L

E
S S O N
3
Verbs
Like everything metaphysical the harmony between thought
and
reality is to be found in the grammar of the language.
LUDWIG WITTG!"TI! #$%%&'$&($)
*U"T+I*! ,-IL.".,-+
////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
0erbs are the second fundamental component of nglish. Learn how to discern
between action1 linking1 and helping verbs1 and why they are called the movers
and shakers of written and spoken language.
*2 T I . ! 0 + 3 "
4ost action verbs are visible5the action can be seen5as in the words skate1 te6t1
sleep1 pick1 grab1 swim1 and clap. When we have to identify action words in sentences1 it is
generally pretty easy. "ome1 though1 are more challenging to identify because they are much less
obvious to our eyes. It7s hard to see the action
of words like think1 yearn1 wish1 believe1 consider1 need1 understand1 remember1 and
assume. We refer to verbs like these as mental verbs1 but we must remember that
they1 too1 are doing verbs.
0isible action verbs8
I 9og every afternoon. :ustin cooks very well.
3etsy fell on the sidewalk. The audience clapped loudly.
Invisible action verbs8
I thought it was delicious. Donna wanted to play too.
We need to be more aware. "hawna believes everyone.
, + *2 T I 2 $ 8 *2 T I . ! 0 + 3 "
Identify the action verbs in the following sentences.
$. The clock in the living room chimed every hour.
;. <ou need a paperclip to secure the papers.
=. .pen your book to page $(.
>. Uncle Drew cast his fishing line off the edge of the pier.
(. Le6i considered 4organ to be her best friend.
?. 4arcia watched the s@uirrel hop from limb to limb.
A. -eather understood why.
LI!BI!G 0+3"
Linking verbs convey a state of being or condition. In a sentence1 they link1 or
connect1 a noun with an ad9ective1 a word that describes the noun8

!
0 *D:
The grapefruit tasted sour.
! 0 *D:
-is pockets appeared empty.
or with another noun1 used to identify the first noun8
!
0
!
Cred became the coach.
!
0
!
The clue proved to be the key.
"ometimes you will encounter a word that looks like an action verb1 when
it is really a linking verb. .ne trick to knowing the difference between the two
is looking for the ad9ective that is describing the noun. If the ad9ective is not there1
then you have an action verb.verbs
*ction8
=$
Lucas tasted the stew.
Lucas actually tastes the stewD therefore1 tasted is an action verb.
Linking8 The stew tasted salty.
The stew is !.T tasting anything. The ad9ective salty is describing the noun stew1
so the verb is a linking verb.
*nother trick is to replace the verb in the sentence with the verb is. If it
makes sense1 then the sentence contains a linking verb. Cor e6ample1
Bevin felt the sandpaper.
Bevin is the sandpaper.
This is silly5Bevin is !.T sandpaperE Celt is an action verb in this sentence.
Bevin felt sick this morning.
Bevin is sick this morning.
<es1 this is sensible5felt in this sentence is a linking verb.
<ou should make yourself familiar with this list of verbs that can be both
action verbs and linking verbs #remember that their tenses can vary1 for e6amF
ple1 appear1 appears1 and appeared).
0+3" T-*T 2*! 3 *2TI.! 0+3" *!D LI!BI!G W.+D"
appear act become come fall
feel get grow lie look
prove seem smell sound taste
turned
, + *2 T I 2 ; 8 L I ! B I ! G 0 + 3 "
Determine whether the italiciGed verbs in the following sentences are action or
linking verbs. <ou can check your answers beginning on page =>.
%. 4om7s chicken and dumplings taste too salty for some reason.
&. 2harlotte grew green and yellow peppers in her container garden.=;
parts of speech
$H. We turned at the light and headed home.
$$. ,op grew angry when we didn7t listen carefully.
$;. "he liked to smell the flowers when she walked past the vase.
$=. The air smelled stale1 so we opened the window.
$>. 2hristian and Louise tasted *unt 3etty7s delicious peach cobbler.
$(. :odi7s white socks turned pink in the wash.
-L,I!G 0+3"
.ne last type of verb we use is the helping verb. -elping verbs are used to
enhance a main verb7s meaning by giving us more information about its tense.
Do you recogniGe these common helping verbsI
2.44.! -L,I!G 0+3"
am is are was were be do does did
have had has may might must shall will can
could ought
should would
In a sentence1 a main verb can have as many as three helping verbs in front
of it. Cor e6ample8
!ate served the ball to his opponent.
!ate will serve the ball to his opponent.
!ate should have served the ball to his opponent.
When a main verb has one or more helping verbs1 this is called a verb
phrase. <ou should remember that a helping verb does not always have to be
right ne6t to the main verb in the sentence. This is because an adverb #not1 only1
and Fly words) usually separates the helping verbs. Cor e6ample1
ddie will surely choose the largest slice of pie.
2aroline could not have eaten all those cookies.verbs
==
, + *2 T I 2 = 8 - L , I ! G 0 + 3 "
Identify the verb phrases in the following sentences. Then1 identify the helping
verbs and the main verbs. <ou may check your answers with the key at the end
of the lesson.
$?. "teven and 2raig must have had permission to leave early.
$A. 4itsy should vacuum the carpet before she dusts the furniture.
$%. The remote control must have fallen behind the sofa cushion.
$&. It was understood that the group would be meeting in the commons after
school.
;H. :esse will not be going to soccer practice this afternoon.
;$. 4eghan might not have practiced enough for her recital.
;;. The weatherman thinks it might snow tomorrow afternoon.
*!"W+"
, ra c t i c e $ 8 *c t i o n 0e r b s
$.
;.
=.
>.
(.
?.
A.
chimed
need
.pen
cast
considered
watched1 hop
understood=>
parts of speech
, ra c t i c e ; 8 L i n k i n g 0e r b s
%. linking
&. action
$H. action
$$. linking
$;. action
$=. linking
$>. action
$(. linking
, ra c t i c e = 8 - e l p i n g 0e r b s
$?. 0erb phrase8 must have hadD helping verb#s)8 must haveD main verb8 had
$A. 0erb phrase8 should vacuumD helping verb#s)8 shouldD main verb8
vacuum
$%. 0erb phrase8 must have fallenD helping verb#s)8 must haveD main verb8
fallen
$&. 0erb phrase8 was understoodD helping verb#s)8 wasD main verb8
understood
0erb phrase8 would be meetingD helping verb#s)8 would beD main verb8
meeting
;H. 0erb phrase8 will be goingD helping verb#s)8 will beD main verb8 going
;$. 0erb phrase8 might have practicedD helping verb#s)8 might haveD main
verb8 practiced
;;. 0erb phrase8 might snowD helping verb#s)8 mightD main verb8 snow