Parts of Speech Notes on Verbs

Verbs Verbs are word(s) which reveal an action or state of being. Every sentence has at least one verb! A physical action (e.g., swim, write, climb). Example Sentence - Alison bought a ticket. The word bought expresses the physical activity to buy. A mental action (e.g., think, guess, consider). Example Sentence - I thought the same thing. The word thought expresses the mental activity to think. A state of being (e.g., to be, exist, appear). These are called linking verbs, which connect the subject (nouns and pronouns) in a sentence to other information. The most important verb in this group is the verb to be - seen in forms like is, are, were, was, will be, etc. Example Sentence - Edwin is the largest elephant in this area. The word is is a verb from the verb to be. It is linking Edwin (subject - noun) to the adjective, largest and noun, elephant.

Most Common Linking Verbs am are being appear be become feel get grow have/has been is lie look might be might have been prove remain seem sit smell sound stay taste turn were

More Information about Verbs Verb phrases are made up of a main verb and one or more helping verbs, which define the tense or change the meaning of the main verb. Ex. My teacher will tell us about Peru. Main Verb = tell / Helping Verb = will / Verb Phrase = will tell Ex. Mr. Brute has been living here for twelve years. Main Verb = living / Helping Verbs – has been / Verb Phrase = has been living Verb Tense: verbs tell if something has already happened, if it will happen later, or if it is happening now. For things happening now, we use the present tense of a verb look (present) or is/are/am looking (present participle) For something that has already happened, we use the past tense. looked (past) or has/have/had looked (past participle) For something that will happen later, we use the future tense. will look (future) Irregular verbs: do not change to past tense by just adding ed or d (begin – is/are/am beginning – began – has/have/had begun) Some irregular verbs are formed by adding n, en, or ne to the present or past form (fly – is/are/am flying – flew – has/have/had flown)

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

- Circle the verbs or verb phrases - Circle the verbs or verb phrases. - Label their tense: present, present participle, past, past participle, or future - Label their type: physical action, mental action, or state of being. 1.) Dracula bites his victims on the neck. 2.) In early October, Gwen will plant twenty tulip bulbs. 3.) My first teacher was Miss Crawford, but I am remembering the janitor Mr. Wilson more vividly. 4.) Karl has bicycled around the world, but his diaries and his bicycle were destroyed. 5.) Jamie thought about her weekend, and decided she will go shopping with her sister. 6.) Ella’s stories about castles are wonderful.

Answers (verbs in red) 1.) Dracula bites (present) (physical action) his victims on the neck. 2.) In early October, Gwen will plant (future) (physical action) twenty tulip bulbs. 3.) My first teacher was (past) (state of being) Miss Crawford, but I am remembering (present participle) (mental action) the janitor Mr. Wilson more vividly. 4.) Karl has bicycled (past participle) (physical action) around the world, but his diaries and his bicycle were destroyed (past) (physical action). 5.) Jamie thought (past) (mental action) about her weekend, and decided (past) (mental action) she will go (future) (physical action) shopping with her sister. 6.) Ella’s stories about castles are (present) (state of being) wonderful.