Verbs
Main/Action, Helping, Linking,
State of Being
I. What is a verb?
A verb is one of the most
important parts of the sentence.
It tells the subjects actions,
events, or state of being.
It is always found in the
predicate of a sentence.
II. Action Verbs
A verb is a word that
can express:
Action
tells what the
subject does
Our team scored the
winning basket.
There are two kinds of action verbs:
Physical action
The winner
crossed the finish
line.
Mental action
Ben dreamed of
winning the race.
The words are action verbs:
ran
coughed
swallowed
ride sang
awake
Can you find the action verb in each
sentence?
1. The girls danced in the recital.
2. Our mailman drove a funny car
last week.
3. His teacher wrote the answers
on the board.
4. Alice worked on her homework
last night.
III. Helping Verbs
A helping verb works with a main verb to
help you understand what action is
taking place.
Elmer was
using the
computer.
23 Helping Verbs
may be do should have will
might being does could had can
must been did would has shall
am
are
is
was
were
(main) (main) (main)
Helping Verbs
Other things to keep in mind:
•Not every sentence will have a
helping verb with the main
verb.
•When you see an "ing" verb
such as "running", be on the
lookout for a helping verb also.
Helping Verbs
•Sometimes there is another word
which separates the helping verb from
the main verb.
•One common example is "not", as in:
•The boy couldn't find his socks.
•The helping verb is could and the
main verb is find.
Helping Verbs
•A sentence may contain up to three
helping verbs to the main verb.
•An example would be:
•The dog must have been chasing
the cat.
•The helping verbs are: must,
have, and been; the main verb is
chasing.
IV. Linking/State of Being Verbs
A verb is a word that
can express:
A state of being
tells what the
subject is
John is our best
player.
What is a state of being verb?
State of being verbs are often
called linking verbs because
they link the subject of the
sentence with information
about it.
PREDICATE
SUBJECT
Linking Verbs
Definition: links, or
connects, the subject with a
noun, a pronoun, or an
adjective in the predicate.
State of Being Linking Verbs
There are 8 state of being
linking verbs:
isam are
was were
be being been
Linking Verbs
Sensory Linking Verbs:
appear grow feel
seem remain sound
become look smell
stay taste turn
Linking Verbs
The subject is linked to a noun
following the verb to create a
predicate noun:
Father Chaminade is a priest.
Father Langorian was his friend.
Linking Verbs
The subject is linked to the
adjective following the verb create
a predicate adjective:
He is hopeful.
Melissa is intelligent.
The teacher is tall.
In this sentence, is links the teacher to
information about her-the fact that she is
tall. That is her state of being.
Linking Verbs
•Most linking verbs, except the
forms of be and seem, may
also be used as action verbs.
•Whether a verb is being used
to link words or to express
action depends on its meaning
in a sentence.
This candy tastes so sweet.
In this sentence, tastes links candy to
information about it—its sweetness. Did
you think taste was an action verb? Well,
it is—when the subject is doing the
tasting. But here, the candy isn't doing
any tasting. The candy itself tastes
sweet. That is its state of being.
Linking Verbs
To check to see if the verb is a linking
verb, substitute the verb with is or are.
Example:
Father Chaminade seems happy.
Father Chaminade is happy.
Father Chaminade looked tired
when he reached Spain.
Father Chaminade was tired when he reached
Spain.
Can you tell which are linking verbs?
were run will be jump
shine skip sing is
could has drive draw
Ready to
move on?
OOPS! That is an action verb.
Try again
Yes! That is a state of being verb.
Try
another!