Verbs

Verbs are the most important words in a sentence. Verbs are the first of the eight parts of speech that we will be studying. Most verbs are action words, but a few verbs indicate state of being or existence. The first lessons will be about verbs, and how they are recognized and used.

Find the verbs in the following sentences. They are action verbs.

The wolf ran across the sand.

Sit down.

The dog barked at the man.


Answer:

The verbs in the sentences are ran, sit, and barked. All three verbs are action verbs since they show action. Action verbs are the most common verbs.
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Find the verbs in these sentences. These verbs will be state of being verbs.

My uncle is a pilot.

The pie looks good.

You seem upset.

Answer:

The verbs in the sentences are is, looks, and seem. These verbs are state of being or linking verbs. Some common linking verbs are is, am, are, was, were, be, being, been, seem, look, feel, and become. They do not show action. They just show that something exists.
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Pick out the verbs in these sentences and tell whether they are action verbs or linking verbs.

Suddenly someone sneezed loudly.

There are holes in my shirt.

He appears happy.

The image appeared in the mirror.


Answer:

The verbs are sneezed, are, appears, and appeared. Sneezed and appeared are action verbs. Are and appears are linking or state of being verbs. Some verbs like appear can be either action or linking verbs. It depends on whether it shows action or not. Appears above is like saying seems which shows no action while appeared above shows the action of the image.
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Sometimes a verb can be more than one word. When a verb is more than one word, it is called a verb phrase. Verb phrases can be two, three, or four words. Verb phrases are made by using auxiliary or helping verbs. What are the verb phrases in these sentences?

You are going to Seattle.

You have been resting too much.

We must be early.

I will be finished shortly.





Answer:

The verb phrases are are going, have been resting, must be, and will be finished. These sentences all have what are called auxiliary or helping verbs. I will refer to them as helping verbs. There are twenty-three (23) helping verbs that should be memorized since they are used so often. If you memorize them, it will make knowing and understanding verbs much easier. They are usually grouped in the following five groups:

Group 1: is, am, are, was, were, be, being, been

Group 2: has, have, had

Group 3: do, does, did

Group 4: shall, will, should, would

Group 5: may, might, must, can, could

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Some of the helping verbs can be used alone as the main verb. Is, am, are, was, and were can be used alone as linking or state of being verbs. Has, have, had, do, does, and did always show action when used alone. Be, being, and been can be used with other verbs either to show action or state of being. The other helping verbs cannot be used alone but only as helping verbs.

Find the verb or verb phrases in these sentences.

She has too many friends.

You do beautiful work.

I was in Canada last week.

You are being very stubborn.



Answer:

The verb and verb phrases were has, do, was, and are being. Has and do are action verbs, and was and are being are state of being verbs.
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List the verbs or verb phrases in the sentences, and tell whether they are action verbs or state of being verbs. For extra credit, find the helping verbs.

1. Jim plays basketball.

2. They will return on the airplane.

3. Badger is a funny dog.

4. I have been here a long time.

5. I should have been playing the drum.

6. Go home.





Answers:

1. plays - action

2. will return - action

3. is - linking or state of being

4. have been - state of being

5. should have been playing - action

6. go - action

The helping verbs are will, have, should, have, and been. The been in sentence 4 is not a helping verb because it is the main verb. The last verb in a verb phrase is always the main verb.
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Pick out the verb phrases in the following sentences. Watch for the helping verbs.

I can understand his concern.

She must have told you ten times.

We shall go tomorrow.

The wind was howling all night.


Answer:

Can understand, must have told, shall go, and was howling are the verb phrases.
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The use of helping verbs causes certain changes in verb phrases that we need to be able to recognize. One change is the use of contractions. List the contractions in the following sentences.

I've done it again.

You aren't going with us.

She's staying to tend the kids.


Answer:

I’ve, aren’t, and she’s are contractions.

As mentioned before, it’s a good idea to memorize the helping verbs. If you haven’t memorized them, take a few minutes to learn them.

Group 1: is, am, are, was, were, be, being, been

Group 2: has, have, had

Group 3: do, does, did

Group 4: shall, will, should, would

Group 5: may, might, must, can, could
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A helping verb may be connected with another word in a contracted form. The following sentences have verb phrases using contractions. Find the verb phrases in each sentence. Determine if the verb phases are action verbs or state of being verbs.

I've done it again.

You aren't going with us.

She's staying to tend the kids.



