What is a verb?? A word or group of words that will express an action or connect words.
Action Verbs Linking Verbs verbs that express physical or mental action Ex. jump (physical) think (mental) *Beware of “to” plus a verb. connect the subject of a sentence with a word in the predicate that identifies or describes the subject Ex. She was the winner. He is so sweet.
Some linking verbs from the verb BE AMWERE IS BE AREBEING WASBEEN
Other Linking Verbs appeargrow seemstay becomelook smelltaste feelremain soundturn These words can be ACTION or LINKING; to tell the difference, put a form IS or ARE in its place
Transitive Verbs action verbs that pass the action to a receiver who answers the question Who? or What? Has a direct object with it Ex. You help me.
Intransitive Verbs action verbs that cannot pass the action to a receiver since nothing answers the question Who? or What? There is NO direct object Ex. You sing beautifully.
Helping Verbs Helping Verbs: help the main verb to express action Can have multiple helping verbs before the MAIN verb Ex. Must have been running Verb Phrases: contain one main verb and one or more helping verbs Ex. did help
Common Helping Verbs Do would Doescan Didcould Havemay Hasmust Hadmight Shall Shouldplus all regular linking verbs Will
Ways to locate helping verbs Sometimes a verb phrase will be all together: He is running through the park.
Sometimes a verb phrase will be interrupted by another word (adverb) She does not live in that house anymore. I don’t like the taste of bell peppers. (hidden in a contraction)
If your sentence asks a question, then the sentence probably begins with a helping verb. May I have the salt, please?