Verbs Like the sun verbs are the energy

Verbs 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.

g n. V kin Lin erb s Here are three kinds of verbs you should know: s Ac rb tio Ve Helping verbs

Action Verbs vs. Linking Verbs An 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.

Sentence structures Subject Verb We spent AV They He haven’t + HV+ Adv. AV discussed HV can LV + be The rest of the sentence a day at the beach together. the problem. a

Linking Verbs: • The most commonly used linking verbs are forms of the verb to be: be being am is are was were shall be will be has been have been had been shall have been will have been should be would be can be could be should have been would have been could have been

Subject That The Internet Information about the Linking verb subject sounds wonderful. remains a positive tool. about

Other frequently used linking verbs: appear grow seem get run become look smell go come feel remain sound fall prove make lie keep continue Linking or action? • The wet dog smelled horrible. stay taste turn (out) stand sit

Three kinds of linking verbs. S T A T E state quality with sense of feeling be, seem, appear feel, look, sound, taste, smell in sense of becoming become, grow, get, turn, come, make, prove, turn out, go, run in sense of remaining remain, keep, continue, stay, rest, stand, sit, lie

Linking verbs adj. / n. / past participle go bad, wrong, blind, mad, dead, sour, red, green come true, easy, (all) right, natural, cheap, alive, open, loose, undone turn out cold, green, sour fine, clear prove true, interesting, a success make a good actor, a fine soldier fall ill /sick, asleep, dark, silent run 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 Replace the underlined words with other linking verbs. 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.

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 L 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… 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 noun or a pronoun that names the subject or an adjective that describes the subject.

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.