Verbs: Unit 3

Grammar 1: Action Verbs

• The predicate of a sentence tells what the subject is or does. The main word in the predicate is the verb. Most verbs are action verbs. An action verb shows what the subject does or did.• Example: Jill pitches the ball.• Example: The ball flew over the plate.• Action verbs can also show action that you cannot see.• Example: The coach thought about the players in the field.

Grammar 2: Direct Objects

Some sentences express a complete thought with only a subject and an action verb.Example: The ship sails.In other sentences, a direct object is used with the action verb. A direct object is a word in the predicate that receives the action of a verb. It can be a noun, pronoun, or a word that takes the place of a noun.Example: The captain steers the ship. Subject Verb Direct Object

TIP:• An easy way to find a direct object if there is one in the sentence is

to follow these steps:• First, find the verb and determine if it is an action verb or not. It has to be

an action verb to have a direct object.• Second, look for a noun or pronoun following the verb. The direct object

always follows the action verb if there is a direct object.• Third, ask yourself whom or what is receiving the action from the verb. If

you can answer that question, you have a direct object.• Example: I gave water to the puppy.• Gave is the action word, and water answers the question whom or what, so

it is the direct object.

Grammar 3: Verbs and Helping Verbs• A verb may have two parts, a main verb and one or more helping

verbs. The main verb shows the action of the sentence. The helping verb works with the main verb. Helping verbs do not show action. The main verb and helping verb form the verb phrase.

Example: Fran helps everyone. Main Verb Fran is helping everyone. Helping Verb Main Verb

Common Helping Verbs

am are were shall hasis was will have had

Grammar 4: Linking Verbs• A linking verb links the subject of a sentence with a word or words in

the predicate. Linking verbs do NOT show action, and it is NOT a helping verb. It is followed by a word in the predicate that names or describes the subject.• Example: Anna looks happy. (Happy describes Anna.)• Anna is a student. (Anna=student)• Some words can be either linking or action depending upon how they

are used in the sentence.• Example: The crowd looked at the divers. Action• The crowd looked tired. Linking

Common Linking Verbs

am is are was were will belook feel taste smell seem appear

Grammar 5: Present Tense• A verb that tells what its subject is doing right now is in the present

tense. The subject and verb must match in number in the present tense.

• Example: The farmer sees the rare butterfly.• The farmers see the rare butterfly.

Rules for Forming the Present TenseMost Verbs: Add -s get--gets play--playsVerbs ending in s, ch, sh, x, or zAdd –es

pass--passespush--pushes

punch--punchesmix--mixesfizz--fizzes

Verbs ending with a consonant and yChange the y to i and add -es

try--tries empty--empties

Grammar 6: Past Tense• A verb that shows something has already happened is in the past

tense.• Example: She liked the cookies.• Usually the past tense of a verb is formed by adding –ed. However,

some words must undergo a spelling change before adding –ed.

Rules for Forming the Past Tense

Most verbs:Add –ed

Play—playedSuggest--suggested

Verbs ending with e:Drop the final e and add –ed

Believe—believedHope--hoped

Verbs ending with a consonant and a y:Change the y to I and add –ed

Study—studiesHurry--hurried

One-syllable verbs ending with a single vowel and a consonant:Double the final consonant:Double the final consonant and add –ed

Stop-stoppedPlan--planned

Grammar 7: Future Tense

• A verb that tells that something is going to happen is in the future tense.• Example: John will bring his book to class tomorrow.• Example: John and Bob will look for their books tonight.

• To form the future tense of a verb, use the helping verb will or shall • with the main verb. Shall is often used with I or we.

Grammar 8: Verb Agreement• A present tense verb and its subject must agree in number. If the

subject is singular, then the verb must be singular. If the subject is plural, then the verb must be plural.

Rules for Subject-Verb Agreement1. Singular subject Add –s or –es to the verb

The driver trains his dog team.He teaches one dog to lead.He studies his map.

2. Plural subject: Do NOT add –s or -es

The dogs pull the sled.The driver and his team travel far.

3. I or youUse the plural form of the verb.

I like your report on dogs.You write well.

Grammar 9: Agreement with Be and Have• You must change the forms of the verbs be and have in special ways

to agree with their subjects.

Present and Past Tense forms of Be and HaveSubject Form of Be

PresentForm of BePast

Form of HavePresent

Form of HavePast

Singular Subjects:IYouHe, She, It (for singular subject)

AmAreIs

WasWereWas

HaveHaveHas

HadHadHad

Plural Subjects:WeYouThey (for plural subject)

AreAreAre

WereWereWere

HaveHaveHave

HadHadhad

Grammar 10: Contractions with NOT• You can combine some verbs with the word not to make contractions.

A contraction is a word formed by joining two words, making one short word. An apostrophe (‘) takes the place of the letter or letters dropped to shorten the word.

Contractions Made with Verbs and Not

Do not don’t

Were not weren’t

Would not wouldn’t

Does not doesn’t

Will not won’t

Should not shouldn’t

Did not didn’t

Have not haven’t

Cannot can’t

is not isn’t

Has not hasn’t

Must not mustn’t

am not aren’t

Had not hadn’t

Was not wasn’t

Could not couldn’t

Grammar 11: Regular and Irregular Verbs• Most verbs form their past tense by adding –ed to the verb. Verbs

that follow this rule are called regular verbs.

• Some verbs do not form their past tense by adding –ed to the verb. They are called irregular verbs, and they have special forms to show the past.

Irregular Verbs Verb Past Tense Past with Helping Verb Uses a Form of Have (has, have, had)

Bring Brought Have brought Come Came Have comeGo Went Have goneMake Made Have madeRun Ran Have runSay Said Have saidTake Took Have takenThink Thought Have thoughtWrite Wrote Have written

More Irregular VerbsVerb Past Tense Past with a Form of Have (has, have, had)

Ring Rang Have rungSing Sang Have sungSwim Swam Have swamBegin Began Have begunTear Tore Have tornWear Wore Have wornBreak Broke Have brokenSpeak Spoke Have spoken

More Irregular VerbsVerb Past Tense Past with Helping Verb Form of Have (has, have, had)

Steal Stole Have stolenChoose Chose Have chosenFreeze Frozen Have frozenBlow Blew Have blownGrow Grew Have grownKnow Knew Have knownFly Flew Have flown

Grammar 13: Verb Phrases with Have• A main verb can have more than one helping verb. The helping verb

have is often used with the helping verbs could, would, should, and must. The two helping verbs and the main verb from the verb phrase. These helping verbs are often spoken as contractions.

Helping Verb Contraction

Could have Could’veWould have Would’veShould have Should’veMust have Must’ve

Do NOT Use OF with Could, Would, Should, or Must• Incorrect: You should of seen the parade last week.• Correct: You should have seen the parade last week.• You should’ve seen the parade last week.

Teach-Learn; Let-LeaveVerb Meaning Exampleteach To give instruction He will teach us grammar.learn To receive instruction We will learn about grammar

this year.let To permit Let Kerry go with us.leave To go away from

To let remain in placeWe will leave tomorrow.Leave the money on the table.

Sit-Set; Can-May• Do not confuse the verbs sit and set. Their meaning are different.

Also, do not confuse the verbs can and may. Their meanings are similar, but not the same.

Verb Meaning Example

Sit To rest I will sit in the chair.Set To place or put Set the book on the

table.Can To be able I can ride my bike

well.May To be allowed May I go to the park?

The End