This document defines and provides examples of different types of verbs including action verbs, linking verbs, regular and irregular verbs, and verb tenses. It discusses the principal parts of verbs, verb phrases, voice, and participial verb forms. Examples are provided to illustrate verbs in sentences and how to identify the verb type and tense. Key verb terms are defined such as transitive/intransitive, predicate nouns/adjectives, and helping/modal verbs. Verb identification and analysis exercises are included.

1. VERBS:VERBS:
* A* A verbverb is a word thatis a word that
expressesexpresses actionaction oror statestate
of beingof being

2. Principal Parts of Verbs are called the base form,
the past, the past participle.
BASE______PAST______PAST PARTICIPAL
give gave have given
hope hoped have hoped
run ran have run
play played have played

3. * Regular verbs form their past tense by adding –ed:
looked, moved, played
* Irregular verbs do not add –ed to form their past
tense: ate, read, sought
* An action verb expresses mental or physical action
(It’s what you DO!)
1. We watched the baseball game on channel 10.
2. Sheila thought hard about her answer.
** Action verbs can be transitive or intransitive
- Transitive verbs have a direct object
- Intransitive verbs do not have a direct object

4. * A linking verb is a verb that connects or links the
subject of the sentence to a subjective complement
* There are two types of subject complements: predicate
nouns and predicate adjectives.
⇒A predicate noun is a noun or pronoun that comes after a
linking verb and renames the subject:
- Julia was a lawyer for ten years.
⇒A predicate adjective is an adjective that comes after a
linking verb and describes the subject:
- Ken seems happy to be here.

5. The most common linking verbs are the being
verbs: is, are, was, were, am, be, being, been
Other linking verbs include: appear,
become, feel, grow, look, remain, seem,
smell, sounds, stay, taste, turn
*BE CAREFUL! Some verbs an be either action OR linking.
The chef tastes the soup before serving it. (action)
The soup tastes delicious. (linking)
If you are not sure, try replacing the verb with a being verb – if the
sentence means the same thing & makes sense, it is linking. If the
subject DOES the action, it is an action.

6. SIMPLE VERB TENSESSIMPLE VERB TENSES
* The tense of a verb tells when the action takes place.
⇒ The present tense names an action that is happening now or happens
regularly
1. I hear the phone ringing.
2. Kathy reads every day.
⇒The past tense names an action that has already happened
3. Tina filled the cookie jar with Toll House cookies yesterday.
4. In 1995, Kathy and Len traveled to England for their son’s wedding.
⇒The future tense names an action that will take place later in time
5. Helen will wear her blue dress to the CYO dance on Friday.
6. Maisy’s dad will drive us all to the movies.
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7. VERB PHRASESVERB PHRASES
A helping verb can be used with the main verb to show tensetense, voicevoice, and moodmood.
⇒ A main verb with all its helping verbs form a verb phraseverb phrase
1. Laura was writing in her journal.
2. The class should have been listening to the wise teacher.
3. Students at Christ the King School will be performing in the Christmas show.
⇒Modals are helping verbs that show mood or attitude. Common modals:
may can do shall will must
might could did should would

8. VoiceVoice of a verb can be active or passive
Active voice shows the subject doing the action:
Carl cut the rope.
Mr. Severino taught the class about algebra.
Passive voice shows the action performed on, to or by the subject
The rope was cut by Carl.
The algebra class has been taught by Mr. Severino for years.
Pgs. 323-324

9. PARTICIPIAL VERB FORMS
PRESENT PRESENT PARTICIPAL PAST PAST PARTICIPAL
jump jumping jumped have jumped
play playing played have played
sing singing sang have sung
try
read
climb
Verbs have four principal parts that are used to form all tenses
P
g
3
7
4
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10. PERFECT TENSES
The present perfect tense names an action that happened at an indefinite time in
the past, OR about actions that occurred in the past and still happen now
The present perfect tense uses the helping verb have or
has and the past participle of the main verb:
I have seen this movie before
Sally has played soccer on our team for years
The past perfect tense names an action that happened before another action or
event in the past.
The past perfect tense uses the helping verb had and the
past participle of the main verb
We had studied ancient Egypt two years ago.
Julie had learned to dance before she was three
years old.
Pg 378

12. Write each sentenceWrite each sentence
Highlight each verbHighlight each verb
Is the verb ACTION or LINKING?Is the verb ACTION or LINKING?
1. Sr. Trudy sounded the fire alarm.
2. Elaine’s project sounds very ambitious.
3. Stan smelled the fresh hot pizza.
4. Francis seems nervous about his speech tomorrow.
5. The cool breeze feels refreshing.

13. Highlight the verb or verb phrase.
Is the verb in PAST, PRESENT, or FUTURE tense?
1. We will prepare a science lesson about Galileo’s achievements.
2. Galileo made several important discoveries with early telescopes.
3. According to legend, he ground the lenses himself.
4. Our teacher shows us films about scientists each week.
5. In one picture, Galileo looks at sunspots and craters on the moon.
6. The students will see reproductions of Galileo’s early observations.

14. Highlight the verb or verb phrase
Is the verb in ACTIVE or PASSIVE voice?
1. Trish and John played a game of tennis.
2. The Timmons family purchased popcorn at the movies.
3. Coal is mined in Pennsylvania.
4. That joke was told by Jerome.
5. Juianne does her math work very well.
6. A clever title for the book was suggested by Christy.
7. The roasted almonds were devoured by Mrs. Severino.
Change the sentence so the verb will be ACTIVE VOICE
7. The garage was cleaned by Henry.
8. The lovely bouquet was chosen by Maria.
Change the sentence so the verb will be PASSIVE VOICE
9. Flora and Rob visited the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
10. Nonna made these delicious cannoli.