A Closer Look at Subjects and Verbs
A Closer Look at
Subjects and Verbs
Lesson 2
Joseph C. Blumenthal
A Closer Look at Subjects and Verbs
• One or more helping verbs
(sometimes called auxiliary verbs) are often used with the main verb to express our meaning more exactly.
The rope will break .
The helping verb used with break to make its meaning more exact is _____.
A Closer Look at Subjects and Verbs
• One or more helping verbs
(sometimes called auxiliary verbs) are often used with the main verb to express our meaning more exactly.
The rope will break .
The helping verb used with break to make its meaning more exact is _will_ .
A Closer Look at Subjects and Verbs
Mary can rescue the child.
Mary should rescue the child.
The meaning of the first sentence changes when we change the helping verb from can to ______.
A Closer Look at Subjects and Verbs
Mary can rescue the child.
Mary should rescue the child.
The meaning of the first sentence changes when we change the helping verb from can to should .
A Closer Look at Subjects and Verbs a. Mary settled the argument.
b. Mary could have settled the argument.
In sentence a, the main verb is used by itself. In sentence b, two helping verbs have been added to change its meaning—
_____ and ______.
A Closer Look at Subjects and Verbs a.
Mary settled the argument.
b.
Mary could have settled the argument.
In sentence a, the main verb is used by itself. In sentence b, two helping verbs have been added to change its meaning— could and have .
A Closer Look at Subjects and Verbs
Learn to recognize these important helping verbs: can, shall, will would, should, could may, might, must
Vera _________ study .
Could each of these helping verbs be used with the main verb study ? (Yes, No)
A Closer Look at Subjects and Verbs
Learn to recognize these important helping verbs: can, shall, will would, should, could may, might, must
Vera _________ study .
Could each of these helping verbs be used with the main verb study ? ( Yes
,
No)
A Closer Look at Subjects and Verbs
The three verbs below may serve as either main verbs or helping verbs.
be (is, am, are—was, were, been) have (has, had) do (does, did)
Which verb has the largest number of forms? ______
A Closer Look at Subjects and Verbs
The three verbs below may serve as either main verbs or helping verbs.
be (is, am, are—was, were, been)
have (has, had) do (does, did)
Which verb has the largest number of forms? __ be __
A Closer Look at Subjects and Verbs a. The weather is bad.
b. The weather is improving .
In one sentence is serves as the main verb; in the other, as a helping verb.
Does is serve as a helping verb in sentence a or b?
A Closer Look at Subjects and Verbs a. The weather is bad.
b. The weather
is improving
.
In one sentence is serves as the main verb; in the other, as a helping verb.
Does is serve as a helping verb in sentence a or b ?
A Closer Look at Subjects and Verbs a. I
have brought
my camera along.
b. I
have
my camera with me.
Is have used as a helping verb in sentence a or b?
A Closer Look at Subjects and Verbs a. I
have brought
my camera along.
b. I
have
my camera with me.
Is have used as a helping verb in sentence a or b?
A Closer Look at Subjects and Verbs a. We
did
the dishes.
b. Yes, we
did wash
the dishes.
Is did used as a helping verb in sentence a or b?
A Closer Look at Subjects and Verbs a. We
did
the dishes.
b. Yes, we
did wash
the dishes.
Is did used as a helping verb in sentence a or b ?
A Closer Look at Subjects and Verbs a.
I
have studied
my lesson.
b.
I
should have studied
my lesson.
c.
I
should have been studying
my lesson.
In which sentence does the verb have the largest number of helping verbs?
A Closer Look at Subjects and Verbs a.
I
have studied
my lesson.
b.
I
should have studied
my lesson.
c.
I should have been studying my lesson.
In which sentence does the verb have the largest number of helping verbs?
A Closer Look at Subjects and Verbs
The driver should have been watching the road.
The three helping verbs in this frame are _______, ______, and ______.
A Closer Look at Subjects and Verbs
The driver should have been watching the road.
The three helping verbs in this frame are should , have , and been .
A Closer Look at Subjects and Verbs
The complete verb in any sentence includes the main verb plus whatever helping verbs it may have.
The driver should have been watching the road.
The complete verb in this sentence consists of ( how many?
) words.
A Closer Look at Subjects and Verbs
The complete verb in any sentence includes the main verb plus whatever helping verbs it may have.
The driver should have been watching the road.
The complete verb in this sentence consists of four words.
A Closer Look at Subjects and Verbs
We shall now, for a moment, need to turn our attention to adverbs , which most commonly modify verbs.
This
has happened frequently.
Because frequently modifies the verb has happened , it is an _______.
A Closer Look at Subjects and Verbs
We shall now, for a moment, need to turn our attention to adverbs , which most commonly modify verbs.
This
has happened
frequently
.
Because frequently modifies the verb has happened , it is an
adverb
.
A Closer Look at Subjects and Verbs
a.
This
has happened
frequently
.
b.
This
has
frequently
happened .
In which sentence does the adverb frequently break into or interrupt the verb?
A Closer Look at Subjects and Verbs
a.This has happened frequently.
b.
This
has frequently happened
.
In which sentence does the adverb frequently break into or interrupt the verb? b
A Closer Look at Subjects and Verbs a.This engine will immediately start in the coldest weather.
b.This engine will start immediately in the coldest weather.
In which sentence does the adverb come between the main verb and its helper?
