Action Verbs An action verb expresses a physical or mental action –Physical: run, jump, play, throw –Mental: think, believe, remember, imagine Transitive Verb –Action verb that expresses an action directed toward a person or thing Adam held the baby. (held is directed toward baby) Brian brought flowers. (brought is directed toward flowers)

Action Verbs Transitive Verb cont –Action passes from the doer (subject of sentence) to the receiver of the action. –Words that receive the action of a transitive verb are direct objects. Sylvia kicked Juan under the table. –Subject? –Action verb? –Direct object? Josh wants a smile from Mary. Cornelius painted the canvas.

Action Verbs Intransitive Verb –Action verb that expresses action (or tells something about the subject) without passing the action to the receiver. DOES NOT have a direct object. The kids read quietly in class. The teacher read aloud. Huffing and puffing, we arrived at the classroom door with only seven seconds to spare.

Action Verbs NOTE: Depending on its use, some verbs can be either transitive or intransitive –Janet swam ten laps. Subject: Verb: Direct object? –Janet swam really well. Subject: Verb: Direct object?