Verbs
Unit 1
Verbs
Verbs are a necessary component of all
sentences. Verbs have two important
functions: Some verbs put static objects
into motion while other verbs help to clarify
the objects in meaningful ways.
• My grumpy old English teacher smiled at
the plate of cold meatloaf.
• My grumpy old English teacher = static
object; smiled = verb.
• The daredevil cockroach splashed into
Sara's soup.
• The daredevil cockroach = static object;
splashed = verb.
• Theo's overworked computer exploded in
a spray of sparks.
• Theo's overworked computer = static
object; exploded = verb.
• The curious toddler popped a
grasshopper into her mouth.
• The curious toddler = static object;
popped = verb.
• Francisco's comic book collection is worth
$20,000.00.
• Francisco's comic book collection =
static object; is = verb.
Action Verbs
• Explode! Scream! Sneeze! Type! Kick!
What are these words doing? They are
expressing action, something that a
person, animal, force of nature, or thing
can do. As a result, we call these words
action verbs. Look at the examples below:
• In the library and at church, Michele
giggles inappropriately.
• Giggling is something that Michele can
do.
• Because of the spicy Jamaican pepper,
David reached for his glass of iced tea.
• Reaching is something that David can
do—happily, if his mouth is on fire.
• Carlos watched pretty women in skimpy
bikinis parading on the beach.
• Watching is something that Carlos can
do.
• The alarm clock buzzed like an angry
bumblebee.
• Buzzing is something that the alarm clock
can do.
• The coffee maker gurgled on the kitchen
counter.
• Gurgling is something that the coffee
maker can do.
If you are unsure whether a sentence contains
an action verb or not, look at every word in the
sentence and ask yourself, "Can a person or
thing do this?"
During biology class, Omesh napped at his
desk.
Can you during? Is during something you can
do?
Can you biology? Is there someone biologying
outside the building right now?
During biology class, Omesh napped at his
desk.
Can you class? Do your obnoxious neighbors
keep you up until 2 a.m. because they are
classing?
Can you Omesh? What does a person do
when he's Omeshing?
Can you nap? Bingo! Sure you can! You'd
probably prefer napping to listening to a biology
lecture yourself.
During biology class, Omesh napped at his
desk.
Can you at? Of course not!
Can you his? Show me hising.
Can you desk? Demonstrate desking for me!
In the sentence above, there is only one action
verb: napped.
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
Using Action Verbs
State an appropriate action verb.
• Our drama and history teachers ________
a joint project for our class.
• First, our history teacher ________ us into
four small groups.
• Then he ________ the new assignment in
detail.
• The whole class ________ to the library
every day for a week.
• In our small groups, we ________
everyday life in colonial times.
• Then the drama coach ________ us the
next part of the assignment.
• Each group ________ a one-act play set
in the colonial period.
Transitive Verbs
• A transitive verb directs action toward someone
or something named in the same sentence. An
action verb is transitive if the receiver of the
action is named in the sentence. The word that
receives the action is called the object.
• Ask What? Or Whom? of the verb to identify the
object of the verb.
• All the kids do chores at home.
– Chores answers the question Do What?
Transitive Verbs
• Sandy opened the window with great difficulty.
– Opened is the transitive verb because the
object of the verb-window-tells what Sandy
opened.
• The truck suddenly hit the pedestrian.
– Hit is the transitive verb because the object of
the verb-pedestrian-tells whom the truck hit.
First identify the transitive action verb, then
state what the object of the verb is.
• 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
• 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
Intransitive Verbs
• An intransitive verb has no receiver of the action
named in the sentence. The best way to
determine if a verb is transitive or intransitive is
to try to identify an object of the verb.
• The war began.
• The bus raced through the traffic light. (through
the traffic light is a prepositional phrase and
cannot be the receiver of the action.)
• Day after day, week after week, the cast
rehearsed.
– rehearsed = intransitive verb
• Finally, the day of the first performance arrived.
– arrived = intransitive verb
• The almost silent audience watched.
– watched = intransitive verb
• At the end of the play, everyone clapped wildly.
– clapped = intransitive verb
Identify whether the bold faced verb or compound
verb is used transitively or intransitively:
• The old woman struggled up the hill, pulling a
grocery cart that had lost one wheel behind her.
– intransitive verb
• The verb "struggled" does not have a direct
object; the prepositional phrase "up the hill"
acts as an adverb describing where she
struggled.
• Hermione is editing her uncle's memoirs of his
lifetime as a green grocer.
– transitive verb
• The compound verb "is editing" takes a
direct object--the noun phrase "her uncle's
memoirs."
• Much to the amusement of the onlookers, Paul
danced a minuet to the polka music that drifted
out of the beer tent.
– transitive verb
• Here the verb "danced" is accompanied by a
noun phrase ("a minuet") that acts as a
direct object.
• At the beginning of the play, the entire cast
dances manically across the stage.
