Parts of Speech Verbs They either show action

Parts of Speech

Verbs • They either show action or link a subject to the rest of the sentence

Action Verbs • Most often show physical action such as talked, freezes, jump, arrives, and threw • Can also show mental action (i. e. remember, considered, thinks, realizes, and learns)

Example Action Verbs • Nearly 10% of Americans dress their pets in Halloween costumes • Nearly 90% of Americans consider pets in Halloween costumes ridiculous

Linking Verbs • Link the subject to a noun, pronoun, or an adjective that it describes it. • The most common linking verbs are the forms of “be, ” which are: am, is, was, were, and been

Linking Verb Examples • Jody seems fair. • Debbie appears a bit stressed with paperwork. • Zach is a good juggler.

Tricky Linking Verbs • Smells • The coach smells funny (linking verb) (telling something about the subject) • The coach smells the stinky student (action verb)

Tricky Linking Verb • The cashmere feels soft (Linking verb) • I feel the glass gently so I don’t cut myself (action verb)

Tricky linking Verbs • Looks • Taste

Helping Verbs • Sometimes a verb needs the help of one or more other verbs to precisely express the meaning intended.

Helping Verbs • • Have, has, had Do, does, did Shall, should Will, would May, might Can, could Must Ought

Helping Verb • • • Be, am, is, are, was, were, been If linking with gerund form (-ing) If linking with past participle (-ed) Examples: I am dancing We were escorted out of the concert

***Gerund Form*** A verb ending in ing cannot stand alone! It is not a complete verb alone. Wrong: I running Right: I am running Wrong: Escaping from the dreary classroom Right: Escaping from the dreary classroom, I found freedom. • Right: I am escaping from the dreary classroom • • •

Complete Verbs • The complete verb, including helping verbs, might consist of two, three, or four words

Example of Complete verbs • Sarah has not been working at TMP very long. • All gondolas in Venice, Italy, must be painted black, unless they belong to high government officials.