1. Action Verbs Linking Verbs
Verbs, Verbs, Verbs
Action Verbs
Linking Verbs

2. Two, 2, dos, deux, zwei, ni, ,
There are ONLY two kinds of verbs on the planet. They are:
action
linking
(tutu) 

3. Action Verbs physical action mental action
express either mental or physical activity
The dogs barked all day.
He thought about the day.
physical action
mental action

4. Linking Verbs My teacher is cranky. express a state of being
connect (or link) the subject to a word or word group that identifies or describes the subject
My teacher is cranky.

5. Action or Linking Verb? We celebrated the Chinese New Year yesterday.
The holiday is usually in February.
linking
#1 Identify the verb.
#2 Action or state of being?
#3 Action=action verb & state of being = linking verb

6. Action or Linking Verb? John looked tired.
John looked through the binoculars.
John looked tired.
John looked through the binoculars.
action
#1 Identify the verb.
#2 Action or state of being?
#3 Action=action verb & state of being = linking verb

7. Action or Linking Verb? Your Turn!
Remember, any verb that can be replaced with is, am, are, be, become, or becomes, and makes sense, is a linking verb!
The sky looks blue.
I walked home.
Our teacher seemed crazy.

8. Now Let’s Learn About Helping “Verbs”
Helping verbs are added before another verb to make a verb phrase.
WARNING: Auxiliary verbs do not function as verbs. They HELP the main verb.

9. Helping Verbs be am is are was were been being has have had do did
does
can
could
shall
will
would
should
may
might
must

10. (sing to the tune of “Jingle Bells” for a handy mnemonic)
Helping Verbs
(sing to the tune of “Jingle Bells” for a handy mnemonic)
Helping Verbs, Helping Verbs There are 23 Am is are was and were Being Been and Be
Have has had Do does did Shall will should and would There are five more helping verbs May might must can could

11. Helping Verbs help the main verb express action or a state of being
can speak
may be
has been named
should have been caught

12. Helping Verb or Main Verb?
The highlighted words can function as main verbs or helping verbs. Can you tell which job each is doing? Remember…a helping verb is always added before another verb!
I am a teacher.
I am writing a letter.
We are hungry.
The girls are playing ball.
main verb
helping verb
main verb
helping verb

13. Auxiliary Verb or Main Verb? Your Turn!
Make your own examples using each of these words in two ways: 1) as a main verb and 2) as an auxiliary verb in a verb phrase.
was
does
have

14. Helping Verb or Main Verb?
was does have
I was a track star.
I was running quickly.
She does the dishes.
She does hear you.
They have the flu.
They have been cured.