Verbs!

for dummies

Action and Linking

Action verbs do as their title says, it shows an action.

Linking verbs are more difficult, they don't show action but they also do as their title implies. They link two parts of a sentence together.

Contractions

Contractions are meant to draw words together by using a verbs and another word. Like cannot would be 'can't'

A  list of contractions: don't, doesn't, didn't, hasn't, haven't, hadn't, isn't, aren't, wasn't, weren't, mustn't, might't, shouldn't, couldn't, wouldn't, won't, can't, I'm, I've, I'd, I'll, you'll, they'll, we'll, he's, he'd, she's, they've, they're, it's, who's, what's, where's, here's, there's.

Auxiliary Verbs

Do, does, did, has, have, had, is, am, are, was, were, be, being, been, may, must, might, should, could, would, shall, will, and can.

Verb Phrases

Sometimes two or more words make up a verb; this is called a very phrase. The last word in a verb phrase is called the main verb; other words are called auxiliary (helping) verbs.

Should go = should + go

Has been given = has been + given

Will be leaving = will be + leaving

In regular verbs, the past and past participle are the same. The past tense is formed by adding ed to the verb.

Bark = barked

What not to do: The dog bark loudly.

Irregular Verbs

Irregular verbs don't add ed to the past tense. Usually the past tense and the past participle form are not the same.

Fall = fell

Spoke = spoken

What no to do: "I've fellen and I can't get up!" Shouted Lucy.

Linking verbs

Linking verbs DO NOT SHOW ACTION

and link the subject with a noun or pronoun; they also link a subject with an adjective.

Examples: Joe was angry today. 

Predicate Nominatives

A predicate nominative is a noun or pronoun that is the same as the subject of the sentence.

Example: My dad is the track coach.

Dad and track coach are the same people.

Predicate Adjectives

A predicate adjective is a describing word that occurs after the verb and goes back to describe the subject of the sentence.

Example: The wagon is red.

Red wagon

Subject verb agreement

If the subject is singular, the verb will be singular. In a regular verb, you add s to the verb when the subject is singular.

Example: Our maid cleans the room.

What no to do: Our maid clean the room.

Verb tenses

Tense means time. Present, past, and future tenses are used with verbs.

Example(s): 

Present tense: I like that dog.

Past tense: I liked that dog.

Future tense: I will like that dog.

Perfect tense

The perfect tense uses the past participle form.

Example:

Present: Have and has

Past: Had

Future: Will have or shall have

Progressive Tense

The progressive tense uses the present participle form.

Example:

Present: Am, is, and are

Past: Was and were

Future: Will be or shall be

Transitive or intransitive?

A transitive verb will have a direct object. An intransitive verb will NOT have a direct object.

Example: The child threw the ball.

The ball is the direct object because it is the one receiving the action.

Indirect objects

An indirect object is a receiver of some direct objects. In order to have an indirect object there needs to be a direct object in the sentence. A sentence containing a direct object does not have to contain an indirect object. Compound indirect object may occur in sentences as well.

Example: A clown gave Teresa(I.O.) and Donald(I.O) balloons(D.O).

Citations

Easy Grammar®: Plus Student Workbook