Verbs
Review
Unit 1
Identifying Action Verbs
Identify the action verb and if it is physical or
mental
• Eugene O’Neill’s father, an actor, toured the
country.
– toured: physical
• O’Neill learned about the theater from his
father.
– learned; mental
• O’Neill’s father sent him to Princeton
University.
– sent; physical
• Soon O’Neill developed an interest in the sea.
– developed; mental
• He left home for two years of travel.
– left; physical
• Later, a drama teacher at Harvard University
inspired O’Neill.
– inspired; mental
• O’Neill knew the value of his own work.
– knew; mental
• He journeyed to Cape Cod for the summer.
– journeyed; physical
Identifying Transitive & Intransitive
Action Verbs
Indentify if the action verb is transitive or intransitive.
If the sentence has a transitive action verb, state its
object.
• The North and the South fought a war.
– fought = transitive verb
– war = object
• Differing opinions drove the North and South apart.
– drove = transitive verb
– North, South = object
• The director remembered this fine old theater from
past performances .
– remembered = transitive verb
– theater = object
• Finally, the day of the first performance arrived.
– arrived = intransitive verb
• The almost silent audience watched.
– watched = intransitive verb
• The bus raced through the traffic light.
– raced = intransitive verb
• The director inspected the scenery, costumes, and
lights.
– inspected = transitive verb
– Scenery, costumes, lights = object
• Many people bought tickets to the new play.
– bought = transitive verb
– tickets = object
• The war began.
– began = intransitive verb
• Day after day, week after week, the cast rehearsed.
– rehearsed = intransitive verb
• Many people bought tickets to the new play.
– bought = transitive verb
– tickets = object
• At the end of the play, everyone clapped wildly.
– clapped = intransitive verb
Identifying the Direct Object
Identify the direct object in each sentence.
• I have read five books and magazines.
– books, magazines = direct object
• The message reached the lawyer.
– lawyer = direct object
• Mother invited Uncle Bill and Aunt Kari.
– Uncle Bill, Aunt Kari = direct object
• The drivers are washing the concrete mixers.
– mixers = direct object
• Like elephant tenders, they hose them down.
– them = direct object
• Henry Ford introduced his first automobile as the
“Quadricycle.”
– automobile = direct object
• I remember him well.
– him = direct object
• The bus driver closed the door.
– door = direct object
• We made a videotape.
– videotape = direct object
• He fed the dog.
– dog = direct object
• Children drink milk.
– milk = direct object
• I have read five books and magazines.
– books, magazines = direct object
• The message reached the lawyer.
– lawyer = direct object
• Mother invited Uncle Bill and Aunt Kari.
– Uncle Bill, Aunt Kari = direct object
• The drivers are washing the concrete mixers.
– mixers = direct object
• Like elephant tenders, they hose them down.
– them = direct object
• Henry Ford introduced his first automobile as the
“Quadricycle.”
– automobile = direct object
• I remember him well.
– him = direct object
• The bus driver closed the door.
– door = direct object
• We made a videotape.
– videotape = direct object
• He fed the dog.
– dog = direct object
Identifying Subject, Verb, Direct
Object, Indirect Object
Identify the subject, verb, direct object, indirect
object.
• The orchestra leader brings the musicians the
music.
• leader = subject; brings = verb; music = direct
object; musicians = indirect object
• Dave gave each car and truck a new color.
• Dave = subject; gave = verb; color = direct
object; car, truck = indirect object
• The sopranos learn their parts first.
• sopranos = subject; learn = verb;
parts = direct object
• That famous director frequently gives performers
drama lessons.
• director = subject; gives = verb, lessons = direct
object; performers = indirect object
• She also gives children lessons in the afternoon.
• she = subject; gives = verb; lessons = direct
object; children = indirect object
• She wrote plays and operas for many years.
• she = subject; wrote = verb; plays, operas =
direct object
• Now she shows her students her special
techniques.
• she = subject; shows = verb; techniques = direct
object; students = indirect object
• The theater offers young people many
opportunities.
• theater = subject; offers = verb; opportunities =
direct object; people = indirect object
• Students ask actors and directors questions about
different roles.
• students = subject; ask = verb; questions =
direct object; actors, director = indirect object
• The expert director and producers bring the show
success.
• Director, producers = subject; bring = verb;
success = direct object; show = indirect object
• The actors memorize scripts.
• actors = subject; memorize = verb,
scripts = direct object
Identifying Form of Be and
Connecting Words
Underline the form of be, and draw a doubleheaded arrow connecting the words that are
linked by the verb.
The Civil War was a long campaign.
The Civil War was a long campaign.
Many events were responsible for the Civil War.
Many events were responsible for the Civil War.
The Missouri Compromise was not enough to
prevent slavery.
The Missouri Compromise was not enough to
prevent slavery.
It was a solution to keep balance in the Senate.
It was a solution to keep balance in the Senate.
Later, the Compromise of 1850 was an agreement
making California a free state.
Later, the Compromise of 1850 was an agreement
making California a free state.
The other states were “slave” or “free” by choice.
The other states were “slave” or “free” by choice.
Indentifying Linking Verbs and
Connecting Word
Underline the linking verb. Then, draw a doubleheaded arrow connecting the words that are
linked by the verb.
At the outset, both sides felt confident of a victory.
