1. The Wonderful World of
VERBS!

2. Verbs—School House Rocks Style

3. VERB
A word used to express action or a state of being

4. Verb Classification
Helping and Main verbs
Action Verbs
Linking verbs

5. 1. Helping Verbs and Main Verbs
Helping verbs help the main verb express action or a state of being
can, could,
did, do, does,
had, has, have,
may, might, must
shall, should
will, would

6. A Relatively Easy Equation
Main verb + at least one helping verb = verb phrase
Examples:
I will teach many outstanding lesson on grammar this year. (The main verb here is TEACH)
He has been praised for his fine conducting. (The main verb here is PRAISED)
His recording should be heard by anyone interested in classical music. (The main verb is heard)
He will be leading the orchestra tonight. (The main verb is leading)

7. Helping verbs may also be used as main verbs.
Example:
Did you do your homework?
She will be here soon.
We do not have enough time, but we have a plan.

8. Sometimes a verb phrase is interrupted by another part of speech.
The newspaper has finally arrived.
Will the boy in the blue jacket write his report on the Beatles?

9. 2. Action Verbs
A verb that expresses either physical or mental activity
Examples of physical activity: laugh, paint, leap, sneeze, play, etc.
Examples of mental activity: understand, wish, trust, realize, dream, etc.
The scientist studied the ant colony.
Mario knew the answer to every question on the test.

10. 3. Linking Verbs
Connects the subject to a word (or word group) that identifies or describes the subject
The noun, pronoun, or adjective that is connected to the subject by a linking verb completes the meaning of the verb.
Examples:
Michael is one of the finalists.
Lola became a famous scientist.
Wild animals remain free on the great animal reserves in Africa.
The watermelon looks ripe.

11. KEEP THIS IN MIND!
Most linking verbs (NOT INCLUDING THE FORMS OF BE AND SEEM) may also be used as action verbs
You have to check its meaning in the sentence to figure out which verb it is.
LINKING: THOSE PLUMS APPEARED RIPE.
ACTION: THOSE PLUMS APPEARED ON OUR BACK PORCH.
LINKING: THE SOUP TASTED GOOD.
ACTION: I TASTED THE SOUP.

12. The Verb Song
4Xx1c&NR=1

13. Find the Verbs! A lady threw bread to the ducks Several birds flew by.
Mary Ellen has three cats.
Bring your beach towel with you on the picnic.
Michele is a very good singer.
These horses are the prettiest in the herd.
Is that a sandcastle?

14. 4. Transitive Verbs
A verb that expresses an action directed toward a person, place, thing, or idea.
Joel held the baby. (The action of held is directed toward baby)
Lola brought flowers. (The action of brought is directed toward flowers)
Did Grandpa sharpen the ax this morning? (The action of did sharpen is directed toward ax)

16. Writer's Notebook Challenge
Task #1—create a space in your WN for strong verbs
Task #2—replace the following verbs below with more descriptive ones. Create this list in your WN. You may use a thesaurus. 
Example:  ran--> scampered
Said, held, went, walked, saw, opened, cut, fell, attached, showed, closed, turned, ate, separate, took, write, eat, run, call

17. Task #3-->Think of a specific noun (animal or machine); think of four or five specific actions that the animal or machine does.  Use this pattern. 
I_________, and I___________, and I_________, and I___________. What am I?
Example:  I leap, and I plop, and I swim, and I croak.  What am I?  (a frog)
Example:  I flit, and I fly, and I flutter, and I fold my wings. What am I? (butterfly)

18. Task #4-->Replace weak verbs with vivid verbs and general nouns with specific nouns in the passages below.
When I got to the plane, I heard the people talking.  I got some stuff and sat down to watch the things that were up in the air.  
The animal went into the place.  Other animals above it made noise.  Some other animals went away. And other animals went into the air. 

19. Task #5-->Step 1
Think of six different animals. Be specific. Rather than write "dog," write "a German shepherd."  
Think of words—verbs—for the noises that the animals make.  Be specific. Rather than write "sings" for blue jays, write "screeches"
Think of six different things that make noise in the city.  Be specific rather than write "car," write "a taxi cab"
Think of words—verbs—for the noises that the things in the city make. Be specific.  Rather than write "makes noise" for taxi cab, write "honks."

20. Task #5—>Step 2
Put your animals and the sounds they make in one stanza; put the things from the city and the noises they make in another stanza.  
Begin and end stanza one with this line: "Noisy animals, noisy animals everywhere."
Begin and end stanza two with this line: "City noise, city noise fills the air."  

21. Task 5-->Step 3 Create your poem! Here's an example!
Noisy animals, noisy animals everywhere.
Hummingbirds whirr.
Bullfrogs groan.
Hawks screech.
Moths flutter.
Chihuahuas yap.
Tigers snarl. 
Noisy animals, noisy animals everywhere. 
City noise, city noise fills the air.
Jackhammers chatter.
Tires squeal.
Sirens wail.
Crowds roar.
Moving trucks moan. 
Trains hiss.