Action and helping verbs

Action Verbs What is an action verb? An action verb tells what action the subject is performing. It’s what you do!

How do I find the action verb? Find the subject. Ask the question, What did the subject do? The bat flew silently across the dark sky. The subject is bat. What did the bat do? Flew is the action verb.

Three Types of Action Verbs Physical Mental Ownership

Physical Action A bat lives in our barn. It clings to the rafters during the day.

Mental Action Some people believe bats are dangerous. They fear the small animals.

Ownership Bats have poor vision during the day. They possess a unique type of vision.

Helping Verbs The verb of a sentence is not always written with just one word. Sometimes we use helping (auxiliary) verbs. They make a verb phrase with the main verb plus one or two helping verbs.

Forms of Be Is Am Are Was Were Be Being Been

Forms of Have Has Have Had

Forms of Do Do Does Did

Others Shall Will Should Would May Might Must Can Could

Examples The verb phrases in these examples are underlined. My dad has promised us a parrot. We have been asking for one for a long time.

More Examples Sometimes a verb phrase is interrupted by other words. I couldn’t sleep last night. We are really getting a parrot today!

More Examples To find a verb phrase in a question, make the question a statement. Question Have you owned a parrot before? Statement You have owned a parrot before.

Your Turn! Find the verb phrase in the following sentences. Have you ever listened to a parrot? Actually, parrots don’t talk.

A Couple More Many birds can mimic various sounds. People must train these birds very slowly.

Review Action verbs show action. What did the subject do? They can be physical, mental, or ownership. Ex. Run, believe, have.

Common Helping Verbs Review Is Am Are Was Were Be Being been Has Have Had Do Does Did Shall Will Should Would May Might Must Can Could