This document defines and provides examples of different types of verbs including action verbs, linking verbs, and helping/main verbs. It explains that action verbs show action by the subject, linking verbs connect the subject to the predicate, and helping verbs assist the main verb. Several sentences are then provided and the reader is asked to identify the verb and its type in each sentence.

1. © Brent Coley 2008 | www.mrcoley.com© Brent Coley 2008 | www.mrcoley.com
Name ThatName That
Verb!Verb!
• Action VerbsAction Verbs
• Linking VerbsLinking Verbs
• Helping/Main VerbsHelping/Main Verbs

2. There areThere are
different types ofdifferent types of
verbs. Someverbs. Some
show action, andshow action, and
some don’t.some don’t.

3. AnAn action verbaction verb
shows action. Itshows action. It
tells what thetells what the
subject of thesubject of the
sentence does.sentence does.

4. Action VerbsAction Verbs
BillBill hithit the ball.the ball.
The catThe cat purredpurred softly.softly.
II walkwalk to school.to school.
SusanSusan spokespoke to me.to me.

5. AA linking verblinking verb
links, orlinks, or
connects, theconnects, the
subject to thesubject to the
predicate. Itpredicate. It
does not showdoes not show

6. Common LinkingCommon Linking
VerbsVerbs
am is are wasam is are was
were be beenwere be been
seems feelsseems feels
tastestastes

7. Linking VerbsLinking Verbs
WeWe areare hungry.hungry.
HeHe waswas late tolate to
school.school.
The winnerThe winner isis
Johnny.Johnny.

8. AA helping verbhelping verb
helps ahelps a mainmain
verbverb. The helping. The helping
verb comesverb comes
before the mainbefore the main
verb.verb.

9. HelpingHelping//MainMain
VerbsVerbs
II amam eatingeating my lunch.my lunch.
EdEd hashas takentaken thethe
test.test.
WeWe werewere talkingtalking..

10. Practice TimePractice Time
In the followingIn the following
sentences, see ifsentences, see if
you can identifyyou can identify
the verb.the verb.

11. Ready?Ready?
Let’s get started!Let’s get started!

12. They are watchingThey are watching
television.television.

13. TheyThey areare watchingwatching
television.television.
Verb: are watchingVerb: are watching

14. TheyThey areare watchingwatching
television.television.
Verb: are watchingVerb: are watching
Type:Type: helpinghelping//mainmain

15. Frank was tiredFrank was tired
after work.after work.

16. FrankFrank waswas tiredtired
after work.after work.
Verb: wasVerb: was

17. FrankFrank waswas tiredtired
after work.after work.
Verb: wasVerb: was
Type:Type: linking verblinking verb

18. My dad drove hisMy dad drove his
car to the store.car to the store.

19. My dadMy dad drovedrove hishis
car to the store.car to the store.
Verb: droveVerb: drove

20. My dadMy dad drovedrove hishis
car to the store.car to the store.
Verb: droveVerb: drove
Type:Type: action verbaction verb

21. Finding NemoFinding Nemo isis
her favorite movie.her favorite movie.

22. Finding NemoFinding Nemo isis
her favorite movie.her favorite movie.
Verb: isVerb: is

23. Finding NemoFinding Nemo isis
her favorite movie.her favorite movie.
Verb: isVerb: is
Type:Type: linking verblinking verb

24. I did my homeworkI did my homework
right after school.right after school.

25. II diddid my homeworkmy homework
right after school.right after school.
Verb: didVerb: did

26. II diddid my homeworkmy homework
right after school.right after school.
Verb: didVerb: did
Type:Type: action verbaction verb

27. Ann was cookingAnn was cooking
dinner in thedinner in the
kitchen.kitchen.

28. AnnAnn waswas cookingcooking
dinner in thedinner in the
kitchen.kitchen.
Verb: was cookingVerb: was cooking

29. AnnAnn waswas cookingcooking
dinner in thedinner in the
kitchen.kitchen.
Verb: was cookingVerb: was cooking
Type:Type: helpinghelping//mainmain

30. The boys wereThe boys were
playing in the park.playing in the park.

31. The boysThe boys werewere
playingplaying in the park.in the park.
Verb: were playingVerb: were playing

32. The boysThe boys werewere
playingplaying in the park.in the park.
Verb: were playingVerb: were playing
Type:Type: helpinghelping//mainmain

33. Sarah competed inSarah competed in
the track meet.the track meet.

34. SarahSarah competedcompeted inin
the track meet.the track meet.
Verb: competedVerb: competed

35. SarahSarah competedcompeted inin
the track meet.the track meet.
Verb: competedVerb: competed
Type:Type: action verbaction verb

36. The ocean waterThe ocean water
tastes salty.tastes salty.

37. The ocean waterThe ocean water
tastestastes salty.salty.
Verb: tastesVerb: tastes

38. The ocean waterThe ocean water
tastestastes salty.salty.
Verb: tastesVerb: tastes
Type:Type: linking verblinking verb

39. Thomas raised hisThomas raised his
hand.hand.

40. ThomasThomas raisedraised hishis
hand.hand.
Verb: raisedVerb: raised

41. ThomasThomas raisedraised hishis
hand.hand.
Verb: raisedVerb: raised
Type:Type: action verbaction verb

42. The teacherThe teacher
answered hisanswered his
question.question.

43. The teacherThe teacher
answeredanswered hishis
question.question.
Verb: answeredVerb: answered

44. The teacherThe teacher
answeredanswered hishis
question.question.
Verb: answeredVerb: answered
Type:Type: action verbaction verb

45. Randy is studyingRandy is studying
for his grammarfor his grammar
test.test.

46. RandyRandy isis studyingstudying
for his grammarfor his grammar
test.test.
Verb: is studyingVerb: is studying

47. RandyRandy isis studyingstudying
for his grammarfor his grammar
test.test.
Verb: is studyingVerb: is studying
Type:Type: helpinghelping//mainmain

48. They will be late toThey will be late to
the party.the party.

49. TheyThey willwill bebe late tolate to
the party.the party.
Verb: will beVerb: will be

50. TheyThey willwill bebe late tolate to
the party.the party.
Verb: will beVerb: will be
Type:Type: linking verblinking verb

51. I am thirsty after allI am thirsty after all
that running.that running.

52. II amam thirsty after allthirsty after all
that running.that running.
Verb: amVerb: am

53. II amam thirsty after allthirsty after all
that running.that running.
Verb: amVerb: am
Type:Type: linking verblinking verb

54. We have learned aWe have learned a
lot about verbs.lot about verbs.

55. WeWe havehave learnedlearned aa
lot about verbs.lot about verbs.
Verb: have learnedVerb: have learned

56. WeWe havehave learnedlearned aa
lot about verbs.lot about verbs.
Verb: have learnedVerb: have learned
Type:Type: helpinghelping//mainmain

57. Great job!Great job!

58. Now that you’reNow that you’re
an expert onan expert on
verbs, be sure toverbs, be sure to
use the relateduse the related
flash cards onflash cards on

59. direct objects,direct objects,
predicate nouns,predicate nouns,
and predicateand predicate
adjectives.adjectives.