Verbs, Verbs, Verbs

Action Verbs Linking Verbs

(also: auxiliary, transitive, intransitive)

Two, 2, dos, deux, zwei, ni,

There are ONLY two kinds of verbs on the planet. They are:
action

linking
(tutu)

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.

Action Verbs

Action Verbs
express either mental or physical activity

The dogs barked all day.

He thought about the day.

Action Verbs
may be transitive or intransitive (more on this later just note it for now)

Linking Verbs

Linking 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.

Linking Verbs
never have objects ALWAYS intransitive (more on this later just note it for now)

Action or Linking Verb?

We celebrated the Chinese New Year yesterday. Year yesterday. linking The holiday is usually in February.
action

Action or Linking Verb?

John looked tired. action John looked through the binoculars.
linking

Action or Linking Verb?

Remain in your seats until the end of class. linking Remain calm.
action

Handy 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.

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.

Auxiliary/Helping Verbs
auxiliary just means helping

WARNING: Auxiliary verbs do not function as verbs. They HELP the main verb.

Auxiliary/Helping Verbs
(sing to the tune of Jingle Bells for a handy mnemonic)

be am is are was were

been being has have had

do did does can could shall

will would should may might must

Auxiliary/Helping Verbs
help the main verb express action or a
state of being

can speak may be has been named should have been caught

Auxiliary Verbs

Verb Phrase

A verb phrase has one main verb and one or more auxiliary verbs

Many people in Africa can speak more than one language. The packages may be at 401 Maple Street.

Verb Phrase Math

auxiliary verb(s) + main verb = verb phrase

There may be more than one auxiliary verb in a verb phrase. There is only one main verb in a verb phrase. It is always the LAST WORD in the verb phrase. The main verb is either action (speak, named, caught) or linking (be).

can speak has been named may be should have been caught

Auxiliary Verb or Main Verb?

The highlighted words can function as main verbs or auxiliary verbs. Can you tell which job each is doing?

I am a teacher. I am writing a letter.

We are hungry. The girls are playing ball.

Auxiliary Verb or Main Verb? Your Turn!

Make your own examples using each of these words in two ways: 1) as a main verb and 2) as an auxiliary verb in a verb phrase.

was does have

Auxiliary Verb or Main Verb? Your Turn!

was does I was a track star. I was running quickly. She does the dishes. She does hear you. They have influenza. They have been cured.

have

Handy 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 Foxxs speech?

Transitive and Intransitive

Its all about transfer of action to an object.

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

Transitive 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 transitive verbs direct objects always nouns Transitive verbs can only be action verbs. Linking verbs are NEVER transitive.

Transitive Verbs: Examples

Derrick greeted the visitors.
Derrick greeted whom? The action (greeted) passes from the subject (Derrick) to the object (visitors).
S av

When will Felicia paint her room?

Felicia will paint what? The action (will paint) passes from the subject (Felicia) to the object (room).

aux. v

av

Intransitive Verbs
express action or tell something about the subject without the action passing to a receiver, or object Intransitive verbs may be either action or linking verbs.

Intransitive 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.
S av

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.

av

Transitive or Intransitive? Your Turn!

1) 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, verb WHAT? If there is a noun that receives the action, it is transitive.

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?

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.

av

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.

av

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.

av

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.

aux. v

av

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.

aux. v

av

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.

aux. v

av

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.