Verbs Every sentence has a main verb, the word or words that tell what the subject does or that link the subject to another word that describes it. Verbs do not always immediately follow the subject: Other words may come between the subject and the verb. There are two types of verbs: action verbs being verbs

Verbs Action Verb She sees the arena. He bought the book. An action verb tells what action the subject performs She sees the arena. He bought the book. They adopted the child.

Verbs Being Verbs A being verb connects the subject to a word or group of words that describe the subject. Being verbs show no action. The most common being verb is be, along with all its forms (am, is, are, and so on). What word joins the subject and the words that describe the subject?

Verbs Verb Phrases A helping verb joins with the main verb in the sentence to form the complete verb phrase. Examples of helping verbs: is was can have do may shall are were could had does might should am will has did must would Helping verb + Main verb = Verb Phrase

Verbs Trouble Spots Words acting as modifiers: Never Not Hardly Seldom The attorney could not win the case without key witnesses.

Trouble Spots: Verbals Verbs Trouble Spots: Verbals Infinitive: to + verb It is not tied to the subject of the sentence. It acts as a modifier or noun. His drive to succeed would serve him well. He wanted to get a bachelor’s degree.

Trouble Spots: Verbals Verbs Trouble Spots: Verbals Gerund: ing word Acts as a noun Retrieving her email was her main objective. She thought about retrieving her e-mail.

Trouble Spots: Verbals Verbs Trouble Spots: Verbals Participle: ing or ed word Acts as describing words Walking to town in the dark, he lost his way. Wanted by the FBI, she was on the run.

Verbs Identify the verb. Teams in the City League score more touchdowns than any other teams in the country.

Verbs Identify the verb. Teams in the City League score more touchdowns than any other teams in the country.

Verbs Millions of people listen to the radio every day. Identify the verb. Millions of people listen to the radio every day.

Verbs Millions of people listen to the radio every day. Identify the verb. Millions of people listen to the radio every day.

Verbs He was the new kid at his high school in that fall. Identify the verb. He was the new kid at his high school in that fall.

Verbs He was the new kid at his high school in that fall. Identify the verb. He was the new kid at his high school in that fall.

Verbs Identify the verb. The writer became confident in his abilities.

Verbs Identify the verb. The writer became confident in his abilities.

Verbs Identify the verb. Delores noticed her cousin walking along the shoreline.

Verbs Identify the verb. Delores noticed her cousin walking along the shoreline. Walking along - participle describing cousin

Verbs Identify the verb. Children introduced to music early develop strong intellectual skills.

Verbs Identify the verb. Children introduced to music early develop strong intellectual skills. Introduced to music - participle describing children - which type of children

Verbs Identify the verb. I have a paper to write before class.

Verbs Identify the verb. I have a paper to write before class. To write - infinitive describing paper