VERBS

MAIN VERB
A verb is called a main verb when used alone in simple present or past tense OR when its the one at the
END of a verb phrase that also includes helping/auxiliary that help create a different tense of the main verb.
(stand-alone main verb)
(2 helping + 1 main verb)
Main verb used alone: He walks.
Main verb at end of verb phrase: She has been walking.
HELPING (Auxiliary) VERBS
Helping verbs (also called auxiliary verbs) can be used IN FRONT OF the main verb, creating a verb
phrase, to help the main verb create a different verb tense.
Helping verb(s) + main verb = verb phrase
has been
walking
has been walking
MEMORIZE the following HELPING (auxiliary) VERBS. There are only 23 of them.
(HINT: This mnemonic song, to the tune of Jingle Bells, can help you memorize and recall them more easily.)
Helping verbs, helping verbs,
There are 23:
am, is, are,
was & were,
being, been, & be,
have, has, had,
do, does, did,
shall, should, will & would.
There are 5 more helping verbs:
may, might, must, can, could.

ACTION or LINKING VERB ?

Main verbs (NOT helping/auxiliary verbs) are described as ACTION or LINKING:
ACTION VERB - describes a physical or mental action done by or to the subject.
(ACTION VERB EXAMPLES: think, disappear, hit, walks, said, crying, etc.)
An action verb is: TRANSITIVE if there is a transfer of action from the subject
to a direct object (noun/pronoun) that receives the action.
The boy hit the ball well. He scored many homeruns.
An action verb is INTRANSITIVE when there is NO transfer of action onto a direct object
and/or when the subject itself receives the action.
The crowd cheered for the team. The ball was hit over the fence.

LINKING VERBS:
-A linking verb shows the state of being, condition, or status of the subject.
LINKING VERB EXAMPLES: My boyfriend is here. She seems in a good mood.
-Linking verbs often link/connect the subject to a word that describes OR renames/identifies the subject:
a) links the subject to a predicate adjective that describes the subject
He is healthy.
She seems happy.
She appears angry.
b) links the subject to a predicate noun/pronoun that identifies or renames the subject
She is my mom.
He became president at a young.
Mrs. Cavanah was our teacher.
ALWAYS LINKING: am, is, are, was, were, be, been, being + seem, & (almost always) become
SOMETIMES LINKING when they show state of being and mean same as: am, is, are OR seem:
appear, look, feel, grow, turn, smell, sound, taste, remain, stay, prove, got
For example, appear is a linking verb WHEN/IF it can be replaced with seems.
ACTION VERB
vs.
LINKING VERB
The teacher suddenly appeared in the doorway.
She appeared angry.
I got a new book.
I got tired reading it late at night.

The lawyer proved the mans guilt.

He was proven guilty.

VERB Pre-Test/Practice
NAME:
_____________________________________________________________

PART 1 - DIRECTIONS: Identify the KIND OF VERB that is already

underlined:
1. I am walking home today.
A) helping/auxiliary verb

B) main verb

2. I am a teacher.
A) helping/auxiliary verb

B) linking verb

C) action verb

3. She seems happier now.

A) helping/auxiliary verb

B) linking verb

C) action verb

4. I thought of a good memory.

A) helping/auxiliary verb

B) linking verb

C) action verb

5. The car turned the corner fast.

A) helping/auxiliary verb
B) linking verb

C) action verb

6. We will grow a garden next year.

A) helping/auxiliary verb
B) linking verb

C) action verb

7. I grow tired by the end of the day.

A) helping/auxiliary verb
B) linking verb

C) action verb

8. He stayed for practice after school.

A) helping/auxiliary verb
B) linking verb
9. She stayed mad at me for days.
A) helping/auxiliary verb
B) linking verb

C) action verb
C) action verb

10. Claire looked at all the questions on the exam.

A) helping/auxiliary verb
B) linking verb
C) action verb
PART 2 - DIRECTIONS: Tell if the action verb in the following sentences is:
TRANSITIVE, if there is a transfer of action from the subject to a direct
object that receives the action
... OR INTRANSITIVE because the subject itself receives the action.
11. Annabelle opened her present as fast as possible.
A) transitive
B) intransitive
12. The kids were all hoping for snow.
A) transitive
B) intransitive
13. We are not going to stay for the entire time.
A) transitive
B) intransitive
PART 3: DIRECTIONS: Underline all of the verb(s) in the following sentences
but ONLY verbs and LABEL EACH by writing HV overtop if its a helping verb,
LV if its a linking verb, and AV if its an action verb.

14. I have been studying very hard for this quiz.

15. I may not know everything about verbs yet, but at least more than
before.