Verbs Every sentence has a main verb, the word or words that tell what the subject does or that link the subject to another word that describes it. Verbs.

VerbsVerbs

Every sentence has a Every sentence has a main verbmain verb, the word , the word or words that tell what the subject does or or words that tell what the subject does or that link the subject to another word that that link the subject to another word that describes it. Verbs do not always describes it. Verbs do not always immediately follow the subject: Other words immediately follow the subject: Other words may come between the subject and the verb.may come between the subject and the verb.

There are two types of verbs:There are two types of verbs: action verbsaction verbs being verbsbeing verbs

VerbsVerbs

Action VerbAction Verb An An action verb action verb tells what action the tells what action the

subject performssubject performs

She She sees sees the arena.the arena.

He He boughtbought the book. the book.

They They adoptedadopted the child. the child.

VerbsVerbs

Being VerbsBeing Verbs A A being verb being verb connects the subject to connects the subject to

a word or group of words that a word or group of words that describe the subject. Being verbs describe the subject. Being verbs show no action. The most common show no action. The most common being verb is being verb is be, be, along with all its along with all its forms (forms (am, is, aream, is, are, and so on). , and so on).

What word joins the subject and the What word joins the subject and the words that describe the subject?words that describe the subject?

VerbsVerbs

Verb PhrasesVerb Phrases A A helping verb helping verb joins with the main verb joins with the main verb

in the sentence to form the in the sentence to form the complete complete verb phraseverb phrase. Examples of helping verbs:. Examples of helping verbs:

isis waswas cancan have have do do may may shallshallareare werewere couldcould had had does does might might shouldshouldamam willwill has has did did must must

wouldwould

Helping verb + Main verb = Verb PhraseHelping verb + Main verb = Verb Phrase

VerbsVerbs

Trouble SpotsTrouble Spots Words acting as modifiers:Words acting as modifiers:

Never Not Hardly SeldomNever Not Hardly Seldom

The attorney The attorney couldcould not not win win the case without the case without key witnesses.key witnesses.

VerbsVerbs

Trouble Spots: VerbalsTrouble Spots: Verbals Infinitive: Infinitive: to to + verb+ verb

It is not tied to the subject of the It is not tied to the subject of the sentence. It acts as a modifier or sentence. It acts as a modifier or noun.noun.

His drive His drive to succeed to succeed would servewould serve him well. him well.

He He wanted wanted to get to get a bachelor’s degree.a bachelor’s degree.

VerbsVerbs

Trouble Spots: VerbalsTrouble Spots: Verbals Gerund: Gerund: ing ing wordword

Acts as a nounActs as a noun

Retrieving Retrieving her email her email waswas her main objective. her main objective.

She She thought thought about about retrievingretrieving her e-mail. her e-mail.

VerbsVerbs

Trouble Spots: VerbalsTrouble Spots: Verbals Participle: Participle: ing ing or or ed ed wordword

Acts as describing wordsActs as describing words

WalkingWalking to town in the dark, he to town in the dark, he lostlost his way. his way.

Wanted Wanted by the FBI, she by the FBI, she waswas on the run. on the run.

VerbsVerbs

Identify the verb.Identify the verb.

Teams in the City League score moreTeams in the City League score more

touchdowns than any other teams in thetouchdowns than any other teams in the

country.country.

VerbsVerbs

Identify the verb.Identify the verb.

Teams in the City League Teams in the City League scorescore more more

touchdowns than any other teams in thetouchdowns than any other teams in the

country.country.

VerbsVerbs

Identify the verb.Identify the verb.

Millions of people listen to the Millions of people listen to the radioradio

every day.every day.

VerbsVerbs

Identify the verb.Identify the verb.

Millions of people Millions of people listenlisten to the to the radioradio

every day.every day.

VerbsVerbs

Identify the verb.Identify the verb.

He was the new kid at his high He was the new kid at his high school inschool in

that fall.that fall.

VerbsVerbs

Identify the verb.Identify the verb.

He He waswas the new kid at his high the new kid at his high school inschool in

that fall.that fall.

VerbsVerbs

Identify the verb.Identify the verb.

The writer became confident in The writer became confident in hishis

abilities.abilities.

VerbsVerbs

Identify the verb.Identify the verb.

The writer The writer becamebecame confident in confident in hishis

abilities.abilities.

VerbsVerbs

Identify the verb.Identify the verb.

Delores noticed her cousin walking alongDelores noticed her cousin walking along

the shorelinethe shoreline..

VerbsVerbs

Identify the verb.Identify the verb.

Delores Delores noticednoticed her cousin walking along her cousin walking along

the shorelinethe shoreline..

VerbsVerbs

Identify the verb.Identify the verb.

Children introduced to music early developChildren introduced to music early develop

strong intellectual skillsstrong intellectual skills..

VerbsVerbs

Identify the verb.Identify the verb.

Children introduced to music early Children introduced to music early developdevelop

strong intellectual skillsstrong intellectual skills..

VerbsVerbs

Identify the verb.Identify the verb.

I have a paper to write before classI have a paper to write before class..

VerbsVerbs

Identify the verb.Identify the verb.

I I havehave a paper to write before class a paper to write before class..