What do you know about verbs? A verb is the part of speech that expresses action, existence or occurrence.

Helping Verbs Verbs ACTION VERBS LINKING VERBS Grammarians have fun classifying verbs in all sorts of ways, but today we’re going to review three main categories of verbs. ACTION VERBS Helping Verbs LINKING VERBS

Action Verbs We most often think of verbs as “doing” words that express physical action. Examples: The doctor wrote the prescription. Alison bought a ticket.

Action Verbs Action verbs can also express mental actions. Examples: Peter guessed the winning lottery number. I thought the same thing! Action verbs: kick, study, scream, jump, write, memorize

Action Verbs How to identify an action verb: Ask yourself, “Can a person or a thing do this?” During biology class, Amy napped at her desk. Michele laughs inappropriately. Carlos watched the pretty women at the beach.

Linking Verbs Linking verbs do not express action, but connect the main noun of the sentence to additional information. Linking verbs are used more often than action verbs. Keila is bored. My cats are content on the couch. I felt so tired after that big dinner!

Linking Verbs The following verbs are always linking verbs: Any form of “to be” (am, is, are, was, were, has been, are being, might have been, etc.), become, and seem. There are always exceptions to the rule…

Exceptions Some verbs have multiple personalities. Words like feel, grow, look, prove, remain, smell, sound, taste and turn can sometimes be action verbs and sometimes linking verbs depending on how they are used in a sentence.

How do I know the difference? If you can substitute the word am, is, or are and the sentence still makes sense, it’s a linking verb. If the sentence doesn’t make sense with the substitution, it is an action verb. Example: Kayla tasted the beetle smoothie. Kayla is the beetle smoothie? Makes no sense! ACTION VERB

How do I know the difference? More examples: I smell the cookies baking in the oven. I am the cookies? NO! ACTION VERB The cookies smell delicious. The cookies are delicious? YES! LINKING VERB

Helping Verbs A helping verb helps the main verb by adding additional information to the reader or listener. Katey is watching TV in the other room. Small fish are eaten by big fish. Do you want some soda? I have finished my homework.

Draw that Verb On one side of your paper, write a sentence using an action verb and illustrate the physical or mental action of your sentence. Label the drawing ACTION VERB and underline the verb in your sentence. Example: I scored the winning goal in the soccer game. –or- My sister plays piano like a maniac. Do the same for LINKING VERB on other side of paper. Example: Stephanie is a shopaholic. –or- I am in love with Anderson Cooper.