VERBS: ONCE AGAIN, Let’s REVIEW

Action VERBS If you’re feeling shaky about finding the action verb in a sentence, look at the possibilities and ask yourself: Is (the word) something you can do? If you’re feeling shaky about finding the action verb in a sentence, look at the possibilities and ask yourself: Is (the word) something you can do? Mrs. Butterscotch, a totally awesome cat, often shoots through the air with grace. Can you “totally”? Can you “awesome”? Can you “often”? Can you “through”? Can you “air”? Can you “with”? Can you “grace”?

Action VERBS If you’re feeling shaky about finding the action verb in a sentence, look at the possibilities and ask yourself: Is (the word) something you can do? If you’re feeling shaky about finding the action verb in a sentence, look at the possibilities and ask yourself: Is (the word) something you can do? Mrs. Butterscotch, a totally awesome cat, often shoots through the air with grace. Can you “leap”? YES!

Action VERBS But what about this? But what about this? Mrs. Butterscotch, a totally awesome cat, often shoots through the air like a fuzzy ball. Can you “like”? Yes, you can, but what’s the subject of this sentence? MRS. BUTTERSCOTCH Is she “liking” something in this sentence? NO! She “SHOOTS” so that is the predicate of the sentence

Action VERBS Remember, an action verb is not limited to something physical. Many verbs describe a mental/thinking action. We can… contemplatethinkponderwonder doubt doubtaspirepredict

SOME ACTION VERBS HAVE A DIRECT OBJECT (TRANSITIVE) Direct Object – someone or something receives the action of the verb Dom kicked Rory. Connor really wants a pony. Lila tattooed her left arm.

SOME ACTION VERBS DON’T HAVE A DIRECT OBJECT (INTRANSITIVE) We screamed. We screamed in the tunnel. We screamed for joy.

HELPING/AUXILLARY VERBS Some VERBS need HELPING when we want to express that an action or condition continues over a long stretch of time, continually happens, or occurs in relationship to other events. George is always spilling his food. If George had been eating linguini with white Alfredo sauce, he would not have stained his shirt so dramatically.

ACTION VS. HELPING We did our homework. (action) We did work really hard on our homework. (helping) I have a pet tarantula. (action) I have purchased a dining set for my tarantula’s kitchen. (helping) Both the helping verb and the main verb make up the PREDICATE of the sentence.

LINKING VERBS Remember that linking verbs do not express an action. Instead, they link the subject of the verb to additional information about the subject. Without a nap, Charles is an inferno of wrath. Charles cannot “is”. Instead, “is” links Charles to other information about him.

LINKING VERBS When frightened, Martha’s face turns white. Sometimes even a four-day school week seems long. After Friday’s cafeteria nachos, my stomach feels queasy. COMMON LINKING VERBS: any form of the verb be [am, is, are, was, were, has been, are being, might have been, etc.], become, and seem.

MULTIPLE PERSONALITY LINKING VERBS Nate tasted the Frito pie. Nate is the Frito pie. (Nope. That’s nutty, so “tasted” is an AV.) Nate’s Frito pie tasted great. Nate’s Frito pie is great. (Yep, that works, so “tasted” is a LV.) appear, feel, grow, look, prove, remain, smell, sound, taste, and turn—Sometimes these verbs are linking verbs; sometimes they are action verbs. If you can substitute am, is, or are and the sentence makes sense, you have a linking verb. If, after the substitution, the sentence sounds nutty, you’ve got an action verb.

MULTIPLE PERSONALITY LINKING VERBS Last summer, this mama bear and her cubs appeared in a New Jersey backyard. An exception to the Substitute “IS” Test is the verb APPEAR.

MULTIPLE PERSONALITY LINKING VERBS Last summer, this mama bear and her cubs appeared in a New Jersey backyard. (ACTION) An exception to the Substitute “IS” Test is the verb APPEAR.

MULTIPLE PERSONALITY LINKING VERBS The bears appeared happy to play and cool off in the water. (LINKING) An exception to the Substitute “IS” Test is the verb APPEAR.

MULTIPLE PERSONALITY OF “IS” Hank is happy. (LINKING) Hank is trying to smile for the camera. (HELPING)

When looking for the predicate, always consider what role a “verb” is playing in the sentence. Sheila slurps her soup. When Sheila eats soup for lunch, I can hear her slurps for miles. Slurping Sheila drives me nuts. Can you find the predicate—the main verb—in each of these sentences?

When looking for the predicate, always consider what role a “verb” is playing in the sentence. Sheila slurps her soup. When Sheila eats soup for lunch, I can hear her slurps for miles. Slurping Sheila drives me nuts.