Answer:

The verb phrases are 've (have) done, are going, and 's (is) staying. Have and is are in contracted form. Are is connected to the contracted form of not. All three verb phrases are action verbs.
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In sentences that are questions, the verb phrase is often separated by another word. Find the verb phrases in these sentences. Be sure to watch for another word separating the helping verb from the main verb.

Have you been driving long?

Where was the car parked?

Can I be of assistance?


Answer:

The verb phrases in the sentences are have been driving, was parked, and can be. The words separating the verb phrases are nouns and pronouns. This is very common in sentences that are questions. The first two verbs are action verbs, and the last verb is a state of being verb.
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Sometimes verb phrases are separated by words called adverbs. We will learn more about adverbs in later lessons. They are used often with verbs; however, they are not considered part of the verb phrase. What are the verb phrases in the three sentences? Are the verbs action verbs or state of being verbs?

You have not helped your father today.

I will soon be home.

The child had suddenly choked on the food.


Answer:

The verb phrases are have helped, will be, and had choked. The first and third sentences are action verbs, and the second sentence a state of being verb.
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Quiz:

List the verb phrases in the following sentences.

1. My wife is reading in the hammock under the tree.

2. The message can't be altered.

3. Somewhere a party is being planned.

4. Shouldn't I be a clown for Halloween?

5. I've run out of time.

Now write down as many of the twenty-three helping verbs as you can.


Answer:

The verb phrases are is reading, can be altered, is being planned, should be, and 've (have) run.

The twenty-three helping verbs are is, am, are, was, were, be, being, been, have, has, had, do, does, did, shall, will, should, would, may, might, must, can, and could.
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Not and its contracted form n't are never part of the verb. Pick out the verb phrases in these sentences.

The game will not be finished for another hour.

The horse shouldn't have been worked so much.

Wouldn't you give me another chance?


Answer:

The verb phrases are will be finished, should have been worked, and would give. Not and n't are not part of the verb phrase. Verb phrases can have one, two or three helping verbs in them.
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Verb phrases with two or more helping verbs always keep a definite order. Most helping verbs can combine with other helping verbs but will not combine with all of them. Look at the examples below which are good combinations.

is being said, has been said, will be said, could have been said, may have said, had been said.

Now arrange the following helping verbs with the word in parentheses into a verb phrase. One of the helping verbs will not combine and must be left out.

Example: was, have, may (gone) = may have gone - was will not combine in this group.

1. am, will, being (fired)

2. been, could, does, have (learning)

3. might, do, have, been (sleeping)

4. must, were, be (discovered)

5. be, has, should (sold)


Answer:

1. am being fired

2. could have been learning

3. might have been sleeping

4. must be discovered

5. should be sold
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We can change the form of a verb. (These changes in form are used in conjugations. We will talk about conjugations in later lessons.) For example, a verb can have an s added to it as in eat, eats or run, runs. Other changes could be eating, ate, or eaten for the verb eat. Run could be changed to running, or ran. Irregular verbs which we will cover later have several confusing changes.

Find the verb or verb phrases in these sentences. Take note of the different verb forms for come and sent.

I am coming in the morning.

I came as soon as possible.

She comes by every day.

Send me the package in the mail.

The new part was sent to me.

I am sending Jeff with the neighbors.


Answer:

The answers are am coming, came, comes, send, was sent, and am sending.
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In this lesson pick out only the helping verbs used in the verb phrases.

1. He should have tried again.

2. The dog had suddenly come into the yard.

3. Has anyone taken out the trash?

4. Could they have been pointing at our car?

5. She's hoping for a call from her sister.


Answer:

1. should have

2. had

3. has

4. could have been

5. 's (is)
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Let's look at some sentences to review what we have learned. Remember that verbs either show action or state of being. Using helping verbs, we make verb phrases. Verb phrases may be separated by other words. Verb phrases follow a definite order and change form. Find the verb phrases and tell what kind of verbs they are.

I can understand your concern.

Is Mrs. Johanson going with you?

The rooms cannot be held any longer.

I haven't seen him for an hour.


Answer:

can understand - action

is going - action

can be held - action

have seen - action
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Answer each question true or false.

1. Verbs never change form.

2. A verb is never just one word.

3. Verb phrases keep a definite order.

4. There are twenty-three helping verbs.

5. Helping verbs cannot be the main verb.

6. Helping verbs can be action verbs.

7. Verb phrases can have three helping verbs.

8, Verbs can be in contracted form.

9. State of being verbs show action.

10. Verbs are the most important words in a sentence.


Answers:

1. false
2. false
3. true
4. true
5. false
6. true
7. true
8. true
9. false
10. true