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12
I [13] do puzzles [14] strictly for fun. Best of all, I can work a, b
on them [15] by myself. That way, no one knows whether I suc-
ceed [16] or fail. I [17] occasionally [18] brag about my successes.
[19] “Aha!” I exclaim. “That was a tough one, [20] but I filled in
every space.”

GRAMMAR
The Verb
12a. A verb is a word that expresses action or a state
of being.
EXAMPLES We celebrated the Chinese New Year yesterday.

The holiday is usually in February.

NOTE In this book, verbs are classified as action or linking

verbs, as helping or main verbs, and as transitive or intransitive
verbs.

Action Verbs
12b. An action verb is a verb that expresses either physical
or mental activity.
EXAMPLES The owls hooted all night. [physical action]

Gloria plays volleyball. [physical action]

She thought about the problem. [mental action]

I believe you. [mental action]

N O T E Action verbs may be transitive or intransitive. Reference Note

For more information
about transitive and
intransitive verbs, see
Exercise 1 Classifying Verbs page 364.
Tell whether each of the following action verbs expresses physical
or mental action.
EXAMPLE 1. visualize
1. mental

1. pounce 5. rest 9. shout

2. consider 6. remember 10. nibble
3. wish 7. dash
4. want 8. anticipate

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Exercise 2 Identifying Action Verbs

Identify each action verb in the following sentences.
EXAMPLE 1. I saw that movie last week.
1. saw
GRAMMAR

HELP 1. For a science project, Elena built a sundial.

Sentences in
Exercise 2 may contain
more than one action verb.
10. The early Aztecs worshiped the sun.
2. Mr. Santos carefully explained the word problem to each
of the students.
3. I enjoy soccer more than any other sport.
4. This waterfall drops two hundred feet.
5. Mike’s bicycle suddenly skidded and fell hard on the
wet pavement.
6. Mrs. Karras showed us the way to Johnson City.
7. Mix the ingredients slowly.
8. The heavy traffic delayed us.
9. For the Jewish holiday of Purim, Rachel and her sister
Elizabeth gave a party.

Linking Verbs
12c. A linking verb is a verb that expresses a state of
being. A linking verb connects, or links, the subject to a
word or word group that identifies or describes the subject.
EXAMPLES Denzel Washington is an actor. [The verb is connects
actor with the subject Denzel Washington.]

The children remained quiet. [The verb remained links

quiet with the subject children.]

Reference Note
For more information
about transitive and
intransitive verbs, see
page 364.
NOTE Linking verbs never have objects (words that tell who or what
receives the action of the verb). Therefore, linking verbs are always
intransitive.

Some Forms of the Verb Be

am were will be can be

is has been shall be should be
are have been may be would have
was had been might be been

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12
Other Linking Verbs c

appear grow seem stay

become look smell taste
feel remain sound turn

GRAMMAR
N O T E Be is not always a linking verb. Be can express a state of being

without having a complement (a word or word group that identifies Reference Note
or describes the subject). In the following sentences, forms of be are For information about
followed by words or word groups that tell where. complements, see
Chapter 13.
EXAMPLES We will be there.

The apples are in the bowl.

Some words may be either action verbs or linking verbs,

depending on how they are used.
ACTION Amy looked through the telescope.
LINKING Amy looked pale. [The verb looked links pale
with the subject Amy.]

ACTION Stay in your seats until the bell rings. Reference Note
LINKING Stay calm. [The verb stay links calm with the For more about under-
understood subject you.] stood subjects in
imperative sentences,
see page 331.

Exercise 3 Identifying Linking Verbs

Identify the linking verb in each of the following sentences.
EXAMPLE 1. A radio station can be the voice of a community.
1. can be

1. This is Roberto Martínez, your weather forecaster.

2. Unfortunately, the forecast looks bad today.
3. Outside the window here at Station WOLF, the skies
appear cloudy.
4. It certainly felt rainy earlier this morning.
5. According to the latest information, it should be a damp,
drizzly day with an 85 percent chance of rainfall.
6. Our sportscaster this morning is Marta Segal.
7. Things have been quiet here around Arlington for the past
few days.

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8. Stay alert for sports action tonight.

