Download Adjectives & Verbs

9th Grade
 A verb is a word that is used to
express action or state of being.
 A verb phrase consists of at least
one main verb and one or more
helping verbs.
 A Helping verb helps the main verb
express action or a state of being.
 Helping Verbs
 can, could, did, do, does, had, has, have,
may, might, must, shall, should, will,
would
 is leaving
had seemed
might have remained
 She had always been thinking about her
future.
 Has my sister played her new CD yet?
 Fortunately, he didn’t
need surgery.
 His physical therapist has
designed an exercise
program for him.
 Before exercise, he must
spend at least five
minutes warming up.
 He will be using a backextension machine.
 Does he walk indoors on a
treadmill or outdoors on a
track?
 At home, he will be
exercising on a treadmill.
 A linking verb connects the subject
to a word or word group that
identifies or describes the subject.
The most commonly used linking
verbs are forms of the verb be.
 Take predicate nominatives
 be, being, am, is, shall be, will be, has
been, have been, should be, would be,
can be, could be, are, was, were, had
been, shall have been, will have been,
should have been, would have been,
could have been
 An action verb expresses either
physical or mental action.
 Take direct objects
 Physical Action
 write, describe, sit, receive, arise, go
 Mental Action
 remember, consider, think, understand,
believe, know
 The noun, pronoun, or
adjective that is
connected to the subject
by a linking verb
completes the meaning of
the verb and refers to the
verb’s subject.
 The answer is three.
 The answer was correct.
 Many linking verbs can be
used as action verbs as
well (the 5 senses)
 The wet dog smelled
terrible.
 The motor sounded
harsh.
 For verbs of the senses,
try this technique to
distinguish whether the
verb is action or linking:
 Replace the verb in the
sentence with the
linking verb seem.
 If the sentence makes
clear sense with the
word seem as a
substitute, then the verb
is linking.
 If the sentence makes no
sense with the word
seem as a substitute,
then the verb is action.
State whether the verbs
below are action or linking.
 My mother tasted the cake
before she served it to guests.
 The milk we bought last
week tasted spoiled.
 The guard sounded the
alarm.
 Those P. Diddy songs
sounded awesome.
 An adjective is a word that is
used to modify a noun or a
pronoun.
 To modify means to describe
the word or to make its
meaning more definite. An
adjective modifies a noun or
a pronoun by telling what
kind, which one, or how
many.
 What Kind?
 gray skies, far-fetched tale,
lowest price
 Which One?
 either way, next day, those
girls
 How Many?
 five fingers, one river, fewer
hours
Comparison of
adjectives:


Positive =
adjective as is

Comparative =
add -er or more

Superlative =
add -est or
most
 Helpful Hints:
 When comparing only 2
things, use the comparative
form of the adjective (add –
er or more).
 When comparing 3 or more
things, use the superlative
form of the adjective (add –
est or most).
 Although both Gabe and
Evan are good runners,
Evan is the more elusive.
 Which of these ten photos
is the most attractive?
 Of the two thesis
sentences, your first one
is more effective.
 Jessie, who has 4.35
speed, is the fastest of the
six linebackers.
 Both twins are fine
athletes, but Nick is the
slower swimmer.
 An adjective usually comes
before the noun or pronoun it
modifies.
 Mr. Ybarra tells all students
that hard workers will be
given special
commendations.
 A sweating, exhausted
runner crossed the finish
line.
 In some cases, adjectives follow
the word they modify.
 A dog, old and overweight,
snored in the sun.