Action,helping, and linking verbs; complements

VerbsVerbs

Like the sun, verbs are the energy of the sentence. They are often, but not

always found at the center of the sentence.

A sentence cannot exist without them.

Here are three Here are three kindskinds of of verbs you should know:verbs you should know:

Act

ion

Ver

bsLinking Verbs

Helping verbs

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Present verbsAn action verb that describes what is happening now is called a

present tense verbpresent tense verb.The bird fliesflies through the sky.

FliesFlies is a present tense verb because it is happening right now.

Present tense verbs

Many present tense verbs end with ss, but some end with eses, or iesies.


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keepss

smashes

cries

Past VerbsVerbs which tell about actions which happened some time ago are past tense verbs.

The dog wantedwanted a bone.Wanted is a past tense verb because the action has already happened.


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Past tense verbs

Many past tense verbs end with eded, , but some end with dd, , or iedied.


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slapped

cried

said

Future Verbs

Verbs which tell about actions that are going to happen are future tense verbs.

We will awaken at six a.m. Will awakenWill awaken is a future tense verb because the action has not yet happened.


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Main Verbs and Helping Verbs:Main Verbs and Helping Verbs:

• A verb phrase consists of at least one main verb and one or more helping verbs. A helping verb (also called an auxiliary verb) helps the main verb express action or a state of being.

is leaving

A helping verb is used before an action or linking verb to convey aspects of possibility (can, could, etc.) or

time (was, did, has, etc.)

maymightmust

bebeingbeenamareiswaswere

(main)

dodoesdid

(main)

shouldcouldwould

havehadhas

(main)

willcanshall

Notice how the helping verbs work together with the main verbs to form complete verb phrases. Not every

sentence will have a helping verb.

• Would he like some help?

• You should have offered sooner.

• We shall probably be finished in an hour.

• She had always been thinking of her future.

• Has my sister played her new CD for you?

• She shouldn’t have borrowed that necklace.

Sometimes an adverb will separate a helping verb from a main verb.

The boy could not find his socks. The helping verb is could and the main verb is find.

Helping Verbs

• A sentence may contain up to three helping verbs to the main verb.

• Example: The dog must have been

chasing the cat.

• The helping verbs are must, have, and been; the main verb is chasing

Helping or Action?

• HELPING: Dustin did eat his vegetables.

• ACTION: Dustin did his homework last night.

Transitive VerbsTransitive Verbs

A transitive verb is a verb that expresses an action directed toward a person, place or thing. The action passes from the doer – the subject - to the receiver of the action. Words that receive the action of a transitive verb are called objects.

• Jon mailed the package.• When will Neil ring the bell?

Intransitive VerbsIntransitive Verbs

• An intransitive verb expresses action (or tells something about the subject) without the action passing to a receiver, or object.

• Last Saturday we stayed inside.• The children ate quickly.• The crowd cheered.• When she told her story, my, how we laughed!

Transitive or Intransitive?Transitive or Intransitive?

• Carrie waved her arm.

• Carrie waved quickly.

• The plane landed on the runway.

• She lifted the box.

• Does Sheila write poetry?

• Should we value your judgment?

• The speaker arrived late.

Action Verbs vs. Linking VerbsAction Verbs vs. Linking VerbsAn action verb expresses either physical or mental action:

• The audience cheered the lead actors.• The children hoped for sunshine.

A linking verb connects the subject to a word or word group that identifies or describes the subject.

• The answer is correct.

• The winners are happy.

Subject VerbThe rest of

the sentence

We spent a day at the

beach together.

They haven’t +

discussedthe

problem.

He can + be a quarterb

ack.

AV

HV+ Adv. AV

HV LV

Sentence structures

Linking Verbs:Linking Verbs:

• The most commonly used linking verbs are forms of the verb to be:

be shall be should bebeing will be would beam has been can beis have been could beare had been should have

beenwas shall have been would have beenwere will have been could have been

Subject Linking verb

Information about the subject

That soundswonderf

ul.The

Internet remainsa

positive tool.

The article

isabout

using the Internet.

Other frequently used linking Other frequently used linking verbs:verbs:

appear grow seem stay get runbecome look smell taste go comefeel remain sound turn (out) fall prove

make keep continue stand sit lie

LinkingLinking or or actionaction??• The wet dog smelled horrible.• The dog smelled the baked bread.• The chef tasted the casserole.• The casserole tasted strange.

S

T

A

T

E

state

quality

with sense of feeling

in sense of becoming

in sense of remaining

be, seem, appear

feel, look, sound, taste, smell

become, grow, get, turn, come, make, prove, turn out, go, run

remain, keep, continue, stay, rest, stand, sit, lie

Three kinds of linking verbs.

Linking verbs

adj. / n. / past participle

go

come

turn

turn out

prove

make

fall

run

true, easy, (all) right, natural, cheap, alive, open, loose, undone

bad, wrong, blind, mad, dead, sour, red, green

cold, green, sour

fine, clear

true, interesting, a success

a good actor, a fine soldier

ill /sick, asleep, dark, silent

low, wild, high, short

Linking verbs

adj.

remain calm, silent, young, single, unfinished

keep calm, silent, still, cool, fit, fresh

stay calm, young, warm, single

continue calm, stubborn

stand still, high, firm

sit straight, cross-legged

lie still, open, quiet, thick

Practice

1. Both speakers were very calm throughout the debate.

2. The snow was thick on the ground.

3. He was still against the wall, not knowing what to say.

4. In his forties, he was still single.

5. Whatever I said to him, he was stubborn.

Replace the underlined words with other linking verbs.

How to identify linking verbs?

• Grapes grow well in warm and dry climates.

• She has grown some grapes in the garden.

• She has grown rich by selling grapes.

Read the following sentences and determine if the verb is action or linking

• Our world is becoming smaller and smaller.

• The old man is getting weaker.• The child is growing thinner.

China will become a major power in the future.

The teacher grew unhappy when the students told her lies.

Completing the following passage, using

linking verbs.

Last Sunday our class went to the park for a picnic. It ____ a fine day. The air _______ fresh. The trees _______ green and the grass ______ thick on the ground. We talked and played. All of us applauded for Li Ming’s English song “ I have never had a dream ______ true.” How relaxed we all _______ after a week’s hard work! We cooked our lunch on the open fire. Soon the food ______ great! The meat _______ delicious. The vegetables and fruit _______ inviting. While eating someone suggested another picnic on May Day. It ________ a good idea. Everyone agreed.

more practice…more practice…

Even be is not always a linking verb. Sometimes be expresses a state of being and is followed only by an adverb.

• I was there.

To be a linking verb, the verb must be followed by a subject complement—a nounnoun or a pronounpronoun that names the subject or an adjectiveadjective that describes the subject.

Subject Complements…Subject Complements…(wouldn’t exist without linking verbs)

• She is my cousin.

• This chocolate smells wonderful.

• This tadpole will become a frog.

• The captain could be she.

• Is she talented?

• The players looked tired and dirty.

• Alvin has grown very tall.

Education

Action,helping, and linking verbs; complements