VerbsACTION WORDS
Types of Verb Actions
Physical Mental State of Being
Swim Think Exist
Write Observe Seem
Climb Question Become
Twirl Confuse Be
Verbs that Express States of BeingThese "actions" are sometimes difficult to identify because we don't often think of them as actions. However, the words describing these actions are verbs. Below is a list of some common verbs that people don't always recognize:
To Be Verbs
Be Am Is
Are Was Were
Being Been Will Be
Helping VerbsSometimes we need to use two verbs to help us describe an action. Helping verbs only appear in sentences with at least two verbs.
I am soaring.
Main Verb
Helping Verb
Helping VerbsThe list below is a list of helping verbs:
be being has do can wouldam been have does will mayis was had did shall might
are were should mustcould
Helping VerbsBut remember, in order to be a helping verbs, these verbs need to be in front of a main verb. Otherwise they are the main verb, not a helping verb.
I am running. I am a runner.
be being has do can wouldam been have does will mayis was had did shall might
are were should mustcould
Helping Verb
Main Verb Main Verb
Based on the following examples, what do you think a Linking Verb is?CONCEPT ATTAINMENT
Concept Attainment
EXAMPLES
I am clean.
NON-EXAMPLES
I am cleaning the carpet.
Concept Attainment
EXAMPLES
She was a spectacular dancer.
NON-EXAMPLES
She was dancing spectacularly.
Concept Attainment
EXAMPLES
They are the best football team.
NON-EXAMPLES
They are playing the best football team.
Concept Attainment
EXAMPLES
This book is really interesting.
NON-EXAMPLES
This book is lying on the floor.
Concept Attainment
EXAMPLES
My brownie tastes like chicken!
NON-EXAMPLES
I tasted your brownie and agree!
Concept Attainment
EXAMPLES
The students were growing impatient.
NON-EXAMPLES
The students were growing a garden.
Concept Attainment
EXAMPLES
I am clean.
She was a spectacular dancer.
They are the best football team.
This book is really interesting.
My brownie tastes like chicken!
The students were growing impatient.
NON-EXAMPLES
I am cleaning the carpet
She was dancing spectacularly.
They are playing the best football team.
This book is lying on the floor.
I tasted your brownie and agree!
The students were growing a garden.
Linking VerbsLinking verbs help describe a state of being. They are called linking verbs because they “link” the subject of the sentence to its description.
I am a student.
Linking Verb
Subject Description
She is very clever.
This story grows more intense.
This brownie tastes like chicken!
Linking Verbs
Subject
Linking Verb
Description
Linking VerbsThe list below is a list of linking verbs:
be being appear lookam been become tasteis was feel smell
are were grow sound
Linking VerbsSome verbs can be used to describe a physical action AND to describe a state of being. When they are used to describe state of being, they are being used as linking verbs.
The rabbit appeared. He appears hungry.
My teacher grew a beard. My plant grew two inches!
Linking Verb
Linking Verb
Verb PhrasesIn class this year we have already learned about different kinds of phrases within a sentence.
Noun Phrases: groups of words that describe a noun
a spider
a silly spider
a silly, pink-polka-dotted spider wearing tap shoes
Verb PhrasesIn class this year we have already learned about different kinds of phrases within a sentence.
Prepositional Phrases: a groups of words that describe location or ownership
in the web
for the fly
from the shadows
Verb PhrasesVerb phrases are an important part of a sentence to be able to identify, too.
Verb Phrases: groups of helping, linking, and main verbs that describe an action
caterwaul
has been caterwauling
should have been caterwauling
Verb PhrasesVerb phrases may be short, with only one verb phrase in each sentence:
There once was an old lady.
She swallowed a fly.
Perhaps, she will die.
Verb PhrasesOr verb phrases can be long, with more than one verb phrase in each sentence :
Little Miss Muffett sat on a tuffet eating her curds and whey.
Along came a spider and sat down beside her, and
frightened Miss Muffett away.
Verb PhrasesOr verb phrases can be long, with more than one verb phrase in each sentence :
It had been a long, stormy night. The wind had been
howling and the rafters had been creaking. No one heard the
soft, tiny feet that were quietly tapping.
Verb PhrasesBut, remember! Only verbs are counted as part of a verb phrase:
It had been a long, stormy night. The wind had been
howling and the rafters had been creaking. No one heard the
soft, tiny feet that were quietly tapping.
Common MistakesBut, remember! Only verbs are counted as part of a verb phrase:
The spider was quickly crawling across the floor.
It could not believe its arachnid eyes!
A tasty housefly miserably awaiting its doom.
Common MistakesBut, remember! Only verbs are counted as part of a verb phrase:
The spider was quickly crawling across the floor.
It could not believe its arachnid eyes!
A tasty housefly miserably awaiting its doom.
This sentence is incomplete. It needs a helping verb.
Common MistakesBut, remember! Only verbs are counted as part of a verb phrase:
The spider was quickly crawling across the floor.
It could not believe its arachnid eyes!
A tasty housefly was miserably awaiting its doom.
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