9. It should be an exciting game between our own Arlington
Angels and the visiting Jackson City Dodgers.
10. The team looked great at practice today, and I predict a
hometown victory.
GRAMMAR

Review A Identifying Action Verbs and

Linking Verbs
HELP Identify the verbs in the following sentences. Then, label each
Sentences in verb as either an action verb or a linking verb.
Review A may contain
more than one verb.
EXAMPLE 1. I always enjoy field trips.
1. enjoy—action verb

1. Last spring, our earth science class visited the Hayden

Go to the Chapter Menu
for an interactive activity.
10. When we look at such stars, we actually see the ancient past!
Planetarium.
2. It is a wonderful place, full of amazing sights.
3. We wandered slowly through the various displays and saw a
collection of fascinating exhibits.
4. One space vehicle seemed like something from a science
fiction movie.
5. Another amazing and interesting display showed a thirty-
four-ton meteorite.
6. When this meteorite fell to earth many years ago, it made
a huge crater.
7. After a delicious lunch, we stayed for the show in the
observatory.
8. As the room became darker, the picture of a galaxy appeared
on the ceiling of the dome above us.
9. The lecturer said that the galaxy is so far away from here that
its light reaches us centuries after its first appearance.
ne Media Servi d
ces,
erved. Reprinte
ion.
res
SHOE © Tribu

with permiss
Inc. All rights

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12
Exercise 4 Identifying Action Verbs and Linking Verbs d

Identify the verb in each of the following sentences. Then, label

each verb as either an action verb or a linking verb. If the verb is
a linking verb, give the words that it connects.

GRAMMAR
EXAMPLES 1. We sent our dog to obedience school.
1. sent—action verb
2. Some breeds are extremely nervous.
2. are—linking verb; breeds, nervous

1. Everyone felt sorry about the misunderstanding.

2. In daylight, we looked for the lost ring.
3. The temperature plunged to ten degrees below zero.
4. The local museum exhibited beautiful Inuit sculptures.
5. Loretta felt her way carefully through the dark, quiet room.
6. The city almost always smells musty after a heavy summer
thunderstorm.
7. Dakar is the capital of Senegal.
8. The firefighter cautiously smelled the burned rags.
9. Antonia Novello was the first female surgeon general of
the United States.
10. They looked handsome in their party clothes.

Helping Verbs and Main Verbs

12d. A helping verb (auxiliary verb) helps the main
verb express action or a state of being.
EXAMPLES can speak has been named

were sent should have been caught

A verb phrase contains one main verb and one or more

helping verbs.
EXAMPLES Many people in Africa can speak more than one
language.

The packages were sent to 401 Maple Street.

Kansas has been named the Sunflower State.

The ball should have been caught by the

nearest player.

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Commonly Used Helping Verbs

Forms of Be am been was

are being were
be is
GRAMMAR

Forms of Do do does did

Forms of Have have has had

Other Helping can might would

Verbs could must shall
may will should

Some verbs can be used as either helping verbs or main verbs.

HELPING VERB Do you like green beans?
MAIN VERB Did you do this math problem?

HELPING VERB She is arriving at noon.

MAIN VERB Her luggage is over there.

HELPING VERB Have they arrived yet?

MAIN VERB They have a dog.

HELPING VERB Where has he gone?

MAIN VERB He has his homework in his backpack.

Sometimes a verb phrase is interrupted by another part of

speech. Often the interrupter is an adverb. In a question, how-
ever, the subject often interrupts the verb phrase.
EXAMPLES Our school has always held a victory celebration when
our team wins.

Did you hear Jimmy Smits’s speech?

Should Anita bring her model airplane to class?

Ken does not [or doesn’t] have a new desk.

Notice in the last example that the adverb not [or its
contraction –n’t] is not included in the verb phrase.

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Exercise 5 Identifying Verb Phrases

and Helping Verbs
Identify the verb phrases in the following sentences. Underline
the helping verbs.

GRAMMAR
EXAMPLE 1. You can recognize redwoods and sequoias by
their bark.
1. can recognize

1. Have you ever visited Redwood National Park?

2. The giant trees there can be an awesome sight.
3. For centuries, these trees have been an important part of the
environment of the northwest United States.
4. Surely, these rare trees must be saved for future generations.
5. More than 85 percent of the original redwood forest has been
destroyed over the years.
6. Because of this destruction, the survival of the redwood
forest is being threatened.
7. With proper planning years ago, more of the forest might
already have been saved.
8. Unfortunately, redwood forests are still shrinking rapidly.
9. According to some scientists, redwood forests outside the
park will.disappear within our lifetime.
10. However, according to other experts, the redwood forests can
still be saved!

