Language Arts Literacy 7 Chapter 15
Chapter 15 - Verbs
Verbs are words that name an action or describe a state of
being. Every complete sentence has at least one verb.
15.1 - Action Verbs
An action verb tells what action someone or something is
performing. Some can be seen and some can not as in believe,
recall.
Examples:
Visible Action
walk, arrived, raced, crossed
Mental Action
wondered, consider, forgot
A transitive verb is an action verb that directs action to a “receiver“
of the action. The “receiver” is a noun or pronoun (person, place,
or thing).
Remember! If there is an answer to the question WHAT or
WHOM, it is TRANSITIVE!
An intransitive verb expresses action or tells something about the
subject of the sentence but does not direct action toward a noun or
pronoun. All linking verbs are intransitive.
Examples: Transitive: The captain rang the bell.
Think! The captain rang WHAT? the bell (noun)
Intransitive: The bell rang for dinner.
Think! The bell rang WHAT? for dinner (not a noun)
Transitive: Marcia picked a bushel of apples.
Think! Marcia picked WHAT? a bushel (noun)
Intransitive: Marcia picked for hours in the orchard.
Think! Marcia picked WHAT? (not a noun)
15.2 - Linking Verbs
A linking verb connects a noun or pronoun with a word that
identifies or describes it. It acts as an equal sign ( = ).
Example: The immigrants were happy.
Think:
immigrants = happy
The most common linking verb is be. It has many forms.
am
are
is
was
were
am being
are being
is being
was being
were being
can be
could be
may be
might be
must be
shall be
should be
will be
would be
have been
has been
had been
could have been
may have been
might have been
must have been
shall have been
should have been
will have been
would have been
Other important linking verbs that often link two parts of a sentence.
appear
look
sound
become
remain
stay
feel
seem
taste
grow
smell
turn
Examples: The cream tastes sour.
The house looked old and dirty.
She looked tired.
Many of the other linking verbs can be used as linking or action
verbs.
The way to test its use is by substituting am, are, or is for the
verb. If the sentence makes sense, then the original verb is a linking
verb.
Linking Verb
Tina felt weak.
Think: Tina is weak?
Yes, it’s a linking verb.
Action Verb
Tina felt the cloth.
Think: Tina is the cloth?
No, it’s an action verb.
15.3 - Helping Verbs
Helping verbs are added before another verb to make a verb
phrase.
Below are some forms of be used as Helping Verbs.
Helping Verbs
Main Verbs
am
growing
has been
warned
was being
told
could have been
reminded
will have been
waiting
Other common verbs are also used as Helping Verbs.
do
have
would
will
can
does
has
shall
might
could
did
had
should
must
may
Remember some verb phrases can sometimes be separated by
other words. Very often words such as not, certainly, seldom come
between a helping verb and and the key part of the verb.
Example: Joe has certainly not contacted us.