Verbs and Verb Phrases (copy this as the heading of a new note sheet)

Verbs The verb is the most important part of a sentence. (Remember: main ideas, like this, go on the outside edge of your page) The verb is the most important part of a sentence. A verb is a word that expresses mental or physical action (like “think” or “run”) or it expresses a state-of-being (like “am” or “became”) Verbs can be classified as ACTION or LINKING verbs. (Details—the notes below the line—go in the large column on the inside of the page)

Verb-Subject Identification Procedure Step 1: Look for the verb 1st. It is usually an action or a state-of-being word Ex: Kevin reported the theft. Ex: Paula is an astronaut. Step 2: Find the subject 2nd. Ask yourself “Who or what (insert verb)?” to find the subject. Ex: Who “reported the theft”? Ex: Who “is an astronaut”? * Finding the verb can help you locate the subject, but no the other way around.

Linking Verbs LINKING verbs describe a state-of-being or existence (what something is or is like) Linking verbs connect the subject to information that describes the subject, but do not show action. linking verbs can be the main verb of a sentence Example: Sally is my best friend. (copying the example is optional)

Common Linking Verbs List is be am being are been was were

Linking Verbs Some verbs can be action in one sentence and linking in another The following can be linking or action depending upon the sentence. Use the substitution test to be sure. Appear seem Become smell Became sound Feel stay Grow taste Look turn remain

Linking Verbs The Substitution Test If you can replace the verb with a form of the verb “to be” (is, am, are, was, were, be, being, or been), the verb in the sentence is a linking verb. If you cannot replace it, the verb in the sentence is an action.

Verb Phrases The verb can consist of two or more words. A verb phrase consists of the main verb and any helping verbs that go with it. (The maximum number of words in a verb phrase is four). Example: ”must have gone” = verb phrase Even though it has multiple words, a verb phrase acts as one verb Verb phrases are formed by putting one or more linking verbs and/or helping verbs in front of a main verb Example: ”will have been singing” = verb phrase

Helping Verbs Will Shall Would Should Might must Is Can Am Could Are Do Would Was Does Should Were Did Might Be Has must Being Have Been had

Beware Be aware that adverbs frequently interrupt verb phrases

Adverbs (these frequently interrupt verb phrases) Sometimes certainly Evidently hardly Never scarcely Not seldom Always frequently Usually often

Compound Verbs Sometimes the verb is a compound. A compound verb is a verb with more than one action ( Ex: The hare huffed and puffed after the race. 2. Compound verbs are joined by a conjunction (usually “and”). Ex: He ate Doritos and drank Mountain Dew for breakfast.

Compound Verbs READ, BUT DO NOT COPY THIS SLIDE Every subject in a sentence must have at least one verb. But that doesn't mean that a subject can have only one verb. Some subjects are greedy as far as verbs go. A greedy subject can have two, three, four, or more verbs all to itself. When a subject has two or more verbs, you can say that the subject has a compound verb.

Example #1 READ, BUT DO NOT COPY THIS SLIDE Before mixing the ingredients for his world-famous cookies, Bobby swatted a fly buzzing around the kitchen. Bobby = subject; swatted = verb.

Example #2 READ, BUT DO NOT COPY THIS SLIDE Before mixing the ingredients for his world-famous cookies, Bobby swatted a fly buzzing around the kitchen and crushed a cockroach scurrying across the floor. Bobby = subject; swatted, crushed = compound verb.

Example #3 READ, BUT DO NOT COPY THIS SLIDE Before mixing the ingredients for his world-famous cookies, Bobby swatted a fly buzzing around the kitchen, crushed a cockroach scurrying across the floor, shooed the cat off the counter, picked his nose, scratched his armpit, licked his fingers, and sneezed. Bobby = subject; swatted, crushed, shooed, picked,scratched, licked, sneezed = compound verb.

Interrogative Sentences In an interrogative sentence (a sentence which asks a question), the normal word order is inverted or changed around the verb can appear before the subject, or the subject can appear in the middle of a verb phrase. Example: Will he be going with us?

Interrogative Sentences To make it easier to find the verb, mentally change the question into a statement: Example: Will he be going with us? Change: He will be going with us.