Action Verbs

Action Verbs physical action mental action express either mental or physical activity The dogs barked all day. He thought about the day. physical action mental action

Action Verbs may be transitive or intransitive (more on this later – just note it for now)

Action or Linking Verb? We celebrated the Chinese New Year yesterday. The holiday is usually in February. We celebrated the Chinese New Year yesterday. The holiday is usually in February. linking #1 Identify the verb. #2 Action or state of being? #3 Action=action verb & state of being = linking verb

Action or Linking Verb? John looked tired. John looked through the binoculars. John looked tired. John looked through the binoculars. action #1 Identify the verb. #2 Action or state of being? #3 Action=action verb & state of being = linking verb

Action or Linking Verb? Remain in your seats until the end of class. Remain calm. Remain in your seats until the end of class. Remain calm. linking #1 Identify the verb. #2 Action or state of being? #3 Action=action verb & state of being = linking verb

Action or Linking Verb? Your Turn! Any verb that can be replaced with is, am, are, be, become, or becomes to create a sentence with nearly the same meaning is a linking verb. The sky looks blue. I walked home. Our teacher seemed crazy.

It’s all about transfer of action to an object. Transitive and Intransitive It’s all about transfer of action to an object.

Handy Tip Since transitive/intransitive verbs deal with whether or not action passes from the subject to an object, always start with labeling the subject and verb in the sentence.

Transitive Verbs express an action directed toward a person, a place, a thing, or an idea (a.k.a., nouns) The action passes from the doer (the subject) to the receiver of the action. The words that receive the action of transitive verbs  direct objects  always nouns Transitive verbs can only be action verbs. Linking verbs are NEVER transitive.

Transitive Verbs: Examples av Derrick greeted the visitors. Derrick greeted whom? The action (greeted) passes from the subject (Derrick) to the object (visitors). When will Felicia paint her room? Felicia will paint what? The action (will paint) passes from the subject (Felicia) to the object (room). aux. v S av

Intransitive Verbs express action or tell something about the subject without the action passing to a receiver, or object Intransitive verbs may be either action or linking verbs.

Intransitive Verbs: Examples av The train stopped. The train stopped what? There is nothing in the sentence to say what the train stopped (i.e., there is no object). There is no transfer of action. Last night we ate on the patio. We ate what? There is nothing in the sentence to say what we ate (i.e., there is no object). We did not eat some “on the patio.” This is a prepositional phrase telling where we ate, not what. There is no transfer of action. S av

Transitive or Intransitive? Your Turn! 1) Label subject & verb. 2) Is the verb action or linking? If linking, it cannot be transitive. If action, go on to step 3. 3) Say, “Subject, verb WHAT?” If there is a noun that receives the action, it is transitive. The children play checkers. The children play quietly. Mr. Lopez is baking bread. Mr. Lopez is baking this afternoon. Have Roland and Tracy left their coats? Have Roland and Tracy left yet?

Transitive or Intransitive? Your Turn! av The children play checkers. The children play WHAT? “Checkers” is a noun telling what they play, so “play” is transitive. The children play quietly. The children play WHAT? “Quietly” is not a noun and it is not what they play (it is how they play), so “play” is intransitive. S av

Transitive or Intransitive? Your Turn! av Mr. Lopez is baking bread. Mr. Lopez is baking WHAT? “Bread” is a noun and it tells what he is baking, so “is baking” is transitive. Mr. Lopez is baking this afternoon. Mr. Lopez is baking WHAT? “This afternoon” is not what Mr. Lopez is baking (it tells when), so “is baking” is intransitive. S aux. v av

Transitive or Intransitive? Your Turn! aux. v av S Have Roland and Tracy left their coats? Roland and Tracy have left WHAT? “Coats” is a noun and it tells what they left, so “have left” is transitive. Have Roland and Tracy left yet? Roland and Tracy have left WHAT? “Yet” is not what they left (it tells when), so “have left” is intransitive. S aux. v S av

Transitive or Intransitive? Your Turn! Label the subjects and verbs in these sentences. Tell whether the verbs are transitive or intransitive. Melanie ate a baked potato. Hector and Tom are reading. They painted the house. Did you carry his suitcase? My plant grows quickly.