Verbs and Prepositions Parts of Speech

Types of Verbs  Action  Linking  Helping

Action Verb  Shows action  Tells what the subject of the sentence is doing  Examples:  Bill hit the ball.  The cat purred softly.  I walk to school.  Susan spoke to me.

Linking Verb  Links or connects the subject to the predicate  Predicate: the clause (group of words) in the sentence that contains the verb  It does NOT show action  Examples:  We are hungry.  He was late to school.  The winner is Johnny.

Common Linking Verbs  am  is  are  was  were  be  been

Helping Verb  Helps a main verb  Comes before the main verb  Examples:  I am eating my lunch.  Ed has taken the test.  We were talking. Looks similar to a linking verb! Just look out for a main verb!

What is a Preposition?  A word which shows the relationship between one thing and another  Links nouns, pronouns and phrases to other words in the sentence  Introduces the object of the sentence.

4 Purposes 1. It may tell you where a thing is in relation to something else.  The juicy, red apple was on the book. 2. It may tell you when something is in relation to another event.  She refused to leave the house until the postman had left.

3. A preposition may tell you the position of something in relation to something else.  The gentle, brown dog slept beside the fluffy white rabbit.

4. It may also tell you the direction something is travelling in relation to something else.  The gallant horseman was riding along the windy shoreline.

Extra Prepositions before behind from beneath across below down throughout with past among near above during under outside toward upon