– intransitive verb
• In this sentence, the verb "dances" is not
accompanied by a direct object. The phrase
"manically across the stage" acts as an
adverb describing how and where the
dancing takes place.
• Stella is reading quietly in the upstairs bedroom
instead of doing her chores.
– intransitive verb
• The compound verb "is reading" is
accompanied by the adverb "quietly" but
does not take a direct object.
• This term I am reading all of the works of Sylvia
Townsend Warner.
– transitive verb
• In this sentence, the compound verb "am
reading" takes the noun phrase "all of the
works of Sylvia Townsend Warner" as a
direct object.
• At the feast, we will eat heartily.
– intransitive verb
• Here the compound verb is not associated
with a direct object; "heartily" is an adverb
modifying the compound verb.
• Charles opened up his lunch, examined the
contents carefully, and ate his dessert first.
– transitive verb
• In this sentence, the verb "ate" takes a
direct object, the noun phrase "his dessert."
• The Stephens sisters are both very talented;
Virginia writes, and Vanessa paints.
– intransitive verb
• The verb "paints" describes Vanessa's
actions but takes no direct object; what
Vanessa paints is not stated.
• When I was three years old, my father left a can
of paint open in my bedroom, and early one
morning, I painted my baby brother's face green.
– transitive verb
• In the sentence, the verb "painted" takes the
noun phrase "my baby brother's face" as a
direct object.
Direct Object
If you can identify the subject and verb in a
sentence, then finding the direct object—if one
exists—is easy. Just remember this simple
formula:
subject + verb + what? or who? = direct object
• Zippy and Maurice played soccer with a
grapefruit pulled from a backyard tree.
• Zippy, Maurice = subjects; played = verb. Zippy
and Maurice played what? Soccer = direct
object.
Sometimes direct objects are single words like
soccer and Maurice; other times they are
phrases or clauses. The formula nevertheless
works the same.
• Sylina hates biting her fingernails.
• Sylina = subject; hates = verb. Sylina hates
what? Biting her fingernails [a gerund phrase]
= direct object.
• Even worse, Sylina hates when Mom lectures
her about hand care.
• Sylina = subject; hates = verb. Sylina hates
what? When Mom lectures her about hand
care [a subordinate clause] = direct object.
• After giving my dog Oreo a scoop of peanut
butter, she always kisses me with her sticky
tongue.
• She = subject; kisses = verb. She kisses who?
Me = direct object.
• Because Jo had skipped Mr. Duncan's class five
times in a row, she ducked out of sight whenever
she spotted him on campus.
• She = subject; spotted = verb. She spotted
whom? Him = direct object.
• Because David was always eating her food,
Theresa sneaked corn chips and candy bars into
her room and hid them in the clothes hamper.
• Theresa = subject; hid = verb. Theresa hid
what? Them = 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
Indirect Object
An indirect object appears only in a sentence that
has a direct object.
An indirect object follows the verb and precedes
the direct object.
An indirect object always comes before a direct
object.
An indirect object is always a noun or pronoun.
An indirect object answers the question To or for
whom? or To or for what?
Steps to finding indirect object.
1. Find the verb
2. Find the word/s that answer the question whom? or
what?
3. Find the word/s that answer the question To or for
whom? or To or for what?
It is like a sandwich:
Subject
Verb
Indirect Object
Direct Object
• Friends sent the actors flowers.
– Friends = subject; sent = verb; flowers = direct
object; actors = indirect object
• Actors answers to whom were the flowers sent?
Like a subject, verb, or direct object, an indirect
object can be compound.
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
Identify the subject, verb, direct object, and the
indirect object if the sentence has one.
• 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
Identify the subject, verb, direct object, and the
indirect object if the sentence has one.
• 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
Identify the subject, verb, direct object, and the
indirect object if the sentence has one.
• 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
Linking Verb
A linking verb connects a noun or pronoun
at or near the beginning of a sentence with
a word at or near the end. The verb be is
the most commonly used linking verb.
Forms of Be
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
Underline the form of be, and draw a
double-headed 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.
A number of other verbs can be used as
linking verbs.
appear
remain
taste
look
stay
grow
sound
feel
smell
become
seem
turn
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
To determine whether a verb is a linking
verb or an action verb, substitute am, is, or
are for the verb. If the sentence still
makes sense and if the new verb links a
word before it to a word after it, then the
original verb is a linking verb.
Linking:
The costume looks interesting.
(The costume is interesting?)
linking
Action:
My brother often looks for his little sister.
(My brother often is for his little sister?)
not linking
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
Subject Complement
• A subject complement is a noun, a
pronoun, or an adjective that follows a
linking verb and tells something about the
subject.
• Both nouns and pronouns are sometimes
used as subject complements after linking
verbs.
Predicate Nouns &
Predicate Pronouns
• Follows a linking verb and renames or
identifies the subject of the sentence.
