Verbs
When you studied nouns and pronouns, you learned about words that name people, places, and things. To state your ideas, you also need words to express action or condition. Words that let you say what people are doing or what is happening are verbs.
A verb is an important part in every sentence as no sentence is complete without one. There are three types of verbs:
- verbs that express action
- verbs that help other verbs
- verbs that link a noun or pronoun
Many verbs express actions or activities that can be completed.
Ex.: The archaeologist digs.
We walked on the beach.
Other verbs express condition-they link a noun or a pronoun with words that describe the condition of the noun or pronoun. They are often used just to say that something is.
Ex.: The ruins werespectacular.
I wondered about the tides.
The weather has been bad.
Action Verbs
An action verb indicates the action of a person or thing. The action can be visible or mental, and it tells what the subject of the sentence does.
Examples of visible action:Linda climbed the maple tree.
Marty ordered a cheeseburger.
The band marched onto the field.
Verbs indicating mental action cannot be seen or heard directly. They are thinking activities, but they are still actions.
Examples of mental action: The students understand the assignment.
Everyone believes you.
Jim wished for a sunny day.
Linking Verbs
A linking verb joins nouns and pronouns to a word that identifies or describes the noun or pronoun.
It links the subject of a sentence with a predicate noun or a predicate adjective.
Predicate Noun-renames or identifies the subject
Predicate Adjective-describes the subject
Examples of linking verbs with predicate nouns:
The Black Hills are really mountains.
Someday the mountain top will become a huge statue.
Chief Crazy Horse was a Sioux Indian chief.
Examples of linking verbs with predicate adjectives:
She appearedshy to strangers.
The statue isrough now.
Hiawatha feltunhappy because of the wars.
Linking Verbs
lookseemturnbecome
appearstaygrowfeel
soundtasteremain
Some verbs can be used as either linking verbs or action verbs. To test whether a verb is a linking verb or an action verb, replace the verb with: is, am, or are. If a sentence still makes sense, then the verb is a linking verb.
Let’s test your knowledge. Is the underlined verb in the sentence being used as a linking verb or as an action verb?
- The tyrant felt threatened.
- The tyrant felt the sword.
- The people grew poor crops.
- The people grew unhappy.
Helping Verbs
Verbs such as jump, talk, and wait are called main verbs. Sometimes, however, verbs are made up of several words, such as had jumped, might have talked, would have understood, and could have been waiting. In this case, the verbs that come before the main verb are called helping verbs. They help express the meaning of the main verb.
A helping verb comes before the main verb and adds to its meaning.
Examples:He was leading the Romans.
Rome had conquered many territories.
The emperors could ignore Greece.
Greek states might have worked together.
Verbs with the –en ending, like chosen or ridden, must be used with helping verbs. Verbs with the –ing ending, like sitting and talking, must be used with helping verbs.
There are 23 helping verbs
ambeinghadshallmust
isbeendowillcan
arebedoeswouldcould
washasdidmay
werehaveshouldmight
Separated Parts of the Verb
Sometimes another part of the sentence comes between the helping verb and the main verb.
Examples:Ezra may not pitch today.
Joanne will probably stay for dinner.
The gate shouldn’t have been locked last night.
Notice that “not” and the ending “n’t” are not verbs. In questions, we very often use one or more words between the helping verb and the main verb.
Examples:Does this bicycle need oil?
Were you looking for me?
Have you ever seen a meteor shower?