There are two types of verbs: action verbs and linking verbs. Action verbs express physical or mental activity and can be transitive or intransitive, while linking verbs express a state of being and are always intransitive. Verbs can also be transitive or intransitive depending on whether their action passes to a direct object. Auxiliary verbs help the main verb but do not function as verbs themselves.

1. Verbs, Verbs, VerbsVerbs, Verbs, Verbs
Action Verbs
Linking Verbs
(also: auxiliary, transitive, intransitive)
We’re not types
of verbs, but
we’re related to
them!

2. Two, 2, dos, deux, zwei, ni, ,Two, 2, dos, deux, zwei, ni, ,
action
linking
There are ONLY two kinds of verbs
on the planet. They are:
(tutu) 

3. All real verbs are either
action or linking. There are
other “verby” things
(auxiliary/helping verbs,
verbals), but they are not true
verbs. We will discuss these
later.

4. Action VerbsAction Verbs

5. Action VerbsAction Verbs
express either mental or physical activity
The dogs barked all day.
He thought about the day.

6. Action VerbsAction Verbs
may be transitive or intransitive
(more on this later – just note it for now)

7. Linking VerbsLinking Verbs

8. Linking VerbsLinking 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.

9. Linking VerbsLinking Verbs
never have objects
ALWAYS intransitive
(more on this later – just note it for now)

10. Action or Linking Verb?Action or Linking Verb?
We celebrated the Chinese New
Year yesterday.
The holiday is usually in February.
We celebrated the Chinese New
Year yesterday.
The holiday is usually in February.
action
linking

11. Action or Linking Verb?Action or Linking Verb?
John looked tired.
John looked through the binoculars.
John looked tired.
John looked through the binoculars.
action
linking

12. Action or Linking Verb?Action or Linking Verb?
Remain in your seats until the end of
class.
Remain calm.
Remain in your seats until the end of
class.
Remain calm.
action
linking

13. Handy Tip for Linking VerbsHandy Tip for Linking Verbs
Linking verbs are like the equal signs of
language. (=)
Any verb that can be replaced with is, am,
are, be, become, or becomes to create a
sentence with nearly the same meaning is
a linking verb.

14. Action or Linking Verb? Your Turn!Action or Linking Verb? Your Turn!
Any verb that can be replaced with is, am,
are, be, become, or becomes to create a
sentence with nearly the same meaning
is a linking verb.
The sky looks blue.
I walked home.
Our teacher seemed crazy.

15. Auxiliary/Helping “Verbs”Auxiliary/Helping “Verbs”
“auxiliary” just means “helping”
Helping verbs and linking verbs are the same
words…if they have an action verb buddy they are
helping verbs…if they are by themselves, they are
linking verbs.
WARNING: Auxiliary verbs do not
function as verbs. They HELP the
main verb.

16. Auxiliary/Helping VerbsAuxiliary/Helping Verbs
be
am
is
are
was
were
(sing to the tune of “Jingle Bells” for a handy
mnemonic)
been
being
has
have
had
do
did
does
can
could
shall
will
would
should
may
might
must

17. Auxiliary/Auxiliary/HelpHelping Verbsing Verbs
help the main verb express action or a
state of being
can speak
may be
has been named
should have been caught

18. Auxiliary VerbsAuxiliary Verbs Verb PhraseVerb Phrase
A verb phrase has one main verb
and one or more auxiliary verbs
**verb phrase=hv+av
Many people in Africa can speak
more than one language.
The packages may be at 401 Maple
Street.

19. Helping Verb or Linking Verb?Helping Verb or Linking Verb?
I am a teacher.
I am writing a letter.
We are hungry.
The girls are playing ball.
The highlighted words can function as main verbs or auxiliary
verbs. Can you tell which job each is doing?

20. HelpingHelping Verb orVerb or LinkingLinking Verb? Your Turn!Verb? Your Turn!
was does have
 I was a track star.
 I was running quickly.
 She does the dishes.
 She does hear you.
 They have influenza.
 They have been cured.

21. Helping Verb=Participle Tense
I am talking on the phone. Present
participle
I have been in class. Past Participle
I will go home. future

22. Handy Tip for Verb PhrasesHandy Tip for Verb Phrases
Sometimes a verb phrase is interrupted
by another part of speech, like an adverb.
In a question, the subject often interrupts
the verb phrase.
Our school has always held a victory
celebration when our team wins.
Did you hear Jamie Foxx’s speech?

