7. Action Verbs In the following sentences, the verb expresses action. Mary Louise drives the truck. The dog ate my homework. The musician played a great set of songs.
8. Linking Verbs In these next sentences, the verb links the subject to the rest of the sentence. The most common linking verbs are forms of the verb to be: am, are, is, was, were, be, been, being. I am tall. The children were hungry. Miriam is ready to graduate.
9. How to Test for a Linking Verb Sally feels bad. Find the verb of the sentence. Replace the verb with a form of to be (is, are, am, was, were) If the sentence makes sense, you have a linking verb; if it doesn’t, you have an action verb. Sally feels the rough edges of the table. Linking is is Action
10. Helping Verbs Helping verbs include am, are, is, was, were, be, have, has, had, do, does, did, may, might, must, can, could, shall, should, will, would. A helping verb is used with another verb form, the main verb, to form a phrase that acts as the verb of the sentence. If you have a helping verb, you must have an action verb with it. Moira was helping her brother change the tire. Cho had studied all night. You must register before the end of the month.
11. Compound Verbs Sometimes a sentence has more than one verb. A verb with more than one part is called a compound verb. Alfred Hitchcock frightened and thrilled moviegoers. The children sat and waited for their parents to get them. I can use your help and would be grateful for it.
12. Activity 5: subjects andVerbs in sentences When you are finished with the activity press any button on your i>Clicker!
13. Activity 5: Identify Subjects and Verbs in Sentences In each of the following sentences, box the subject(s), underline the verb(s) and identify what kinds of verbs they are above. A=Action Verb L=Linking Verb H=Helping Verb My friend and I sing every week at a retirement home. Currently, we are the only visitors who sing. We have enjoyed the visits immensely. A doctor arranged our visits last year. We accepted her offer immediately. A L H A A A
14. Activity 5: Identify Subjects and Verbs in Sentences In each of the following sentences, box the subject(s), underline the verb(s) and identify what kinds of verbs they are above. A=Action Verb L=Linking Verb H=Helping Verb The residents and employees enjoy our weekly visits. The residents have asked us to come more often. A new piano arrived last month. It has improved our performance. The audience requests different songs for every concert. A A H A H A A
16. Verb Pretenders Verb pretenders look like verbs but do not act as verbs in sentences. The most common verb pretenders are verb + -ing and to + verb combinations. cookingto cook working to work studying to study
17. Verb + -ing When an –ing verb appears in a sentence without a helping verb, it does not act as the verb of the sentence. Instead, it modifies, or describes, other words in the sentence. I took a picture of the man swimming in the fountain. (Swimming describes the man.)
18. Verb + -ing When an –ing verb appears in a sentence without a helping verb, it does not act as the verb of the sentence. Instead, it modifies, or describes, other words in the sentence. Working hard, we completed the job in a day. (Working describes the subject of the sentence, we.)
19. Verb + -ing When an –ing verb appears in a sentence without a helping verb, it does not act as the verb of the sentence. Instead, it modifies, or describes, other words in the sentence. The barking dogs kept me awake at night. (Barking describes the dogs.)
20. Activity 6: Identify –ingVerbs Decide if the word ending in –ingis part of the verb or if it is a modifier. You will have twenty seconds to enter your answer for each sentence.
21. 1. Claudia is driving across the United States. Part of the verb Modifier
22. 2. Joanne sent her father a singing telegram for his birthday. Part of the verb Modifier
23. 3. That diving board is too slippery. Part of the verb Modifier
24. 4. I was diving into the waves when I scraped my knee. Part of the verb Modifier
25. 5. The biscuit recipe requires a tablespoon of baking powder. Part of the verb Modifier
26. 6. Stamping on the accelerator, William made his tires screech. Part of the verb Modifier
27. 7. Susan is leaving on vacation the day after tomorrow. Part of the verb Modifier
28. 8. Brent went to the mall for a new pair of running shoes. Part of the verb Modifier
29. 9. Because of her back problems, Kata felt better sleeping on the floor. Part of the verb Modifier
30. 10. Jumping up and down, the children showed their excitement. Part of the verb Modifier
31. To + Verb The to + verb combination also looks like a verb but does not act as a verb in a sentence; instead, it acts as either a noun or a modifier (describer) that describes something. I can’t wait to open my gifts. (Because to comes in front of open, open does not act as a verb. Instead, to open modifies wait.) I always open my gifts before my birthday. (Here open acts as a verb).
32. To + Verb The to + verb combination also looks like a verb but does not act as a verb in a sentence; instead, it acts as either a noun or a modifier (describer) that describes something. Susan has a plan to buy apples. (Because to comes in front of buy, buy does not act as a verb. Instead, to buy modifies plan.) Susan buys apples from the farm. (Here buys acts as a verb.)