At the outset, both sides felt confident of a victory.
However, their goals remained different.
However, their goals remained different.
The Confederacy stayed focused on its goal of
independence.
The Confederacy stayed focused on its goal of
independence.
The goal of the North looked impossible.
The goal of the North looked impossible.
The North appeared stronger at the beginning.
The North appeared stronger at the beginning.
Distinguishing Between Action Verbs
and Linking Verbs
Find and underline the verb in each sentence
below. Determine if it is a linking verb or an
action verb.
Grandpa looks the other way.
Grandpa looks the other way. action verb
The plants grow taller.
The plants grow taller. linking verb
Can you feel the sun on your face?
Can you feel the sun on your face? action verb
Those lions sound ferocious.
Those lions sound ferocious. linking verb
Will you taste this soup?
Will you taste this soup? action verb
They feel happy about their work.
They feel happy about their work. linking verb
Identifying Predicate Nouns &
Predicate Pronouns
Identify the predicate noun or predicate pronoun
in each sentence below.
Europe was the home of some early automobiles.
Europe was the home of some early automobiles.
Americans quickly become fans of the automobiles.
Americans quickly become fans of the automobiles.
Man car models were poor designs.
Man car models were poor designs.
Henry Ford was the man who had financial backing
for his invention.
Henry Ford was the man who had financial backing
for his invention.
He was the inventor of the Model A.
He was the inventor of the Model A.
Ford was also the inventor of the Model T, his most
popular automobile.
Ford was also the inventor of the Model T, his most
popular automobile.
Identifying Predicate Adjectives
Identify the predicate adjective in each sentence
below.
The Museum of Automobile History in Syracuse, New
York, is exciting and interesting to people of all ages.
The Museum of Automobile History in Syracuse, New
York, is exciting and interesting to people of all ages.
Information on thousands of cars is available and
accessible to all visitors.
Information on thousands of cars is available and
accessible to all visitors.
The display of collector’s items is sleek and huge.
The display of collector’s items is sleek and huge.
The museum has become both a historic site and
a showroom for classic cars.
The museum has become both a historic site and
a showroom for classic cars.
It will be a popular attraction and tourist site for
years to come.
It will be a popular attraction and tourist site for
years to come.
Stating Present and Past Tense Verbs
State the correct form of the verb in parentheses.
Then tell whether it is in the present tense or
past tense.
A month ago our music teacher (introduce) my
sister and me to opera.
introduced; past
Opera is a form that (combine) music and drama
into one production.
combines; present
That combination (suit) my sister and me perfectly.
suits; present/suited; past
Last week we (attend) a light opera by Gilbert and
Sullivan..
attended; past
Every day that week the show (start) precisely on
time.
started; past
Subject Verb Agreement
Select one answer from the choices provided after each
sentence.
Either the physicians in this hospital or the chief
administrator (is/are) going to have to make a decision.
- is
(Is/Are) my boss or my sisters in the union going to win
this grievance?
- Are
Some of the votes (seem/seems) to have been
miscounted.
- seem
The tornadoes that tear through this county every spring
(are/is) more than just a nuisance.
- are
Everyone selected to serve on this jury (have/has) to
be willing to give up a lot of time.
- has
Kara Wolters and her teammates (presents/present) a
formidable opponent on the basketball court.
- present
He seems to forget that there (are/is) things to be
done before he can graduate.
- are
Some of the grain (appear/appears) to be
contaminated.
- appears
Indentifying Helping Verb & Main Verbs
For each sentence below, identify the helping
verb/s and the main verb.
More people should have been encouraged to
study flight.
helping verbs: should have been
main verb: encouraged
During the eighteenth century, few people had
applied themselves to the study of flight.
helping verb: had
main verb: applied
Flapping-wing machines had been studied by
Leonardo da Vinci during the fifteenth century.
helping verbs: had been
main verb: studied
Three important aviation devices were being
invented in Europe.
helping verbs: were being
main verb: invented
These early inventions might have been an
inspiration to Leonardo.
helping verbs: might have
main verb: been
Indentifying Verb Phrases
State the complete verb phrase from each
sentence below.
Patty did not leave the airport until after four.
verb phrase: did leave
The airplane, like many other life-changing
inventions throughout history, was not
immediately recognized for its potential.
verb phrase: was recognized
Prior to World War I, the airplane had occasionally
been presented at county fairs.
verb phrase: had been presented
Daredevil pilots would often draw large crowds and a
few investors.
verb phrase: would draw
The United States War Department had quickly
expressed interest in the heavier-than-air craft.
verb phrase: had expressed
Bibliography
Carroll, Joyce A., Edward E. Wilson, and Gary Forlini. Prentice Hall
Writing and Grammar. Boston, Massachusetts: Pearson Prentice Hall,
2008.
Farbman, Evelyn. "Subject Verb Agreement." A Writer's Guide, Sentence
Sense. 2006. Capital Community College Hartford. Sept. 08
<http://www.ccc.commnet.edu/sensen/part2/twelve/index.html.
Royster, Jacqueline J., and Mark Lester. Writer's Choice Grammar
Workbooks : Teacher's Wraparound Edition. New York:
Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, 1996.
Simmons, Robin L. "The Verb." Grammar Bytes. 2008. Sept. 08
<http://www.chompchomp.com/terms/verb.html.