1. Verbs express action or being

2. Write instructions for completing any task or taking care of something such as a pet, a bicycle, or a computer. Your instructions should be very descriptive in order to guide the reader on exactly how to complete the task. For example: My really old dog Chip has several food allergies and other ailments. You need to cut his pill in half before putting it his bowl and then add his special venison dog food with warm water. His food and water bowls are over by the kitchen entrance and his pills are in the refrigerator. In order to survive the zombie apocalypse you must follow these instructions very carefully. First you must develop a skill set such as accuracy with a cross bow a la Daryl or uninhibited and guiltless body removal a la Carol season 3.

3. TRANSITIVE: Action verbs often direct the action toward something or someone named in the predicate Something or someone in the predicate is the “receiver” or “object” Answer the question, “WHAT” or “WHOM” NOUN or PRONOUN INTRANSITIVE: Action verbs that do not have a receiver, or object, of the action Answer the question, “HOW” “WHEN” or “WHERE” ADJECTIVE or ADVERB or PREPOSITION in the predicate

4. 1. The driver looked away from the road. 2. My grandmother sat down placidly. 3. The annoying car alarm disrupted the worker. 4. I opened the bag of chips for the boy. 5. The bag of chips opened quite easily.

5. So which verbs occur more frequently in nature – transitive? Or intransitive? Swap instructions with someone Underline all verbs Make a two-columned list of transitive and intransitive verbs If the verb is transitive, make a dash after the verb in the list and write the “receiver” of the action Tally up the totals for transitive and intransitive verbs and then SHOUT OUT THE WINNER (transitive or intransitive)

6. Intransitive verbs (no receivers of action) do not have objects – all linking verbs are intransitive verbs Transitive verbs (have receivers of action) have objects DIRECT OBJECT: ask yourself WHO? or WHAT? Do not be confused by intransitive verbs that answer How? When? or Where? Always a noun or pronoun INDIRECT OBJECT: ask yourself TO WHOM? FOR WHOM? or FOR WHAT? Comes between the verb and the direct object Always a noun or pronoun

7. Direct Objects Noun or pronoun that directly receives the action WHO? WHAT? Ex: The singer gave the Grammy. Ex: The performer told a joke. Indirect Objects Noun or pronoun that comes between the verb and its direct object – an INdirect object is an INterrupter TO/FOR WHOM? TO/FOR WHAT? Ex: The singer gave the other singer the Grammy. Ex: The performer told the crowd a joke. Ex: The performer told a joke to the crowd. There isn’t always an indirect object

8. Most sentences use the active voice Ex: The singer gave the Grammy. Ex: The performer told a joke. In the passive voice, the subject receives the action Ex: The Grammy was given by the singer. Ex: A joke was told by the performer. Only transitive verbs can be in the passive voice because they have objects Active voice  passive voice: 1. Identify the object 2. Use corresponding tense of the verb BE 3. Change the main verb to past participle

9. 1. ACTIVE: The annoying car alarm disrupted the worker. PASSIVE: 2. ACTIVE: I opened the bag of chips for the boy. PASSIVE: 3. ACTIVE: Msgr. McCann is giving the homily. PASSIVE:

10. Verb must agree with subject Use singular verb with singular subject; plural verb with plural subject Singular verb & singular subject: The student works. The child runs. Plural verb & plural subject: The students work. The children run.

11. When you use the conjunction AND, use a plural verb A cat and a dog make for good company. When you use the conjunctions OR, NOR, EITHER…OR, NEITHER…NOR to join compound subjects, use a verb that agrees with the nearer subject Neither cats nor dogs live in her house. Either a cat or two dogs live in her house. Either cats or a dog is in her house.

12. Titles or names are always considered singular, and take a singular verb To Kill a Mockingbird is an excellent book and film. The Outsiders was written by a teenager. Marshalls is a discount clothing store. Some nouns that end in –s always take a singular verb The news is always depressing. Mathematics is an important subject. Physics complicates high school students’ schedules Some nouns that end in –s always take a plural verb The scissors are in my desk. My shorts are missing.

13. Collective nouns usually take a singular verb. Use a plural verb when the collective noun refers to each individual in the group The committee is making the decision. The committee are spread out around the room. The student body is in the auditorium. The student body are going their separate ways next year. Terms that refer to amounts are singular when they are thought of as a single unit. Use a plural verb when the amounts are thought of as separate items. Fifteen dollars is a lot of money to earn in one hour. The fifteen dollars are shared amongst the wait staff. Three years is a long time when you think about it. These three years have gone by so quickly.

14. Inverted Order: subject is not followed by the verb ARE YOU ready to go? Where ARE the CHILDREN? Inside the desk ARE my BOOKS. Under the leaves IS my JACKET. Interrupted Order: word or phrase comes between subject and verb The students, in a straight line, are waiting to go inside. The dogs in the shelter need love and care. The professor of Social Studies is in the hallway. The Labrador Retriever, one of many dog breeds, makes a loving pet.

15. Lie = to rest or remain Intransitive verb; never has a DO Ex: I would like to lie down now. Ex: He is sick and should lie in bed all day. Lay = to put or place Transitive verb; always has a DO Ex: Lay the food tray on the table. Ex: Allow me to lay her, the sick girl, down on the couch. 1 (base form) 2 (present participle) 3 (past) 4 (past participle) lie(is) lyinglay(has) lain lay(is) layinglaid(has) laid

16. Rise = to get up or to move upward Intransitive; never has a DO Ex: Watch the balloon rise up into the sky. Ex: On Halloween the ghosts will rise from their graves. Ex: I bet gas prices will rise again soon. Raise = to lift or to grow Transitive; always has a DO Ex: Raise your hand if you want to speak. Ex: Raise the screen so I can see it better. Ex: Raise the gas prices. 1 (base form) 2 (present participle) 3 (past) 4 (past participle) Rise(is) risingrose(has) risen Raise(is) raisingraised(has) raised

17. Affect A verb that means “to influence” The new standards will affect the way I teach. The catastrophe affected everyone. Effect Can be a noun that means “result of action” The effects of the storm were felt all over Long Island. The rule is a direct effect of someone’s poor decision. Can be a verb that means “to cause to happen” The president hopes to effect change during his second term. MTA will effect the new train schedule tomorrow.

18. Accept A verb meaning “to receive willingly” Ex: I accept your sincere apology. Ex: Will you accept this rose? Except A preposition meaning “excluding, other than” Ex: Everyone’s invited, except the troublemakers. Ex: All students, except for those in AP classes, must take the final exam.