English 8: VERBS

Name; _________________________ A verb is a word that tells of an action or a state of being.

Action Verbs Some verbs tell of an action. Whether you can see the action or not, an action verb tells that something is happening, has happened, or will happen. I watched the parade. We competed in the tournament.

Exercise 1: Find the subject and action verb in each sentence. Then write them on the lines. . subject verb Example: People made vinegar thousands of years ago. People_______ made_____ 1. Ancient Babylonians cooked with it. 2. Roman legionnaires used it as a beverage. _______________ _______________

3. The first great doctor, Hippocrates, prescribed it. _______________ 4. Campers treat rashes and bites with it. 5. It also helps with sunburn and bruises. _______________ _______________

6. It removes stains and odors from pots and pans. _______________ 7. It absorbs the smell of fresh paint. 8. It keeps windshields free of frost. 9. It takes stubborn decals off glass and paint. 10. Vinegar also cleans windows well. _______________ _______________ _______________ _______________

Linking Verbs (state of being verbs) A linking verb links the subject of the sentence with another word (a linking verb complement - LVC) that renames or describes the subject. Forms of be are often used as linking verbs. Exercise 2: In each sentence, the subject and linking verb complement are underlined for you. Write the linking verb on the line to the right. Example: Live oak trees are green year round. are________________ 1. Mr. Brown is my science teacher.

2. Epcot is full of fantastic attractions. 3. Sponges are live animals. 4. Crossword puzzles are my favorite indoor sport. 5. That dog must be very old by now. 6. Could this rumor be true? 7. The comedienne might have been shorter. 8. Those tennis shoes are too small. Exercise 3: Underline the subject and the linking verb complement. Then write the linking verb on the line. Example: The sky is always darkest before the dawn. is_____________ 1. Maria is the healthiest one in the family. 2. Those trees are pines. 3. This amount will be enough for me. 4. She has been champion three years in a row! 5. Should Alan have been the speaker? 6. Last nights sunset was bright red. 7. The bus we took was late. 8. The Simpsons is my favorite show. Additional Linking Verbs The following words may be used as linking verbs:
feel look sound smell taste appear become grow remain seem stay turn

Exercise 4: In each sentence, the subject and linking verb complement are underlined for you. Write the linking verb on the line to the right. Example: That caterpillar became a butterfly. became________

1. Your compact discs sound better. 2. This watermelon tastes sweeter today. 3. This rose smells spicy. 4. After the test, Sophie felt happier. 5. The North Star seems dimmer tonight.

Exercise 5: Underline the subject and the linking verb complement. Then write the linking verb on the line. Example: The other team grew stronger in the second half. grew________ 1. The air seems much cooler in the shade. 2. At night, the campfire smelled really good. 3. In October, the evenings turn colder. 4. The owls cry sounded spooky in the middle of the night. 5. You stay very still in this spot for ten minutes. 6. A fresh lime tastes incredibly sour. Linking Verb or Action Verb? Some of the additional linking verbs listed above can also be action verbs! Can you tell which is which? Exercise 6: The verb in each sentence is underlined. Write an L above it if it is a linking verb and an A if its an action verb. Also, if you find a linking verb, draw an arrow connecting the subject to the linking verb complement (LVC). A Example: Karl looked everywhere for his baseball cap. L Jack looked better after his long nights sleep.

1. Now the thunder sounds louder! 2. Helen tasted the pizza cautiously. 3. This Persian cats fur feels very soft. 4. Todays class seemed short. 5. Mexican pepper tastes really spicy! 6. Harry remained after school for a short while. 7. Julia stayed in her room while the television show was on 8. Did you become restless during the last lecture? 9. Suddenly, the sky grew dark. 10. That bell sounded the end of our first class. 11. Paula felt raindrops on her head. 12. The milk turned sour during the night. Helping Verbs Helping verbs are used with a main verb to form a verb phrase. A verb phrase is a main verb plus one or more helping verbs. be have do others Common Helping Verbs am, is, are, was, were, be, being, been has, have, had do, does, did may, might, must, can, could, shall, should, will, would

Exercise 7: Underline the verb phrase in each sentence. Example: My brother has been watching tennis games on TV. 1. Five robins are looking for worms on our lawn. 2. Most elm trees have been killed in this country. 3. Jill was watering plants in the window boxes. 4. Patty and I have been waiting an hour for you. 5. Joe has been listening to music through his headphones. 6. You should have seen the golden carp by the pool. 7. Sally will spot you in the stands by your red scarf.

8. You must be home by nine tonight at the very latest. Exercise 8: Underline the main verb twice and the helping verb(s) once. Example: I am finding many new friends at school this year. 1. I must have been dreaming! 2. The fire had been extinguished quickly. 3. A mud slide can be very dangerous. 4. You must handle this plant carefully. 5. The ice sculpture was melting in the sun. 6. Lenny has been looking for you all day. 7. My cousin Debbie has drawn a picture of the stadium. 8. Henry has been in every school play this year.

** Sometimes, parts of a verb phrase are separated from each other by words that are NOT part of the verb. I do not usually sleep late. Caroline is probably sitting upstairs.

Exercise 9: Underline the main verb twice and the helping verb(s) once. ** Remember: the verb phrase may be split. Example: I havent yet bought a ticket to the football game. 1. Some plants do actually eat insects. 2. How can you identify a maple tree? 3. Frankie had almost stumbled at the start of the race. 4. The clouds havent brought any rain so far. 5. Did you and Ellie walk through the new mall yesterday? 6. Whales do not eat large fish. 7. Amelia was constantly interrupting the rest of us. 8. The black walnut trees wood has become expensive. Verb Tenses Tense is the form a verb takes to show time. Verbs can tell you whether the action is happening now, earlier, or that it will happen in the future. present tense action that is going on now past tense action that took place in the past future tense action that will take place in the future talk talked will talk smile smiled shall smile think thought will think

Exercise 10: In each sentence, underline the verb. On the blank, tell whether the verb is in the present, past, or future tense. Example: Eric went to the library after school. past________ 1. Barbaras father will drive us home. 2. We walk to school every day. 3. When will the parade begin? 4. Ducks and geese fly south in the fall. 5. A committee will plan the graduation dance.

6. The goalie worked the hardest. 7. My pencils always break during a test. 8. The plants wilted from the heat.