1. Action Verbs
The verb is the main word in the predicate. Most verbs are action verbs.
An action verb tells what the subject does or did.
She jumps over the fence.
Action verbs also tell about actions you cannot see.
He knows the answer.

2. Direct Objects
A direct object is a noun or pronoun that receives the action of the verb.
It is part of the predicate of the sentence.
A direct object answers the question what or whom after an action verb.
The man eats spaghetti.
The man eats what? (spaghetti)

3. Direct Objects Write the direct object.
Example: I want a cheeseburger.
cheeseburger
1. The snowstorm surprised us.
2. The team received a trophy for first place.
3. Many people bought ice cream on the hot day.
4. She hugged her mom.
5. We congratulated the coach after the game.

4. Present-Tense Verbs The tense of a verb tells when an action happens.
A verb in the present tense tells about an action that is happening now.
A verb must agree with its subject.
If the subject is singular or he, she, or it, the verb must be singular.
If the subject is plural or I, we, you, or they, the verb must be plural.

5. Present-Tense Verbs
Follow these rules for forming present-tense verbs:
Add –s to form most present-tense singular verbs.
Add –es if the verb ends in s, ch, sh, x or z.
If the verb ends in a consonant and y, change the y to i and add –es.
Do not add –s or –es to form a plural verb in present-tense.

6. Present-Tense Verbs Examples: She read/reads a book about elephants.
Elephants live/lives in Africa.
A circus elephant carryes/carries a rider on his back.
The audience watchs/watches the performance.
Circus elephants also hold/holds each others tails.

7. Past-Tense Verbs
A past-tense verb tells about an action that already happened.
Follow these rules for forming past-tense verbs.
Add –ed to most verbs.
If a verb ends in e, drop the e and add –ed.
If a verbs ends in a consonant and y, change the y to i and add –ed.
For most one-syllable verbs that end in one vowel followed by one consonant, double the consonant and add –ed.

8. Past-Tense Verbs Write the past-tense form of each verb. Present-Tense
1, carry
2. jump
3. work
4. love
5. watch
6. worry
7. hop
8. like
9. skip
10. cry

9. Future-Tense Verbs
Future-tense verbs tell about actions that are going to happen.
Use the verb will with the main verb to form the future tense.
Shall is sometimes used when the subject is I or we.
The boys will go to the movies tonight.
The girls will order a pizza.
We shall call to make a reservation.

10. Linking Verbs
A linking verb does not show action. A linking verb links the subject of a sentence to a noun or an adjective in the predicate.
The noun that follows the linking verb names the subject.
The adjective that follows the linking verb describes the subject.
Linking verbs are often forms of the verb be: am, is, are, was, were, and will be.
The verbs look, seem, appear, taste, sound, smell, feel, and become are also common linking verbs.

11. Linking Verbs Examples: David is a doctor. The painting was beautiful.
The cake looks delicious.
She appears tired.
I am a teacher.
The kitten’s fur feels soft.

12. Main Verbs and Helping Verbs
A verb can be more than one word.
The main verb shows the action in the sentence.
The helping verb helps the main verb show an action.
Together the main verb and the helping verb form a verb phrase.
Common helping verbs: am, is, are, was, were, has, had, have, will, can, could, should

13. Main and Helping Verbs
Underline the verb phrase. Write the main verb and the helping verb.
Example: He can shoot foul shots.
MV – shoot
HV- can
1. David will kick the ball.
2. Uncle Jeff can help with the project.
3. People are shopping for the holidays.
4. Children should make their beds.
5. She could not pass the test.

14. Using Be and Have
The verbs be and have have special singular and plural forms. Use the forms of be and have that agree with the subject of the sentence.
The verbs have and be can also be helping verbs.
The forms of have are used with the past-tense forms of main verbs.
The forms of be can be used with main verbs that end in –ing.
Remember to use the forms of have or be that agree with the subject of the sentence.

15. Using Be and Have Subject Forms of be Forms of have Present Past
Singular nouns
he, she, it
is was
has had
Plural nouns
you, we, they
are were
have had I
am was
have had

16. Irregular Verbs
Regular verbs form the past tense and past participle by adding –ed.
Irregular verbs do not add –ed to form the past tense or past participle.
The past participle form a verb is the main verb with the helping verb has, have, or had.

17. Irregular Verbs Present Tense Past Tense Past Participle begin began
has, have or had begun
bring
choose
fly go
grow
make
swim
take
write
break
blow
fall
know

18. Irregular Verbs Present Tense Past Tense Past Participle ride ring
sing
speak
throw
wear
eat
drive
teach
see do
read

19. Contractions with Not
A contraction is a word formed by joining two words, making one shorter word.
A contraction is often made up of a verb combined with the word not.
An apostrophe (‘) takes the place of any letters that are left out.

20. Contractions with Not is not isn’t do not don’t are not aren’t
does not doesn’t
was not wasn’t
did not didn’t
were not weren’t
cannot can’t
will not won’t
could not couldn’t
has not hasn’t
should not shouldn’t
have not haven’t
would not wouldn’t
had not hadn’t
must not mustn’t

21. Verbs Often Misused
Verbs that have meanings that are similar can cause confusion.
teach – to give knowledge
learn – to get knowledge
sit – to rest
set – to put or place; to establish
let – to allow or permit
leave – to go away from; to let remain in place

22. Verbs Often Misused Choose the correct verb.
The Smiths teach/learn their dog tricks.
Some dogs teach/learn quickly.
The dogs sit/set in front of the hoop.
The Smiths sit/set the hoop on a high stand.
The Smiths let/leave me pet their dogs.
The Smiths let/leave for the dog show today.
Please let/leave the leash by the door.