Verb Study Page
A verb is a word used to express action or being.
An action verb is a word that names an action. It may contain more than one word. It may
have a verb and a helping verb.
Action verbs may express physical action or mental action.
Example/ Highlight the action verbs that express physical action!
The director shouts. Lights flash on. Scenery falls in place. The orchestra plays loudly.
Actors and actresses race to their positions. The camera rolls into place.
Highlight the verbs that express mental action!
The actress thought of her lines.
The singer memorized the lyrics.
The director agreed with the author.
A transitive verb is an action verb that expresses an action directed toward a person or
thing.
With transitive verbs the action passes from the doer (the subject) to the receiver of the
action. Words that receive the action of a transitive verb are called objects. The object
answers the question whom or what after an action verb.
Example/ Highlight the verb and circle the object.
Joel held the baby.
Lori brought the flowers.
Our art class made a quilt.
The voters elected him.
An intransitive verb expresses (or tells something about the subject) without passing the
action to the receiver.
Example/ Highlight the verb!
The twins played quietly indoors the whole afternoon.
Janet swam well.
The teacher read aloud.
A linking verb links or connects the subject with a noun, a pronoun, or an adjective in the
predicate.
am
Commonly Used Linking Verbs
be
being
was
are
appear
been
grow
Forms of Be
is
seem
were
stay become
look
Other Verbs
smell
taste
feel
remain
sound
turn
Example/ Highlight the linking verbs
The star’s name is Tom Cruise.
Marie Curie became a famous scientist
The watermelon looks ripe.
A verb phrase consists of a main verb preceded by at least one helping verb (also called an
auxiliary verb).
am
Commonly Used Helping Verbs
be
being
was
are
been
Forms of Be
were
Forms of Do
do
Forms of Have
have
has
had
can
may
must
Other Helping
Verbs
could
does
is
might
did
shall
should
will
would
Example/ Highlight the verb phrases
He has been praised for his fine conducting.
His recordings should be heard by anyone interested in music.
He will be leading the orchestra tonight.