A Closer Look at Subjects and Verbs
a.This engine will immediately start in the coldest weather.
b. This engine will start immediately in the coldest weather.
In which sentence does the adverb come between the main verb and its helper? a
A Closer Look at Subjects and Verbs
One should immediately try artificial respiration.
What adverb comes between the main verb and its helper?
A Closer Look at Subjects and Verbs
One should immediately try artificial respiration.
What adverb comes between the main verb and its helper? immediately
A Closer Look at Subjects and Verbs
There is something else besides adverbs that can separate a main verb from its helper.
STATEMENT: Judy can drive .
QUESTION: Can Judy drive ?
The verb can drive is interrupted in the (statement, question).
A Closer Look at Subjects and Verbs
There is something else besides adverbs that can separate a main verb from its helper.
STATEMENT: Judy can drive .
QUESTION: Can Judy drive ?
The verb can drive is interrupted in the (statement,
question
).
A Closer Look at Subjects and Verbs
STATEMENT: Dad will want the car tonight.
QUESTION: Will Dad want the car tonight?
The verb will want is interrupted in the (statement, question).
A Closer Look at Subjects and Verbs
STATEMENT: Dad will want the car tonight.
QUESTION: Will Dad want the car tonight?
The verb will want is interrupted in the (statement,
question
).
A Closer Look at Subjects and Verbs
Most of the questions we ask begin with a helping verb.
a.Will this pen write?
b.Is the water boiling?
c.Who borrowed my book?
d.Does tom like spinach?
Which is the only one of the above questions that does NOT begin with a helping verb?
A Closer Look at Subjects and Verbs
Most of the questions we ask begin with a helping verb.
a.
Will this pen write ?
b.
Is the water boiling ?
c.
Who borrowed my book?
d.
Does Tom like spinach?
Which is the only one of the above questions that does NOT begin with a helping verb?
A Closer Look at Subjects and Verbs
A helping verb at the beginning of a sentence is the signal that a question is coming.
a.
Will this pen write ?
b.
Does Tom like spinach?
In each of these questions, we find the subject between the two parts of the
_________.
A Closer Look at Subjects and Verbs
A helping verb at the beginning of a sentence is the signal that a question is coming.
a.
Will this pen write ?
b.
Does Tom like spinach?
In each of these questions, we find the subject between the two parts of the
__ Verb __.
A Closer Look at Subjects and Verbs
Does this key fit?
The verb in this sentence consists of the two words ____________
___________.
A Closer Look at Subjects and Verbs
Does this key fit ?
The verb in this sentence consists of the two words ___ Does ____
____ fit _____.
A Closer Look at Subjects and Verbs
Must the tire be changed?
The verb in this sentence consists of the three words _______
_________ _________.
A Closer Look at Subjects and Verbs
Must the tire be changed ?
The verb in this sentence consists of the three words ___ Must ____
____ be ____ ___ changed ____.
A Closer Look at Subjects and Verbs
Sometimes, for emphasis, we put the verb ahead of its subject.
a.The rain came down.
b. Down came the rain .
In which sentence does the verb precede the subject?
A Closer Look at Subjects and Verbs
Sometimes, for emphasis, we put the verb ahead of its subject.
a.The rain came down.
b. Down
came
the rain .
In which sentence does the verb precede the subject? b.
A Closer Look at Subjects and Verbs
You are more likely to select the right subject if you look for the verb first.
Out jumped the rabbit.
After you find the verb jumped , ask yourself, “Who or what jumped?”
The answer will always tell you the subject.
The subject of this sentence is
_________
A Closer Look at Subjects and Verbs
You are more likely to select the right subject if you look for the verb first.
Out jumped the rabbit .
After you find the verb jumped, ask yourself, “Who or what jumped ?”
The answer will always tell you the subject.
The subject of this sentence is rabbit
A Closer Look at Subjects and Verbs
This story the class really enjoyed.
First find the verb.
A Closer Look at Subjects and Verbs
This story the class really enjoyed .
First find the verb – enjoyed .
A Closer Look at Subjects and Verbs
This story the class really enjoyed .
First find the verb – enjoyed . Then ask yourself, “Who or what enjoyed?”
The subject of this sentence is
A Closer Look at Subjects and Verbs
This story the class really enjoyed .
First find the verb – enjoyed . Then ask yourself, “Who or what enjoyed?”
The subject of this sentence is class
A Closer Look at Subjects and Verbs
In this and the following frames, write which is the verb and which is the subject.
1. To this old inn came a strange visitor.
2. Away sped the blue car.
3. Here stands the monument to
Frederick Douglass.
4. Never has our team played any better.
A Closer Look at Subjects and Verbs
In this and the following frames, write which is the verb and which is the subject.
5. Neither did Pam receive an invitation.
6. Must each member participate in the discussion?
7. Where does Mother keep the tools?
8. Can this dress be washed in soap and water?
A Closer Look at Subjects and Verbs
9. Can a verb consist of more than one word?
Yes or No
10. Which group of words consists of helping verbs? A or b?
a. shall, could, should, can, must, might b. Soon, never, now, always, not, surely
A Closer Look at Subjects and Verbs
11. A main verb is sometimes separated from its helper by other words.
True or False
12. The subject always comes ahead of the verb in every sentence.
True or False
A Closer Look at Subjects and Verbs
13. You are less likely to make a mistake in selecting the subject and the verb if you select the first.