Review B Identifying Action Verbs and Linking Verbs

Identify the verbs in the following sentences. Then, label each HELP
verb as an action verb or a linking verb. Some sentences
EXAMPLE 1. Have you ever seen a play in Spanish? in Review B contain more
than one verb. Also, be sure
1. Have seen—action verb to include all parts of each
1. The Puerto Rican Traveling Theatre performs plays about verb phrase.
Hispanic life in the United States.
2. Over the past twenty years, this group has grown into a
famous Hispanic theater group.
3. Sometimes, a production has two casts—one that speaks in Go to the Chapter Menu
English and one that speaks in Spanish. for an interactive activity.
4. In this way, speakers of both languages can enjoy the play.
5. In recent years many young Hispanic playwrights, directors,
and actors have begun their careers at the Traveling Theatre.

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GRAMMAR
Reference Note
For more about objects
and their uses in sen-
tences, see page 386.
Go to the Chapter Menu
for an interactive activity.
364 Chapter 12 Parts of Speech Overview
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6. Some became well-known at the Puerto Rican Traveling
Theatre and then moved on to Broadway or Hollywood.
7. Others remain happy at the Traveling Theatre, where they
enjoy the warm, supportive atmosphere.
8. Each production by the Traveling Theatre has its own style.
9. Some shows are musicals, full of song and dance, while other
plays seem more serious.
10. Light or serious, Puerto Rican Traveling Theatre productions
present a lively picture of Hispanic life today.
Transitive and Intransitive Verbs
12e. A transitive verb is a verb that expresses an action
directed toward a person, a place, a thing, or an idea.
With transitive verbs, the action passes from the doer—the sub-
ject—to the receiver of the action. Words that receive the action
of a transitive verb are called objects.
EXAMPLES Derrick greeted the visitors. [The action of the verb
greeted is directed toward the object visitors.]
When will Felicia paint her room? [The action of the
verb will paint is directed toward the object room.]
12f. An intransitive verb expresses action (or tells some-
thing about the subject) without the action passing to a
receiver, or object.
EXAMPLES The train stopped.
Last night we ate on the patio.
A verb may be transitive in one sentence and intransitive
in another.
EXAMPLES The children play checkers. [transitive]
The children play quietly. [intransitive]
Mr. Lopez is baking bread. [transitive]
Mr. Lopez is baking this afternoon. [intransitive]
Have Roland and Tracy left their coats? [transitive]
Have Roland and Tracy left yet? [intransitive]
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Exercise 6 Identifying Transitive and e, f
Intransitive Verbs
Identify the italicized verb in each of the following sentences
as either transitive or intransitive.

GRAMMAR
EXAMPLE 1. She runs early in the morning.
1. intransitive

1. If you do different kinds of exercises, you are exercising in

the correct way.
2. When you exercise to improve endurance, flexibility,
and strength, your body develops.
3. Aerobic exercise builds endurance and strengthens
the heart and lungs.
4. When you walk quickly, you exercise aerobically.
5. Many active people in the United States attend
classes in aerobics.
6. They enjoy the fun of exercising to popular music.
7. Exercises that improve flexibility require you to bend
and stretch.
8. Perform these exercises slowly to gain the maximum
benefit from them.
9. Through isometric and isotonic exercises, your
muscle strength increases.
10. These exercises contract your muscles.

Exercise 7 Writing Sentences with Transitive and

Intransitive Verbs
For each verb given below, write two sentences. In one sentence,
use the verb as a transitive verb and underline its object. In the
other, use the verb as an intransitive verb. You may use different
tenses of the verb.
EXAMPLE 1. write
1. Alex is writing a research report. (transitive)
Alex writes in his journal every day. (intransitive)

1. fly 5. drive 9. climb 13. turn 17. skip

2. leave 6. jump 10. watch 14. pay 18. read
3. return 7. hear 11. visit 15. row 19. help
4. draw 8. answer 12. shout 16. run 20. sing

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