Parts of
Speech
Verbs
Verbs
• Verb – a word that expresses action or
a state of being
• The verb says something about the
subject
• Every sentence must have a verb!
• Verbs are Classified into 3 types:
• 1. main or helping
• 2. action or linking
• 3. transitive or intransitive verbs
Main Verbs
• Main – single word that is used to express
the action or state of being
• Ex: jump, walk, think
• Ex:
– The dog barked all night.
– Since only one verb is used, it is the main
verb.
Helping Verbs
• Helping/Auxiliary – helps the main verb
to express action or a state of being
• The dog has been barking all night.
• The helping verbs has and been assist (or
help) the main verb barking.
• Ex:
– can speak
– will learn
– should have been fed
Common Helping Verbs
http://www.yout
ube.com/watch
?v=ca2MoQvv8
FA&feature=fvs
r
Or to another tune….
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2JWKY63K0
Verb phrase
• Verb Phrase: the main verb and its
helping verb put together
• Ex:
• Many students can speak Spanish.
• I will be learning all the state capitals
tonight.
• The dog should have been fed by now.
Common Verb Phrases
• See how many you can make using main
and helping verbs you know!
Note:
• Sometimes the verb phrase is interrupted by another
part of speech
• Ex:
• Suzanne should not call so late at night.
• The verb phrase should call is interrupted by the adverb
not.
• The scientists didn’t think the asteroid would hit the
earth.
• The verb phrase did think is interrupted by –n’t.
• Did you watch the new video?
• The verb phrase Did watch is interrupted by the subject
you.
Action Verbs
• Action Verbs – expresses either physical or
mental activity
•
•
•
•
Ex:
Physical activity:
I have used a computer in math class.
Please cook dinner, Jerome.
• Mental activity:
• Fran understands the science assignment.
• The Magician is thinking of a number.
Linking Verb
• Linking Verbs – connects, or links, the subject to a word or
word group that identifies or describes the subject.
• Ex:
• Sandra Cisneros is a writer.
• The verb is connects writer with the subject Sandra Cisneros.
• The fireflies are beautiful.
• The verb phrase are connects beautiful with the subject fireflies.
• The new superintendent was she.
• The verb was connects she with the subject superintendent.
Other examples
• Linking verbs that
form the verb be:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Am
Is
Are
Was
Were
Has been
Have been
May be
Can be
Should be
Would have been
• Other linking verbs:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Appear
Grow
Seem
Stay
Become
Look
Smell
Taste
Feel
Remain
Sound
turn
SOME WORDS CAN BE USED AS
EITHER Linking or action
verbs!
• They sounded the bell for a fire drill.
• Mom sounded happy about her new job.
• The judge will look at my science project.
• Ann will look funny in her gorilla costume.
Here’s a TesT To Tell THe
difference!
1. Remove the verb from the sentence
The judge ____________ at my project.
1. Replace it with one of these words
(is/are/was/were) depending on the tense.
The judge is at my science project.
1. If the sentence still makes sense, the verb you
took out was a LINKING verb.
2. If the sentence doesn’t make sense, the verb
you took out was an ACTION verb.
So what are these?
• Mom sounds happy on the phone
• LINKING
• They always sound the bell for lunch.
• Action
• The judge will look at my science project.
ACTION
• Ann will look funny in her gorilla costume.
LINKING
PRACTICE
Identify the verb.
Tell whether the verb used is an ACTION or a LINKING verb.
• The alphabet chart is helpful linking.
• is - linking
• Many people communicate with these letters.
• Communicate - action
• Many people use forms of sign language.
• Use - action
• At first, it may be a challenge.
• May be - linking
• Football players sometimes give signals in sign language.
• Give - action