb in the sentence being used as a
linking verb or as an action verb?
1. The tyrant felt threatened.
2. The tyrant felt the sword.
3. The people grew poor crops.
4. The people grew unhappy.
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 comes before the main verb and adds to its meaning.
Examples:
He was leading the Romans.
Rome had conquered many territories.
The emperors could ignore Greece.
Greek states might have worked together.
Verbs with the –en ending, like chosen or ridden, must be used with helping verbs.
Verbs with the –ing ending, like sitting and talking, must be used with helping verbs.
There are 23 helping verbs
am
is
are
was
were
being
been
be
has
have
had
do
does
did
should
shall
will
would
may
might
must
can
could
Separated Parts of the Verb
Sometimes another part of the sentence comes between the helping verb and the
main verb.
Examples:
Ezra may not pitch today.
Joanne will probably stay for dinner.
The gate shouldn’t have been locked last night.
Notice that “not” and the ending “n’t” are not verbs. In questions, we very often
use one or more words between the helping verb and the main verb.
Examples:
Does this bicycle need oil?
Were you looking for me?
Have you ever seen a meteor shower?