Verbs, Verbs, Verbs
Action Verbs
Linking Verbs
Action Verbs
express either mental or physical activity
The dogs barked all day.
He thought about the day.
Linking Verbs
express a state of being
connect (or link) the subject to a word or
word group that identifies or describes the
subject
My teacher is cranky.
Action or Linking Verb?
action
We celebrated the Chinese New
Year yesterday.
linking
The holiday is usually in February.
Action or Linking Verb?
linking
John looked tired.
action
John looked through the binoculars.
Action or Linking Verb? Your Turn!
Remember, any verb that can be replaced
with is, am, are, be, become, or becomes,
and makes sense, is a linking verb!
The sky looks blue.
I walked home.
Our teacher seemed crazy.
Now Let’s Learn About
Helping “Verbs”
Helping verbs are added before
another verb to make a verb phrase.
WARNING: Auxiliary verbs do not
function as verbs. They HELP the
main verb.
Helping Verbs
be
am
is
are
was
were
been
being
has
have
had
do
did
does
can
could
shall
will
would
should
may
might
must
Helping Verbs
(sing to the tune of “Jingle Bells” for a handy mnemonic)
Helping Verbs, Helping Verbs
There are 23
Am is are was and were
Being Been and Be
Have has had
Do does did
Shall will should and would
There are five more helping verbs
May might must can could
Helping Verbs
help the main verb express action or a
state of being
can speak
may be
has been named
should have been caught
Helping Verb or Main Verb?
The highlighted words can function as main verbs or helping
verbs. Can you tell which job each is doing? Remember…a
helping verb is always added before another verb!
I am a teacher.
I am writing a letter.
We are hungry.
The girls are playing ball.
Auxiliary Verb or Main Verb? Your Turn!
 Make your own examples using each of
these words in two ways: 1) as a main verb
and 2) as an auxiliary verb in a verb phrase.
 was
 does
 have
Helping Verb or Main Verb?
was
does
 I was a track star.
 I was running quickly.
 She does the dishes.
 She does hear you.
 They have the flu.
 They have been cured.
have