What is a

Verb??
DEFINITION
A word that
expresses an
action or a
state of being
Examples of Verbs
Think of at least ten
examples of words that
express actions or a
state-of-being.
 Can You Find the
Verb?
Find the word that tells you the action in the
following sentences.

• Ian exploded with laughter.

• Tom swatted the fly.

 What We Will Learn
3 MAIN TYPES OF VERBS
1) Action Verbs:
tell what nouns/pronouns DO
2) Linking Verbs:
link a subject w/ info about it
3) Helping Verbs:
help the main verb do its job
Action
Verbs
 ACTION VERBS
What They Do
• An action verb expresses an action and
tells what the subject does.
• Action verbs show either physical or
mental action.

Physical: Anna ran in her cross-county

meet.
Mental: I forgot my teacher’s name.
 Where’s the Action
Verb?
Underline the action verb on your paper as we read
each of the following sentences. Write a “P”
above it if it is physical and a “M” above it if it is
mental.
1) The bride walked down the aisle.
2) The groom smiled at her.
3) The puppy loves his toy.
4) He brought it back to his owner.
5) Egyptians thought highly of their kingdom.
 Answers
1) The bride walked down the aisle. (P)
2) The groom smiled at her. (P)
3) The puppy loves his toy. (M)
4) He brought it back to his owner. (P)
5) Egyptians thought highly of their
kingdom. (M)
 Review
• What is a verb?
A word that expresses an action or
state of being.
• What is the job of an action verb?
To express a physical or mental action.
• Give examples of physical actions.
• Give examples of mental actions.
 Physical or Mental?
Directions:
1) Identify the action verb in the
sentence.
2) State if it is physical or mental.

Are you ready? Let’s go!

 Physical or Mental?
1. Jessica jumped up and down for joy.
2. Ian thought about the answer to the
question.
3. He then raised his hand excitedly.
4. Olivia knows the answer too.
5. Mrs. Hannan forgot to assign
homework.
6. Ms. Shirk loves her students.
Linking
Verbs
LINKING VERBS
• The job: A linking verb links the subject to a
word that either describes the subject or gives the
subject another name. It states that something
“is” or “exists”.
• A verb is a linking verb if: it can replace one of
the verbs of being (am, is, are, was, were) and
make sense.
• Ex: We were nervous. Nancy is an author.
John looked sad. The soup tastes delicious
 WAIT!!!!!
Did you know that linking verbs
have another name? They are
also known as STATE-OF-
BEING verbs!

WOWSERS!
 Common Linking Verbs
The most common linking verbs can be
memorized using the following mnemonic:

Ann Is A Wild, Wonderful, Bouncing Baby Bear.

m s r a e e e e
es r I e
e n n
g
Can you remember what each
word stands for?

Ann Is A Wild,
Wonderful,
Bouncing Baby
Bear.
Less Common Linking Verbs
appear become feel
grow look remain
seem smell sound
stay taste turn
**THESE VERBS CAN BE ACTION OR
LINKING DEPENDING ON HOW THEY
ARE USED. SEE SENTENCES ON
THE NEXT PAGE.
 Action or Linking?
Identify whether the following verbs are used as
action or linking verbs.
1. They sounded the bell for a fire drill.
2. Mom sounded happy about her new job.
3. The judge looked at my science project.
4. Sally Ann looks beautiful in her ballroom
costume.
 Where’s the Linking Verb?
Underline the linking verb on your paper as we
read each of the following sentences.
1. Henry appears nervous.
2. Tanya is the first dancer to perform.
3. Last year, she was last on the program.
4. The stage looks beautiful.
5. Flowers are everywhere.
 Answers
• Henry appears nervous.
• Tanya is the first dancer to perform.
• Last year, she was last on the
program.
• The stage looks beautiful.
• Flowers are everywhere.
Helping
Verbs
 HELPING VERBS
-The job: A helping verb helps a
main verb do its job.
-Without its help, the main verb
doesn’t make any sense.
Ex.
(with helping) Soon it will be time to go
home.
(without helping) Soon it be time
to go home.
 WARNING!!

Sometimes the helping verb might not be

next to the main verb.
One common word that separates
helping verbs is : NOT
Ex. She will not go to the beach today.
Do you think that Johnny likes Felicia?
ANOTHER WARNING!

If you see one of the following verbs without

a main verb, it is NOT a helping verb!
am is
are was
were be being been has have had
do does did
may might must
can could shall should will would
 Let’s Sing!
Sing the verbs to the tune of
“Jingle Bells”
Do, does, did
Have, has, had
May…might…must
Would, could, should
Will, shall, can
These are helping verbs!

SING IT AGAIN!
 Find the Helping Verbs!
Directions: Find the helping verbs in
these sentences.
1. Did you watch Dancing with the Stars
last night?
2. Sam, can your dog do tricks?
3. Natalie’s cat can sleep for an entire
day.
4. Alex was snowboarding last weekend.
 Where Does it Belong?
Add helping verbs to the sentences below:
1) The swamp ______ be frightening after dark.
2) The Swamp Thing _______been coming out
at night lately.
3) No one ________ever seen the Swamp
Thing.
4) No one knows what the Swamp Thing
_______do to you.
 Other things to
keep in mind:
• Not every sentence will have a helping
verb with the main verb.
• When you see an "ing" verb such as
"running", be on the lookout for a
helping verb also.
• Together the main verb and the helping
verb are called a “verb phrase.”
 Continued
A sentence may contain up to three
helping verbs to
assist the main verb.

An example would be: The dog must have been

chasing the cat.
The helping verbs are: must, have, and been; the
main verb is chasing.