Grammar Unit 1 – Verbs
Building Block 1 of 3
Lesson 1
Parts of Speech - Verbs
Verbs are the most important words in a sentence. Verbs are the first of the eight parts of speech
that we will be studying. Most verbs are action words, but a few verbs indicate state of being or
existence. The first lessons will be about verbs, and how they are recognized and used.
In your own words, what is a verb?
Find the verbs in the following sentences. They are action verbs.

The wolf ran across the sand.

Sit down.

The dog barked at the man.
Lesson 2
Parts of Speech - Verbs
Find the verbs in these sentences. These verbs will be state of being verbs.

My uncle is a pilot.

The pie looks good.

You seem upset.
How are these verbs different from the verbs in lesson 1?
Lesson 3
Parts of Speech - Verbs
English verbs are divided by function into two basic categories: linking verbs and action verbs.
Linking verbs are also called being verbs because they express states of being. Action verbs,
well, they describe an action. Linking verbs are like giant equal signs plopped into the middle of
your sentence. Verbs that refer to the five senses are linking verbs only if they act as an equal
sign in the sentence. If they aren’t equating two ideas, they aren’t linking verbs.
Pick out the verbs in these sentences and tell whether they are action verbs or linking
verbs.

Suddenly someone sneezed loudly.

There are holes in my shirt.

He appears happy.

The image appeared in the mirror.
In your own words, explain the difference between a linking verb and an action verb.
What is a verb phrase?
Verb Phrase Help
In grammar, a verb phrase is a verb of more than one word. It includes one or more helping
(or auxiliary) verbs and one main verb:
can see
[helping verb can + main verb see]
would have sent [helping verbs would + have + main verb send]
may have been planning [helping verbs may + have + be + main verb plan]
What does a main verb do?
The main verb expresses the chief idea in the verb phrase. The other verbs are there only to
help it.
The main verb is always the last verb in the phrase. Often its form changes, as in the last
two examples, in which send becomes sent and plan becomes planning.
(Tip: After the helping verbs have and be, the form of the main verb almost always
changes.)
What does a helping verb do?
A helping (or auxiliary) verb, which is placed in front of a main verb, helps it to express
different ideas. There are only a small number of helping verbs. They are divided into
two types: primary and modal.
Primary
There are three primary helping verbs: be, do and have. Note that these verbs have
different forms:
be, am, is, are, was, were, been, being
do, does, did
have, has, had
In addition to acting as helping verbs, be, do and have can occur alone as main verbs:
I was at the arcade. [was is a main verb]
I was working at the arcade. [was is a helping verb; working is the main verb]
Lars often did the cooking. [did is a main verb]
Lars did not mind cooking. [did is a helping verb; mind is the main verb]
Alex and Cara have the keys. [have is a main verb]
Alex and Cara have gone. [have is a helping verb; gone is the main verb]
Lesson 4
Parts of Speech - Verbs
Sometimes a verb can be more than one word. When a verb is more than one word, it is called
a verb phrase. Verb phrases can be two, three, or four words. Verb phrases are made by using
auxiliary or helping verbs. What are the verb phrases in these sentences?

You are going to Seattle.

You have been resting too much.

We must be early.

I will be finished shortly.
Lesson 5
Parts of Speech - Verbs
Some of the helping verbs can be used alone as the main verb. Is, am, are, was, and were can
be used alone as linking or state of being verbs. Has, have, had, do, does, and did always show
action when used alone. Be, being, and been can be used with other verbs either to show action
or state of being. The other helping verbs cannot be used alone but only as helping verbs.
Find the verb or verb phrases in these sentences.

She has too many friends.

You do beautiful work.

I was in Canada last week.

You are being very stubborn.