1. Verb: a word used to express an action or a state of being.
The two main kinds of verbs are action verbs and linking verbs.
Both of these kinds of verbs can appear with helping verbs.

2. Action Verb: tells what the subject does
Action Verb: tells what the subject does. The action may be physical or mental.
She rides motorcycles
She = subject
rides = action verb (describes a physical action)
I prefer a bike.
I = subject
prefer = action verb (describes a mental action)

3. Linking Verb: can basically be replaced w/ “is” or “=”
The most common linking verbs are forms of the verb “be” (replace with =)
be, is, am, are, was, were, been, being
We are late. I am hungry. He is being silly.
They were astronauts. The substance is mud.
Other linking verbs express a condition (replace with “is/are”)
Ex: look, smell, feel, sound, taste, seem, grow, appear, become
She sounds great! It feels cold. They seem bored.

4. Be careful! Some verbs may act either as action verbs or linking verbs
You must think about what the verb is doing to figure it out.
She smells the perfume
action verb -- smells is something she is physically doing
It smells flowery
linking -- smell links the subject, I, to the predicate adjective, flowery
I taste cinnamon (action)
This tastes gross (linking)

5. Helping Verb: adds functional or grammatical meaning; for example, to express tense or possibility
Common helping verbs
Forms of “have”
Has, have, had
Forms of “do”
Do, does, did
Forms of “be”
Be, am, is, are, was, were, been, being
Others…
Could, should, would,
may, might, must,
can, shall, will

6. A few verbs can serve as either helping verbs or main verbs
He has a tractor.
main verb = has (action verb)
Owning it is an active idea
It’s not a linking verb because it does not link “he” to a noun or adjective that describes “he”
He has eaten today.
main verb = eaten (action verb)
has = helping verb (it adds meaning to the main verb by helping to express aspect)

7. Underline the verb/verb phrase, then mark “A, “ “H,” or “L”
Mail travels overseas on airplanes.
Mail can also go overseas by boats.
Boats are slower but less expensive.
Boats might take weeks for the trip.
Boats were once the only form of transportation across the ocean.
The post office can use trucks, trains, and planes to move mail.
In the past, horses have carried mail.

8. Action Verbs and Objects
Action verbs are often paired with “objects,” but not always.
Objects help complete the meaning of the active verb.
Objects that work with action verbs fall into two categories: direct objects and indirect objects.

9. Direct objects name the receiver of the action
They answer the question “what?” or “whom?” receives the action of the verb.
Larry tells lots [of funny stories].
tells = verb
lots= direct object
Tina passed Erin on the way to school.
passed = verb
Erin = direct object

10. Indirect objects tell who or what an action is done to or for
It answers the questions to what? to whom? for what? for whom?
Larry tells his friends stories.
Larry tells stories to whom? Friends.
friends = indirect object
Emma gives the flowers water.
Emma gives water to what? Flowers.
flowers = indirect object

11. Important: The indirect object does not follow a preposition
If a preposition is used, then the word becomes the object of that preposition.
For example, “to,” and “for” are prepositions, so in these sentences there is no indirect object:
We will make an offer to the man.
to = preposition
man = object of preposition, NOT indirect object
Get a job for yourself.
for = preposition
yourself = object of preposition

12. Transitive and Intransitive Verbs
Transitive verbs take a direct object
Lyle patted the dog’s fur.
patted = transitive
Intransitive verbs don’t take an object
Lyle patted softly.
patted = intransitive

13. Do not confuse adverbs with direct objects!
A word is only a direct object if that word answers the question “what is being verbed” or “who is being verbed.”
Laura danced the Tango.
Gina claps her hands.
An adverb tells how, when, where, or to what extent (it gives more detail about a verb).
Laura danced wildly.
Gina claps loudly.

14. Which verbs are transitive, and which ones are intransitive?
Joe read to the class.
Gordon was writing Katrina a long letter.
Anna spoke indistinctly.
Peter and John presented a little skit.
John played the part of a policeman.

15. Find the direct objects and indirect objects
Joe read to the class.
Gordon was writing Katrina a long letter.
Anna spoke indistinctly.
Peter and John presented a little skit.
John played the part of a policeman.