Name Date What Is a Verb? - Plumas Elementary School District

1 A verbis a word used to express an action, a condition, or a state of being. Thetwo main kinds of verbs are action verbs and linking verbs. Both kinds can beappear with helping action verbtells what the subject does. The action may be physical or repaircars.(physical action)I knowa lot about cars.(mental action)A linking verb links the subject of the sentence to a word in the predicate. Themost common linking verbs are forms of the verb be, as in VerbsSome verbs may act either as action verbs or as linking chef tastesthe desserts.(action)The cake tastesdelicious.(linking)Helping verbshelp the main verb express precise meaning. They are combinedwith the main verbs to form verb has plantedthe crops.(The helping verb is has. The main verb is planted.)

2 A few verbs can serve as either helping verbs or main hasa tractor.(The main verb is has.)Common Helping VerbsIdentifying VerbsUnderline the verb or verb phrase in each sentence. On the line to the right, labelthe verb with Afor action or Lfor linking. technician programs the marketer thinks of new marketing slogans for opera singer sounds was a banker, in charge of fireman smells for smoke at the scene of a McDougal Littell , USAGE, ANDMECHANICSBOOKL esson1 What Is a Verb? TeachingNameDateCHAPTER 4 Forms of bebe, is, am, are, was, were, been, beingVerbs that express conditionlook, smell, feel, sound, taste, grow, appear, become, seem, remainForms of have: has, have, hadForms of be: be, am, is, are, was, were, been, beingForms of do: do, does, didOthers: could, should, would, may, might, must, can, shall, willA.

3 Identifying VerbsUnderline the verb or verb phrase in each sentence. On the line to the right, labelthe verb with Afor action or Lfor linking. teacher should take attendance every day. hard-working plumber was early. secretaries appear very busy this afternoon. policeman did question the suspect after the incident. cab driver was driving extremely fast down the mother, Naomi, is a tax attorney with her own construction crew will build that house in less than a Identifying Helping Verbs and Main VerbsIn Exercise A, find four sentences that use helping verbs. In the chart below, writethose sentence numbers and the parts of each verb phrase in the correct columns. C. Using VerbsIn each sentence, replace the underlined verb . Use a more specific verb if possible.

4 Hairdresser cleansmy hair before she cut reporter makesan article for the daily florist cutsthe ends of the flower McDougal Littell , USAGE, ANDMECHANICSBOOK77 Lesson1 What Is a Verb? More PracticeNameDateCHAPTER 4 NumberHelping VerbsMain Verb_____A. Identifying and Replacing VerbsIn each sentence, underline the verb or verb phrase. If the verb is an action verb ,rewrite the sentence with another action verb . If possible, use a more specificverb. If the original verb is a linking verb , simply write Linking. musician plays his guitar for the new the fall, we collect the leaves in our veterinarian appears competent and painter did stir the paints coach knows the game of football very interior decorator recommended a new coat of Using VerbsOn each line, write the action verb from the list below that makes sense in thesentence and paragraph.

5 Be sure to use the correct form of the verb . Underlineevery linking studyto tellto calculateto helpto likeOur class visited the Career Center today. It is interesting. The counselors_____us about the job opportunities available. For example, as a social worker, we could _____all the children who are lessfortunate. Jennifer _____the ocean and its marine life. So, shemight _____the ocean life as a marine biologist. For me, the job ofan accountant seems appealing. I can _____answers to complicatedmath problems very easily. College degrees are necessary now for McDougal Littell , USAGE, ANDMECHANICSBOOKL esson1 What Is a Verb? ApplicationNameDateCHAPTER 4