1. Verbs
Mrs. Prange

2. Verb Definition
Verb is a word that expresses action or a state of being
I remember yesterday.
It seems an eternity.
He never wastes a single moment.
The clock struck one.
Seize the day!
The hour is near.

3. Action Verbs- Transitive or Intransitive
Transitive-verbs with direct objects: who?/what?
The wolf attacked the caribou.
The general recalled his last battle.
The chess player outwitted his opponent.
Also have indirect objects: “to whom” or “for what”
He handed his partner a new racket.
She brought him the first aid kit.

4. Action Verbs- Transitive or Intransitive Cont.
Intransitive- verbs without objects.
The commander smiled.
The skaters competed.
The horseman fell.
The sailors fought among themselves.

5. Action Verbs-Active or Passive
Active- subject performs action
Lightening struck the tree.
Passive- subject receives action
The tree was struck by lightening.

6. Linking Verbs
Express a condition or state of being. Link subject to subject complement.
Predicate Nominative-noun or pronoun
Predicate adjective
be, being, been, am, is, are, was, were, become, stay, turn, look, feel, prove, smell, grew, appear, remain, taste
Action: A thirsty farmhand tasted the lemonade.
Linking: The lemonade unfortunately tasted sour.
Linking: His testimony proved false.
Action: The famous attorney proved her innocence.

7. Helping Verbs Helping Verb: aids verb, makes the time more specific.
Am eating could be coming
Were speaking should have arrived
Will read must be canceled

8. Verb Phrases Verbs plus helpers is called a verb phrase.
The last verb in phrase is the main verb.
Sometimes main verb is separated from helpers.
His homework had been partially completed.
Do you ever forget an assignment?
A final exam could hardly be ignored.
Words that will never be part of phrase
Never, ever, not, always

9. Principle Parts of a Verb
Handout

10. Subject/Verb Agreement
Singular subjects receive singular verbs
Plural subject gets plural verb
EX. A bowl of apples (was, were) on the table.
Why (is, are) lemons sour?
One of the joys of vacation (is, are) sleeping late.

11. Agreement cont. Indefinite pronouns must agree with verb.
-s and –es suffixes are singular on verbs
EX. Neither of the twins (like, likes) to dress like the other.
Most of the guests (has, have) left.
Most of the dress (is, are) stained.

12. Compound Agreement 2 or more singular joined by ‘and’: PLURAL
Exceptions: *ham and eggs is
*chicken and dumplings is
*businesses and brand names
2 or more plural joined by ‘or’ or ‘nor’: PLURAL
Sing. and plural with ‘or’ or ‘nor’ verb agrees with closest subject

13. Collective Subject Agreement
Collective nouns (team, group, committee, audience)
If noun refers to group working as unit: SINGULAR
The audience is leaving.
If noun refers to individual members: PLURAL
The audience were settling in their seats.

14. Verbals Words formed from verbs, but used as other parts of speech.
Gerunds
Participles
Infinitives

15. Verbals--Gerunds Gerund- “ing” verb
Used as a noun (subj., DO, IO, obj. of prep, PN)
EX. Swimming in this weather is not fun.
Bob likes fishing late at night.
She is good at running the 100 meter dash.
He gave his training his full attention.
His dream was gaining the title.
Gerunds can have its own subject (usually possessive form)
EX. I cannot understand Harry’s exercising.
His singing is terrible.

16. Verbals--Participles
Participle-verb ending in: ed, ing, en, n, t, d
Used always to modify a noun or pronoun
Is never the main verb of the sentence
Ex. Sitting in the window, the flower needs water.
Crushed by defeat, Suring returned home.
The little tree, bent by the heavy snow, looked lonely that December night.
Noun being modified must be closest to the participle.
Dangling participles = BAD
EX. Crying and kicking, Robert removed the baby.

17. Verbals--Infinitives
Infinitives-the base verb that includes the word “to”
Ex. Nancy likes to walk through the park.
He came to hear the school band.
I want to be living in the mountains.
Be Careful** “To” followed by a noun is a preposition
Ex. I went to the movies.
I want to go to the movies.
Do not split an infinitive with a modifier
NO- He planned to quietly leave.
YES-He planned to leave quietly.
NO-To quickly earn money was her wish.
YES-To earn money quickly was her wish.

18. Tense of Verbs Tense = Time Present Tense: -s or –es ending
He, she, it, Claireleaves tomorrow
I, you, we, they, the girlsleave tomorrow
Past Tense: -d or –ed ending
He, they, Jasonsoaped my windows.
*Irregular are memorized

19. Tense Cont.
Future Tense: helping verb ‘will’ or ‘shall’ is added to main verb. Main verb doesn’t change.
1st person sing. and plural pronouns I, we: SHALL
All other pronouns: WILL
I shall give Mrs. Prange chocolate.
They will give Mrs. Prange chocolate.

20. Progressive/Perfect Aspects
Progressive: in progress uses present participle
She is reading. Present progressive
She was reading Past progressive
She will be reading. Future progressive
Perfect: completed uses past participle
She has read. Present perfect
She had read. Past perfect
She will have read. Future perfect

21. Six Verb Tenses Simple Perfect
Present- use base verb. Add ‘s’ to 3rd person singular.
I see. He sees.
Present- use helpers ‘have’ or ‘has’ with past participle form of verb.
We have seen. He has seen.
Past- use past tense form of verb for sing. and plural.
I saw…Dan saw…You saw…
Past- use helper ‘had’ with past participle form of verb.
I had seen. They had seen.
Future- use helpers
Shall: 1st person sing. and plural
Will: all others plus base verb
Future- use helpers ‘shall have’ or ‘will have’ with past participle form of verb.
We shall have seen.
They will have seen.