Verbs 4:Grammar Basics

Which sentence contains an action verb?

Some Romans thought very highly of their emperor.

I would certainly have voted for Abraham Lincoln. What is the main verb in the verb phrase?

voted

Caesar was proud about the victory. What is the linking verb in the sentence?

was

Which highlighted word in the passage from "We'll Never Conquer Space" by Arthur C. Clarkeis an intransitive verb?

was

Always Transitive

A stone wall encloses the village. (Village is the object.)

Key Concept Transitive and Intransitive Verbs

A verb is transitive if it directs action toward someone or something named in the same sentence. A verb is intransitive if it does not direct action toward someone or something named in the same sentence.

Key Concept V. Phrases

A verb phrase is a verb with one, two, or three helping verbs before it. Helping verbs, also known as auxiliary verbs or auxiliaries, add meaning to other verbs.

Transitive and Intransitive Verbs

All verbs can be described as either transitive or intransitive, depending on whether they transfer action to another word in a sentence. The word toward which a transitive verb directs its action is called the object of the verb. You can determine whether a verb has an object and is thus transitive by asking Whom? or What? after the verb. Intransitive verbs never have objects. With intransitive verbs, no action is done to something; it is just done. Nothing receives it. Linking verbs, which do not express action, are always intransitive. Most action verbs, however, can be either transitive or intransitive, depending on their use in a sentence. Some are either always transitive or always intransitive.

Transitive Example

He wrote a proclamation. (Wrote what? Answer: proclamation.) The general questioned the soldier.(Questioned whom? Answer: soldier.)

Helping Verbs

Helps the main verb express an action or a state of being. Examples: have (laughed), been (doing), were (lost)

Which underlined verb is a linking verb?

Many soldiers stayed loyal to their defeated general.

Which sentence has an intransitive verb?

Many soldiers volunteered freely.

Forms of Be

Search Results Featured snippet from the web The verb be is irregular. It has eight different forms: be, am, is, are, was, were, being, been. The present simple and past simple tenses make more changes than those of other verbs.

Misc. Linking Verbs

Some of the other linking verbs are as follows:appear, come, feel, grow, remain, seem, smell,sound, stay, taste, and turn.

Intransitive Example

The army marched south.(Marched what? No answer.) He fights for his king.(Fights what? Answer: not mentioned.)

Interrupted Verb Phrases

They will probably not institute a new law.

Transitions between linking and action verbs

To determine the function of such a verb, insert am, are, or is in its place. If the resulting sentence makes sense while linking two words, then the verb is serving as a linking verb.

Verb Phrases

When a verb consists of more than one word, it is called a verb phrase. Any of the forms of the verb be can be used as helping verbs, as can these words.

Would you meet me for a debate on the new law? What is the verb phrase in the question?

Would meet

The enemy attacked the headquarters. What is the action verb in the sentence?

attacked

Key Concept L. Verb

connects its subject with a word generally found near the end of the sentence and identifies, renames, or describes the subject.

Our senator could have supported the new law. Identify all of the helping verbs in the sentence.

could, have

Which group of words in the excerpt from Beowulf translated by Burton Raffel contains an interrupted verb phrase?

cousin had given him

Julius Caesar ____ a capable but ruthless leader. Which answer choice completes the sentence by using an action verb?

defeated

Helping Verbs Other Than Be

do, have, shall, may, does, has, should, might, did, had, must

Action Verbs

express either physical or mental action—that is, what someone or something does, did, or will do.

Which highlighted word in the passage from The Tragedy of Macbeth by William Shakespeare is an action verb?

greet

Read the sentence. The soldiers pushed _____. Which sentence ending would make the verb pushed intransitive?

long and hard

Linking Verbs

serve a more passive function, expressing a condition. Verbs used as linking verbs may also be used simply to show that something does exist. I feel ill. (Feel is a linking verb.) I feel the rough sand between my fingers. (Feel is an action verb.)

The summer wind smelled fresh, and the Romans prepared for battle. The soldiers marched in columns and turned the last corner. Which verb is the linking verb in the sentences?

smelled

What is the function of a transitive verb?

to direct action toward an object in the sentence

Alexander the Great built the city of Alexandria in Egypt. What kind of verb is the word built?

transitive verb

We will be reading Shakespeare's Julius Caesar this spring. Identify the verb phrase in the sentence.

will be reading

Key Concept A. Verb

An action verb tells what action someone or something is performing.

Transitive or Intransitive

The commander exercised his authority. (Authority is the object.) He exercises before battle. (Exercises has no object.)

Single Verb

The nation instituted a new law.

Verb Phrases 1

The nation will institute a new law. The nation should have instituted a new law. A new law might have been instituted by the nation.

Our ideas should have been heard before the vote. Which is an accurate description of the underlined words?

They are helping verbs.

Always Intransitive

They cringed in fear. (Cringed cannot take an object.)

The orator spoke _____. Which sentence ending would make the verb spoke a transitive verb?

the truth