23. Transitive and IntransitiveTransitive and IntransitiveTransitive and Intransitive
It’s all about transfer of action to
an object.

24. Handy TipHandy Tip
Since transitive/intransitive verbs
deal with whether or not action
passes from the subject to an
object, always start with labelingalways start with labeling
the subject and verb in thethe subject and verb in the
sentencesentence.

25. Transitive VerbsTransitive Verbs
express an action directed toward a person, a
place, a thing, or an idea (a.k.a., nouns)
The action passes from the doer (the subject) to
the receiver of the action.
The words that receive the action of TV
transitive verbs need direct objects, direct
objects are always nouns
Transitive verbs can only be action verbs or
verb phrases (hv+av). Linking verbs are
NEVER transitive.

26. Transitive Verbs: ExamplesTransitive Verbs: Examples
Derrick greeted the visitors.
Derrick greeted whom? The action (greeted)
passes from the subject (Derrick) to the object
(visitors).
When will Felicia paint her room?
Felicia will paint what? The action (will paint)
passes from the subject (Felicia) to the object
(room).
SS avav
SS avavaux. vaux. v

27. Intransitive VerbsIntransitive Verbs
express action or tell something about the
subject without the action passing to a
receiver, or object
Intransitive verbs may be either action,
verb phrases (hv+av), or linking verbs.

28. Intransitive Verbs: ExamplesIntransitive Verbs: Examples
The train stopped.
The train stopped what? There is nothing in the
sentence to say what the train stopped (i.e.,
there is no object). There is no transfer of
action.
Last night we ate on the patio.
We ate what? There is nothing in the sentence
to say what we ate (i.e., there is no object). We
did not eat some “on the patio.” This is a
prepositional phrase telling where we ate, not
what. There is no transfer of action.
SS avav
SS avav

29. Transitive or Intransitive? Your Turn!Transitive or Intransitive? Your Turn!
The children play checkers.
The children play quietly.
Mr. Lopez is baking bread.
Mr. Lopez is baking this afternoon.
Have Roland and Tracy left their coats?
Have Roland and Tracy left yet?
1) Label subject & verb. 2) Is the verb action or linking? If linking, it1) Label subject & verb. 2) Is the verb action or linking? If linking, it
cannot be transitive. If action, go on to step 3. 3) Say, “Subject, verbcannot be transitive. If action, go on to step 3. 3) Say, “Subject, verb
WHAT?” If there is a noun thatWHAT?” If there is a noun that receives the actionreceives the action, it is transitive., it is transitive.

30. Transitive or Intransitive? Your Turn!Transitive or Intransitive? Your Turn!
The children play checkers.
The children play WHAT?
“Checkers” is a noun telling what
they play, so “play” is transitive.
The children play quietly.
The children play WHAT? “Quietly”
is not a noun and it is not what they
play (it is how they play), so “play”
is intransitive.
SS avav
SS avav

31. Transitive or Intransitive? Your Turn!Transitive or Intransitive? Your Turn!
Mr. Lopez is baking bread.
Mr. Lopez is baking WHAT? “Bread”
is a noun and it tells what he is
baking, so “is baking” is transitive.
Mr. Lopez is baking this afternoon.
Mr. Lopez is baking WHAT? “This
afternoon” is not what Mr. Lopez is
baking (it tells when), so “is baking” is
intransitive.
SS avav
SS avavaux. vaux. v

32. Transitive or Intransitive? Your Turn!Transitive or Intransitive? Your Turn!
Have Roland and Tracy left their
coats?
Roland and Tracy have left WHAT?
“Coats” is a noun and it tells what they
left, so “have left” is transitive.
Have Roland and Tracy left yet?
Roland and Tracy have left WHAT?
“Yet” is not what they left (it tells
when), so “have left” is intransitive.
SS avavSSaux. vaux. v
SS avavSSaux. vaux. v

33. Transitive or Intransitive? Your Turn!Transitive or Intransitive? Your Turn!
Label the subjects and verbs in these sentences.
Tell whether the verbs are transitive or
intransitive.
Melanie ate a baked potato.
Hector and Tom are reading.
They painted the house.
Did you carry his suitcase?
My plant grows quickly.