Verbs (R47)
Part of speech / Function / ExamplesVerb / Expresses an action, a condition, or a state of being
Action / Tells what the subject does or did, physically or mentally / Run, reaches, listened, consider, decides, dreamed
Linking / Connects the subject to something that identifies or describes it / Am, is, are, was, were, sound, taste, appear, feel, become, remain, seem
Auxiliary (aka helping) / Precedes the main verb in a verb phrase / Be, have, do, can, could, will, would, may, might
transitive / Directs the action toward someone or something; always has an object / The storm sank the ship.
intransitive / Does not direct the action toward someone or something; does not have an object / The ship sank.
Every sentence must have a verb. The verb is the simple predicate of the sentence. It tells what the subject does or is.
Types of Verbs:
1. Action
Mr. Cho slept with the window open.
2. Linking
She was the nicest girl at the party.
3. Auxiliary aka Helping
Stephen can make breakfast for us.
Use strong, vivid verbs to enhance the quality of your writing.
Ex. Strong – I finally completed the difficult task.
Weak – I finally did the difficult task.
Verb Phrase
A verb phrase is made up of a main verb and one or more helping verbs.
Ex. have been reading
are running
can describe
· Not is not a part of the verb.
Ex. did not make
couldn’t see
Principal Parts
Copy principal part chart on top of R56
Verb Tense
Tense indicates the time of the action or state of being.
Present tense expresses an action that is happening now.
The snow falls quickly.
Past tense expresses an action that happened in the past.
My hairdresser dyed my hair purple.
Future tense expresses an action that will occur.
They will attend the next festival.
Sometimes an action verb needs a direct object.
The direct object is a noun or pronoun that answers whom or what after the verb and receives the action.
Ex. We wrote a story.
Story receives the action “wrote” and answers what?
An action verb that has a direct object is called a transitive verb.
An action verb that does not have a direct object is called an intransitive verb.
If there is an indirect object, it ALWAYS comes before the direct object. The indirect object is a noun or pronoun tells to whom or for whom the action is done.
Ex. We wrote you a story.
A linking verb links the subject to a noun or adjective in the predicate.
A predicate nominative is a noun or pronoun that follows a linking verb and renames or identifies the subject.
Ex. Milo is an amazing singer.
A predicate adjective follows a linking verb and describes the subject.
Ex. Milo is amazing.