1. VERBS

2. What are verbs?
words used to express:
an action
a condition
or a state of being

3. TYPES OF VERBS
Action Verbs
Linking Verbs
Helping Verbs

4. 3 types of verbs:
Action Verbs
Linking Verbs (to be)
Helping Verbs

5. tell what its subject is doing
ACTION VERBS
tell what its subject is doing
the action expressed can be physical or mental

6. Physical action Early humans moved constantly.
They carried all possessions with them.

7. Early humans worried about survival.
Mental action
Early humans worried about survival.
They feared large animals.

8. Linking Verbs
connects or links a subject to a word in the predicate (noun or pronoun)
tell what the subject is

9. Words that express condition are called Linking verbs

10. Linking verbs “link” the subject to the predicate.
Early humans were hunters.
(were links human to hunters)
They often felt hungry.
(felt links they to hungry)

11. appear, become, feel, grow, look, remain, seem,
Linking Verbs
Am are were being
Is was be been
appear, become, feel, grow, look, remain, seem,
smell, sound, taste

12. The most common linking verbs are forms of the verb “be.”

13. Action or linking? Some words function as more than one type of verb.
Animals appeared at their campsites.
(“appeared” functions as an action verb)
Some animals appeared friendly.
(“appeared” functions as a linking verb)

14. Forms of the verb “be” can be used as linking or helping verbs.
been am
was
are
were
being is

15. Forms of the verb “be” 1st person I am we are
Singular Plural
1st person I am we are
2nd person you are you are
3rd person he, she, it is they are
1st person I was we were
2nd person you were you were
3rd person he, she, it was they were

16. Helping Verbs
HELP the main verb express action or precise shades of meaning
help form some of the tenses and the voice of the main verb
Helping verbs always come before* action verbs.
*Sometimes adverbs interrupt and come in between the helping and action verbs.
EXAMPLE: Might always be

17. When there are two or more words in the verb, the last word is the main verb and the other words are the helping verbs.
Verb (Verb Phrase)
Helping Verb
Main Verb
is making is
making
has been making
has been
was mixing
was
mixing
might have mixed
might (always) be
might have
might
mixed be

18. the combination of one or more helping verbs with a main verb
Verb phrase
the combination of one or more helping verbs with a main verb

19. Jane is working on her project. Frank was listening to music.
Verb Phrases
Jane is working on her project.
Frank was listening to music.
You have been working hard.

20. Helping or Linking? The game of checkers is old. _________
He became an inventor. _________
I am studying. _________
She was smart. _________
The sun is shining. _________
The sun is shiny. _________
Miss. Brooks was the teacher. _________
Miss. Brooks was teaching. _________

21. Who is receiving the action ?
Direct Objects

22. What is a direct object?
A direct object is the noun or pronoun that receives the action of the verb.

23. Erika ran. Erika found the keys.
In some sentences the subject and verb alone can express a complete thought.
Erika ran.
In other sentences a direct object is needed to help express the complete thought.
Erika found the keys.
(Adding the direct object “keys” helps the reader understand the sentence.)

24. express a complete thought.
Use a direct object to
express a complete thought.
Example #1
Lisa found. (Found what?)
Lisa found the home.
Example #2
Erika recorded. (Recorded what?)
Erika recorded the discovery.

25. Principal Parts of Verbs
All verb tenses are made from the three principal parts of a verb: present, past, and past participle.

26. Verb Tense
Present tense – expresses an action (or existence) that is happening now or that happens continually or regularly.
Past tense – expresses an action (or existence) that was completed at a particular time in the past.
Future tense – expresses an action (or existence) that will take place in the future.
Participles – expresses an action (or existence) that started at some point and ended in the past.

27. Principal Parts of Verbs
Present
Past
Past Participle
call
called
(have) called
Print
printed
(have) printed
watch
watched
(have) watched
review
reviewed
(have) reviewed
carry
carried
(have) carried
pick
picked
(have) picked

28. Subject and Verb Agreement
Subjects and verbs
in sentences must
agree in number.
Number = singular or plural

29. Singular subjects need singular verbs.
Paul wonders if there is life on other planets.

30. Plural subjects need plural verbs.
The girls wonder if there is life on other planets.
* Note: wonder does not have an “s” at the end.

31. *Please note that the letter “s” on a verb is considered singular.

32. The prepositional phrase can interrupt the subject and verb!
Warning
The prepositional phrase can interrupt the subject and verb!
The dog in the window was jumping.
The dogs in the window were jumping.

33. Special Forms of Certain Verbs
A few verbs have special forms.
Make sure all verbs still agree in number by using the correct verb.

34. Special Forms Examples
The clue is here. (singular)
The clues are here. (Plural)
The clues were here. (Plural)
The Investigator has no answer. (Singular)
The investigators have no answer. (Plural)

35. Active Voice the subject is doing the action
The baseball hit the batter.

36. Passive Voice the subject is receiving the action
The batter was hit by the baseball.

37. Confusing Pairs of Verbs
CAN and MAY
can “able to”
may “to be allowed/permitted to”
LIE and LAY
lie “to rest” or “to recline” {lie,lay,lain}
lay “to put or place something” {lay,laid,laid}

38. Confusing Pairs of Verbs
RISE and RAISE
rise “to move upward” or “to get up”
raise “to move something upward” or “to lift”
SIT and SET
sit “to be in a seat” or “to rest”
set “to put or place something”

39. Confusing words continued
ACCEPT (verb)
to receive something offered
To regard as true
To admit to a place, group or organization
EXCEPT (preposition)
With the exclusion of; but, otherwise than
EXCEPTED (verb)
to leave out, exclude