Verbs

Verbs Verbs are a necessary component of all sentences. Verbs have two important functions: Some verbs put objects into motion while other verbs help to clarify the objects in meaningful ways.

Action Verbs Explode! Scream! Sneeze! Type! Kick! What are these words doing? They are expressing action, something that a person, animal, force of nature, or thing can do. As a result, we call these words action verbs. Look at the examples below: In the library, Michelle giggles loudly. Giggling is something that Michelle can do.

Because of the spicy Jamaican pepper, David reached for his glass of iced tea. Reaching is something that David can do. Carlos watched pretty women in skimpy bikinis parading on the beach. Watching is something that Carlos can do.

If you are unsure whether a sentence contains an action verb or not, look at every word in the sentence and ask yourself, "Can a person or thing do this?" During biology class, Omesh napped at his desk. Can you during? Is during something you can do? Can you biology? Is there someone biologying outside the building right now?

Using Action Verbs State an appropriate action verb. Our drama and history teachers ________ a joint project for our class. First, our history teacher ________ us into four small groups. Then he ________ the new assignment in detail.

Linking Verb A linking verb connects a noun or pronoun at or near the beginning of a sentence with a word at or near the end. The verb be is the most commonly used linking verb.

Forms of Be am can be have been are could be has been is may be had been was might be could have been were must be may have been am being shall be might have been are being should be must have been is being will be shall have been was being would be should have been were being will have been would have been

A number of other verbs can be used as linking verbs A number of other verbs can be used as linking verbs. appear look sound become remain stay feel seem taste grow smell turn

Distinguishing Between Action Verbs and Linking Verbs To determine whether a verb is a linking verb or an action verb, substitute am, is, or are for the verb. If the sentence still makes sense and if the new verb links a word before it to a word after it, then the original verb is a linking verb.

Linking: The costume looks interesting. (The costume is interesting?) linking Action: My brother often looks for his little sister. (My brother often is for his little sister?) not linking

Main and Helping Verbs The following verbs—be, do, have, will, and can—are used often and have one thing in common: They all help other verbs to create verb phrases. Helping verbs help the main verb describe action or a kind of idea to the subject. A verb phrase consists of one or more helping verbs followed by a main verb.

In the following examples, the helping verbs are italicized In the following examples, the helping verbs are italicized. Notice how they help to change the meaning of opened. has opened will have opened could have been opened is being opened

Some Helping Verbs Forms of be: is was being should be had been might have been Other verbs: do have shall can does has should could did had will may would might must

Sometimes the words in a verb phrase are separated by other words, such as not or certainly. The parts of the verb phrase in certain questions are also usually separated. In the following examples, the parts of each verb phrase are italicized. She could certainly have been reached by phone earlier. This has not happened before. Did you ever expect to see such a heavy machine floating in the air.

Bibliography Carroll, Joyce A., Edward E. Wilson, and Gary Forlini. Prentice Hall Writing and Grammar. Boston, Massachusetts: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2008. Farbman, Evelyn. "Subject Verb Agreement." A Writer's Guide, Sentence Sense. 2006. Capital Community College Hartford. Sept. 08 <http://www.ccc.commnet.edu/sensen/part2/twelve/index.html. Royster, Jacqueline J., and Mark Lester. Writer's Choice Grammar Workbooks : Teacher's Wraparound Edition. New York: Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, 1996. Simmons, Robin L. "The Verb." Grammar Bytes. 2008. Sept. 08 <http://www.chompchomp.com/terms/verb.html.