Action VerbsState of Being Verbs
The movie starts at 8:00.This movie is terrible
The rocket shot skyward.Rocket launches are always exciting.
Most of the verbs you will use when you speak and write will be action verbs.
Action Verbs
An action verb tells what action the subject of a sentence is performing. Action verbs can show physical action. They can also show a mental action or ownership.
Physical Action / Kenshouted a warning to his friends across the street.Charlie mailed cartons of food and clothing to victims of the hurricane.
Toby and Serena volunteer at the local animal shelter.
Mental Action or Ownership / I always remember your birthday, even though you forget mine.
Jared had his snowboarding gear with him.
Dee forgot that it was a long weekend and found the post office closed.
PRACTICE #1
Identify the verb(s) in each of the following sentences.
1. A cold wind whipped through the trees.
2. Mary expects an important letter in the mail.
3. Because of the drought, the farmer worried about his vegetable crop.
4. Mrs. Taylor poured hot tea from the teapot.
5. Coreen recited the poem aloud to the class.
6. We value your judgment on this matter.
7. Rudy raked the leaves in the back yard.
8. The students all have their own highlighters for class.
PRACTICE #2
Identify the state of being verbs in each of the following sentences.
1. I have been sick lately.
2. We are going to the party once we are ready.
3. Marcus was disappointed when his friend was late.
4. Soccer is my favorite sport, though I am not a very strong player.
5. Being a Virgo, I am very organized.
Verb Phrases
A verb phrase is the main verb plus one or more helping verbs (also called auxiliary verbs). Following is a list of common helping verbs.
Forms of Beis, am, are, was, were, be, being, been
Forms of Havehas, have, had
Forms of Dodo, does, did
Other Verbsmay, might, must, can, could, shall, should, will, would
Examples / The police have reopened the case of the missing millionaire.A new witness has come forward.
This could result in reopening the case.
Sometimes the verb phrase is interrupted by other words. The word not and its contraction n’t often interrupt verb phrases. NOT and N’T are NEVER part of the verb.
Examples / The crime scene investigators are always looking for new information.They do not overlook any evidence.
The suspect now under arrest may never have been near the crime scene.
Because of this, he can’t be charged with the crime.
PRACTICE #3
Underline the verb phrase in each of the following sentences.
1. The Louisiana Purchase was completed by President Thomas Jefferson.
2. Before the Louisiana Purchase, the Louisiana Territory was owned by France.
3. President Jefferson must have wanted information about these interior lands.
4. Meriwether Lewis, Jefferson’s private secretary, and William Clark were chosen as the leaders of the expedition into the Louisiana Territory.
5. A young Shoshone woman, Sacagawea, was living in a Mandan village near Lewis and Clark’s camp.
6. Didn’t she accompany them on their expedition as an interpreter and guide?
PRACTICE #4
In the following sentences, underline the helping verbs once and the main verb twice. Some main verbs do not have helping verbs.
EX: Ricky hadknown about the change in the schedule as early as last week, but he did not change his plans.
1. We would have seen the movie if we had arrived at the theatre on time.
2. Mr. Okagi was working in his garden.
3. I have known Gabrielle for many years.
4. The Baxters are building a swimming pool in their back yard.
5. If you had been wearing the mask, I might not have recognized you.
6. Where did she say the ladder should go?
7. Some friends of Caitlin’s are having a party next Saturday night.
8. I would help you carry the sofa, but as you can see, my hands are full already.
9. Had I known about the concert earlier, I would have gone with you.
10. Can a dog that small jump that high?
Linking Verbs
A linking verb links the subject with another word in the sentence. The other word either names or describes the subject.
Examples / Sally Ride was the first American woman in space. (Waslinks first American woman and the subject, Sally Ride. First American woman renames the subject.)You would be amazed how hard astronaut training is. (Would be links amazed with the subject, you. Amazed describes the subject. Is is a verb, it is a state of being verb describing astronaut training.)
The forms of be are the most common linking verbs. In fact, any verb phrase ending in be or been can be a linking verb.
Common Forms of Be
bewill behas been
beingcan behad been
iscould becould have been
amshould beshould have been
arewould bewould have been
wasmay bemay have been
weremight bemight have been
beenmust bemust have been
shall behave been
The forms of the verb be are not always linking verbs. To be a linking verb, a verb must link the subject with another word that renames or describes the subject. This description word is called the subject compliment. In the following examples, the verbs simply make statements, which make them state of being verbs, not linking verbs.
He was there in the last row of the auditorium.
The computer is in the corner.
Additional Linking Verbs
appearfeellookseemsoundtastebecomegrow remain smell stay turn
Chocolate remains her favorite flavor. (Favorite flavor renames the subject, chocolate.)The old speakers sounded muffled and scratchy. (Muffled and scratchy describe the subject, speakers.)
Most of these can be either linking verbs or action verbs. It is important to ask yourself whether the verb is describing an action or connecting the subject with another word which renames or describes it.
Linking Verbs / Action VerbsEven after reading the journal article, the scientist remained skeptical. / She remained in the lab to test her hypothesis.
The lab grew quiet in the afternoon. / Steve grew several varieties of bean plants for the experiment.
PRACTICE #5
Identify the linking verbs in each of the following sentences. Then, circle the subject and subject compliment.
EX: Don’t those children seem happy?
1. The ocean is too calm for surfing.
2. Josh feels disappointed by the absence of surf.
3. The surf had been rough only one week ago.
4. Tomorrow the wind may become stronger.
5. Then the waves should be higher.
PRACTICE #6
For each sentence below, first underline the verb or verb phrase(s). Then, on the line next to the sentence, state whether each verb(phrase) is an action (ACT) orlinking(LINK) verb.
______1. Estelle turned the page of her science book.
______2. Have they lived in the house for very long?
______3. That vegetable soup smells delicious.
______4. If Mozart had lived longer, he would have composed many more works.
______5. Marcus should have arrived by now.
______6. I smell the aroma of a freshly mowed lawn.
______7. The Henderson brothers are the best hockey players in the state.
______8. John cooked dinner last night.
______9. Is Samantha older than Jessica?
______10. The stone felt very smooth and velvety.
Transitive and Intransitive Verbs
A transitive verb has an object – a word that tells who or what receives the action of the verb. Intransitive verbs do not have objects.
Transitive / In the seventeenth century, French colonists founded the region of Acadia in Canada. [The object region receives the action of the verb founded.]Intransitive / Several thousands of Acadians migrated to Louisiana.
Be careful, the same verb may be transitive in one sentence and intransitive in the next.
Transitive / The British fought the French for control of Acadia. [The French are the object, receiving the action of fought.]Intransitive / The British and the French fought for control of the land.
PRACTICE #7
Identify the verb(s)/verb phrase(s) in the following sentences and decide if it is transitive or intransitive. Underline the verb, and write T if it is transitive or INT if it is intransitive.
1. The British won control of Acadia in 1713.
2. In the 1700’s, the British expelled thousands of Acadians from Canada.
3. Many of these Acadians moved to Louisiana.
4. In Louisiana the name “Acadian” evolved into “Cajun.”
5. Cajun settlements spread across the southern part of Louisiana.
6. The paintings of Cajun artist George Rodrique capture the flavor of Cajun life.
7. The poet, Longfellow, wrote the poem “Evangeline” about the Acadians.
8. Longfellow wrote about the Acadians often.
9. The people of New Orleans assembled along the streets for the Mardi Gras parade.
10. The Cajun chef assembled the ingredients for the gumbo on the counter.