Verbs express action or being

VERBS 2.0

Write instructions for completing any task or taking care of something such as a pet, a bicycle, or a computer. Your instructions should be very descriptive in order to guide the reader on exactly how to complete the task. For example:My really old dog Chip has several food allergies

and other ailments. You need to cut his pill in half before putting it his bowl and then add his special venison dog food with warm water. His food and water bowls are over by the kitchen entrance and his pills are in the refrigerator.

In order to survive the zombie apocalypse you must follow these instructions very carefully. First you must develop a skill set such as accuracy with a cross bow a la Daryl or uninhibited and guiltless body removal a la Carol season 3.

Instructions

TRANSITIVE:Action verbs often direct the action toward something

or someone named in the predicateSomething or someone in the predicate is the

“receiver” or “object”Answer the question, “WHAT” or “WHOM”NOUN or PRONOUN

INTRANSITIVE:Action verbs that do not have a receiver, or object, of

the actionAnswer the question, “HOW” “WHEN” or “WHERE”ADJECTIVE or ADVERB or PREPOSITION in the

predicate

Transitive and Intransitive Verbs

1. The driver looked away from the road.

2. My grandmother sat down placidly.

3. The annoying car alarm disrupted the worker.

4. I opened the bag of chips for the boy.

5. The bag of chips opened quite easily.

Transitive/Intransitive Examples

So which verbs occur more frequently in nature – transitive? Or intransitive? Swap instructions with someoneUnderline all verbs Make a two-columned list of transitive and

intransitive verbsIf the verb is transitive, make a dash after the

verb in the list and write the “receiver” of the action

Tally up the totals for transitive and intransitive verbs and then SHOUT OUT THE WINNER (transitive or intransitive)

Instructions part 2

Intransitive verbs (no receivers of action) do not have objects – all linking verbs are intransitive verbs

Transitive verbs (have receivers of action) have objectsDIRECT OBJECT: ask yourself WHO? or WHAT?

Do not be confused by intransitive verbs that answer How? When? or Where?

Always a noun or pronounINDIRECT OBJECT: ask yourself TO WHOM? FOR

WHOM? or FOR WHAT?Comes between the verb and the direct objectAlways a noun or pronoun

Direct and Indirect Objects

Direct ObjectsNoun or pronoun that directly receives the

actionWHO? WHAT?Ex: The singer gave the Grammy. Ex: The performer told a joke.

Indirect ObjectsNoun or pronoun that comes between the verb

and its direct object – an INdirect object is an INterrupter

TO/FOR WHOM? TO/FOR WHAT?Ex: The singer gave the other singer the

Grammy.Ex: The performer told the crowd a joke.Ex: The performer told a joke to the crowd.

There isn’t always an indirect object

Direct and Indirect Objects

Most sentences use the active voiceEx: The singer gave the Grammy.Ex: The performer told a joke.

In the passive voice, the subject receives the actionEx: The Grammy was given by the singer.Ex: A joke was told by the performer.

Only transitive verbs can be in the passive voice because they have objectsActive voice passive voice: 1. Identify the object2. Use corresponding tense of the verb BE3. Change the main verb to past participle

Active vs. Passive Voice

1. ACTIVE: The annoying car alarm disrupted the worker.

PASSIVE:

2. ACTIVE: I opened the bag of chips for the boy.PASSIVE:

3. ACTIVE: Msgr. McCann is giving the homily. PASSIVE:

Active/Passive Examples

Verb must agree with subject Use singular verb with singular subject; plural

verb with plural subject

Singular verb & singular subject:The student works.The child runs.

Plural verb & plural subject:The students work. The children run.

Subject-Verb Agreement: the BASICS

When you use the conjunction AND, use a plural verbA cat and a dog make for good company.

When you use the conjunctions OR, NOR, EITHER…OR, NEITHER…NOR to join compound subjects, use a verb that agrees with the nearer subjectNeither cats nor dogs live in her house.Either a cat or two dogs live in her house.Either cats or a dog is in her house.

S-V Agreement: with Compound Subjects

Titles or names are always considered singular, and take a singular verbTo Kill a Mockingbird is an excellent book and

film.The Outsiders was written by a teenager. Marshalls is a discount clothing store.

Some nouns that end in –s always take a singular verbThe news is always depressing. Mathematics is an important subject. Physics complicates high school students’

schedulesSome nouns that end in –s always take a

plural verbThe scissors are in my desk. My shorts are missing.

More S-V Agreement

Collective nouns usually take a singular verb. Use a plural verb when the collective noun refers to each individual in the groupThe committee is making the decision. The committee are spread out around the room. The student body is in the auditorium. The student body are going their separate ways next

year.Terms that refer to amounts are singular when

they are thought of as a single unit. Use a plural verb when the amounts are thought of as separate items.Fifteen dollars is a lot of money to earn in one hour. The fifteen dollars are shared amongst the wait staff. Three years is a long time when you think about it. These three years have gone by so quickly.

Even More S-V Agreement

Inverted Order: subject is not followed by the verbARE YOU ready to go?Where ARE the CHILDREN?Inside the desk ARE my BOOKS.Under the leaves IS my JACKET.

Interrupted Order: word or phrase comes between subject and verbThe students, in a straight line, are waiting to go

inside. The dogs in the shelter need love and care. The professor of Social Studies is in the hallway. The Labrador Retriever, one of many dog breeds,

makes a loving pet.

S-V Agreement in Inverted and Interrupted Order

Lie = to rest or remainIntransitive verb; never has a DOEx: I would like to lie down now. Ex: He is sick and should lie in bed all day.

Lay = to put or placeTransitive verb; always has a DOEx: Lay the food tray on the table.Ex: Allow me to lay her, the sick girl, down on

the couch.

Lie vs. Lay

1 (base form)

2 (present

participle)

3 (past)

4 (past

participle)

lie (is) lying lay (has) lain

lay (is) laying laid (has) laid

Rise = to get up or to move upwardIntransitive; never has a DOEx: Watch the balloon rise up into the sky.Ex: On Halloween the ghosts will rise from

their graves.Ex: I bet gas prices will rise again soon.

Raise = to lift or to growTransitive; always has a DOEx: Raise your hand if you want to speak. Ex: Raise the screen so I can see it better. Ex: Raise the gas prices.

Rise vs. Raise

1 (base form)

2 (present

participle)

3 (past)

4 (past participle)

Rise (is) rising rose (has) risen

Raise (is) raising raised (has) raised

AffectA verb that means “to influence”

The new standards will affect the way I teach. The catastrophe affected everyone.

EffectCan be a noun that means “result of action”

The effects of the storm were felt all over Long Island.

The rule is a direct effect of someone’s poor decision.

Can be a verb that means “to cause to happen”The president hopes to effect change during his

second term. MTA will effect the new train schedule tomorrow.

Affect vs. Effect

AcceptA verb meaning “to receive willingly”

Ex: I accept your sincere apology. Ex: Will you accept this rose?

ExceptA preposition meaning “excluding, other than”

Ex: Everyone’s invited, except the troublemakers.Ex: All students, except for those in AP classes,

must take the final exam.

Accept vs. Except