33. To + Verb The to + verb combination also looks like a verb but does not act as a verb in a sentence; instead, it acts as either a noun or a modifier (describer) that describes something. My goal is to study medicine. (Because to comes in front of study, study does not act as a verb. Instead, to study acts as a noun.) Many Americans study medicine overseas. (Here study acts as a verb.)
34. HOW TO FIND THE VERB IN A SENTENCE Locate the word or words that express the action or link the subject to the rest of the sentence. Check that the word is not a verb pretender. When a verb + -ing combination appears in a sentence without a helping verb, it’s a verb pretender. When a to + verb combination appears, it’s a verb pretender.
35. Activity 7: Find Subjects and Verbs In each of the following sentences, box the subject(s), underline the verb(s) and identify what kinds of verbs they are above. Do not confuse verbs and verb pretenders. A=Action Verb L=Linking Verb H=Helping Verb Kim agreed to have the meeting at her house. While taping the playoffs, Hugo watched a documentary. Stepping carefully, Nizar tried to avoid the wet paint. The hikers reached their campground by sunset. Mosquitoes were annoying the sunbathers. A A A A A H
36. Activity 7: Find Subjects and Verbs In each of the following sentences, box the subject(s), underline the verb(s) and identify what kinds of verbs they are above. Do not confuse verbs and verb pretenders. A=Action Verb L=Linking Verb H=Helping Verb Adam washed his hands before kneading the bread dough. The people on the street hoped to glimpse the famous actress. Opening the newspaper, Maya began to read the classified ads. After work, Tim and Linda lack the energy to cook dinner. Slipping the diamond ring on Leticia’s finger, Nahum asked her to marry him. A A A A A
37. Vegas Grammar Review Game I will place you in groups Each group will receive $200 in grammar money You wager on each sentence before you see it Always a $10 minimum $50 maximum through sentence 5 $100 maximum through sentence 10 $200 maximum through sentence 15 No maximum wager through sentence 20 After I reveal the sentence, you have twenty seconds to choose the correct subject with the i>Clicker. If you have the answer correct, you win your wager. If you answer incorrectly, I take your money. The group with the most money after sentence 20 wins three extra credit points.
40. 1. During his biology lab, Tommy danced on the table. Biology Lab Tommy Table Both A and C
41. 2. Joe, Molly, and John went to the horse races. Joe Molly John Horse races A, B, and C
42. 3. Each of us planned the surprise party. Each Us Surprise Party A and B
43. 4. Australia is a large country. Australia Is Large Country Both C and D
44. 5. Most people in Australia speak English. Most People Australia English Both A and B
45. 6. The veteran of four spaceflights left NASA in 1993. Veteran Four Spaceflights NASA Both B and C
46. 7. One of the biographies is about Guy Bluford. One Biographies Guy Bluford Both C and D
47. 8. Sally and John have taught art at every school in town. Sally John Art School Both A and B
48. 9. The old bathroom tiles with the fuzzy, green mold need to be replaced. Tiles Fuzzy Green Mold B, C, and D
49. 10. Natalie hates driving in stormy weather. Natalie Driving Stormy Weather Both C and D
50. 11. The dishes in the kitchen sink are dirty. Dishes Kitchen Sink Dirty Both B and C
51. 12. Neither of these boys wants a piece of pineapple pizza. Neither Boys Piece Pizza Both A and B
52. 13. In 1777, the government of the United States approved the first official flag. 1777 Government United States Flag Both B and C
53. 14. The number of stars on the flag equals the number of states. Number Stars Flag States Both B and C
54. 15. On a rainy August morning in 1983, he made history. Morning 1983 He History Both A and B
55. 16. Two of his main qualifications were his experiences as a pilot and an aerospace engineer. Two Qualifications Pilot Aerospace engineer Both C and D
56. 17. At the beginning of the presentation, the moderator introduced the speaker. Beginning Presentation Moderator Speaker Both A and B
57. 18. Ron's bathroom is a disaster. Ron’s Bathroom Is Disaster Both C and D
58. 19. One of my favorite poems from Robert Frost is “The Road Not Taken.” One Favorite Poems Robert Frost “The Road Not Taken”
59. 20. In the middle of the jungle under a dense web of vines slept the baby gorilla. Middle Jungle Web Vines Baby gorilla
61. Diagnostic Essays You will receive your essay back Stapled behind it is a sheet Worksheet Item: What it is: Where I see it: How I fix it: Make sure you do this for all three letters
62. Homework Study for your quiz Write a paragraph describing your worst experience at a restaurant (either eating or working) Diagnostic essay worksheet (leave stapled to diagnostic essay) (Due Tuesday, September 13)