• The linking verb acts much like an equal
sign between the subject and the noun or
pronoun that follows the verb. Both the
subject and the predicate noun or pronoun
refer to the same person or thing.
Predicate Nouns and Pronouns
PN
Ronnie will be the captain of our team.
(The predicate noun captain renames the subject
Ronnie.)
PN
Ford’s first car was the Model A.
(The predicate noun Model A identifies the subject
car.)
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.
Predicate Adjective
• A predicate adjective follows a linking verb
and describes the subject of the sentence.
• A predicate adjective is considered part of
the complete predicate of a sentence
because it comes after a linking verb. A
predicate adjective does not modify the
words in the predicate. Instead, it
describes the noun or pronoun that serves
as the subject of the linking verb.
Predicate Adjectives
PA
The flight to Houston was swift.
(The predicate adjective swift describes the
subject flight.)
PA
The saleswoman seems very sensitive to the
needs of her customers.
(The predicate adjective sensitive describes
subject saleswoman.)
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.
Present, Past, Future, Singular,
and Plural Verbs
• The verb in a sentence tells what action takes
place. It also tells you when the action takes
place. The form of a verb that shows the time of
the action is call the tense of the verb.
• The present tense of a verb names an action
that happens regularly. It can also express a
general truth.
A great actor wins awards.
• In the present tense, the base form of a
verb is used with all subjects except
singular nouns and the words he, she, and
it.
• When the subject is a singular noun or he,
she, or it, -s is usually added to the verb.
Remember that a verb in a sentence must
agree in number with its subject.
A great actor wins awards.
Present Tense Forms
Singular
Plural
I walk.
We walk.
You walk.
You walk.
He, she, or it walks.
They walk.
Past Tense
• The past tense of a verb names an action that
already happened.
• The past tense of many verbs is formed by
adding –ed to the verb.
The actors practiced their lines.
I walked.
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
• Verbs must agree with, or match, their subjects. This
means that singular subjects must go with singular verbs,
and plural subjects must go with plural verbs.
The roast chicken tastes like duck.
(singular subject and verb)
The vegetables taste fresh.
(plural subject and verb)
• Remember that the English language uses final -s in two
different ways:
– -s added to a noun means plural.
– -s added to a verb means singular.
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
Main and Helping Verbs
The following verbs—be, do, have, will, and can—
are used often and have one thing in common:
They all help other verbs to create verb phrases.
Helping verbs help the main verb describe action
or a kind of idea to the subject.
A verb phrase consists of one or more helping
verbs followed by a main verb.
In the following examples, the helping verbs
are italicized. Notice how they help to
change the meaning of opened.
has opened
will have opened
could have been opened
is being opened
Some Helping Verbs
Forms of be:
is
had been
was being
might have been
should be
Other verbs:
do
does
did
have
has
had
can
could
may
might
must
shall
should
will
would
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
Sometimes the words in a verb phrase are
separated by other words, such as not or
certainly. The parts of the verb phrase in
certain questions are also usually
separated. In the following examples, the
parts of each verb phrase are italicized.
She could certainly have been reached by
phone earlier.
This has not happened before.
Did you ever expect to see such a heavy
machine floating in the air.
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
Sentence Diagramming
Since part of the writing process involves editing
our work, we need to know how to recognize
complete thoughts and how to vary our sentence
structure. This makes our writing more coherent
as well as more interesting to read.
Understanding the functions of parts of the speech
in a sentence and their relationship to one
another can be very helpful in learning to
construct good sentences.
A sentence (to be a sentence) at the very least
must have a Subject (noun or pronoun) and a
Predicate (verb).
The remaining words in a sentence serve to
describe, clarify or give us more information
about the subject or the verb.
A diagram arranges the parts of a sentence like
a picture in order to show the relationship of
words and groups of words within the
sentence.
Let us take a look at how this is done. We will
begin learning how to diagram sentences and
use this tool to become better writers.
Step #1
• Look for the VERB in the sentence. A verb is a word
that shows action (dance, sing, walk, run, etc.) or
state of being (am, is, are, was, were, etc.)
• Ask the question, "What action is taking place, or
what happened in the sentence?" The answer you
get will let you know which word (or group of words)
serves as the verb in the sentence. The VERB is
placed on the right hand side of the base line.
Examples:
Aunt Polly punished Tom for ditching school.
punished
Tom started a fight with the new boy in town.
started
Step #2
• Find the SUBJECT of the verb (the person or thing
that performs the action).
• Ask the question, "Who? or What?" before the verb.
The answer you get will let you know which word (or
group of words) serves as the subject of the verb.
The SUBJECT is placed on the left hand side of the
base line.
Examples:
Aunt Polly punished Tom for ditching school.
Aunt Polly
punished
Tom started a fight with the new boy in town.
Tom
started
Examples:
People are working.
People
are working
Operators sat by the machines.
Operators
sat
Examples:
By the machines operators sat.
operators
sat
People arrived early.
People
arrived
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.