Verbs verbsverbs

Verbs, Verbs, VerbsVerbs, Verbs, VerbsAction Verbs

Linking Verbs

(also: auxiliary, transitive, intransitive)

We’re not types

of verbs, but

we’re related to

them!

Two, 2, dos, deux, zwei, ni, , Two, 2, dos, deux, zwei, ni, ,

action

linking

There are ONLY two kinds of verbs on the planet. They are:

(tutu)

All real verbs are either action or linking. There are other “verby” things (auxiliary/helping verbs, verbals), but they are not true verbs. We will discuss these later.

Action VerbsAction Verbs


express either mental or physical activity

The dogs barked all day.

He thought about the day.


may be transitive or intransitive

(more on this later – just note it for now)

Linking VerbsLinking Verbs


express a state of being

connect (or link) the subject to a word or word group that identifies or describes the subject

My teacher is cranky.


never have objects

ALWAYS intransitive

(more on this later – just note it for now)

Action or Linking Verb?Action or Linking Verb?We celebrated the Chinese New

Year yesterday.The holiday is usually in February.

We celebrated the Chinese New Year yesterday.

The holiday is usually in February.

action

linking

Action or Linking Verb?Action or Linking Verb?John looked tired.John looked through the binoculars.

John looked tired.John looked through the binoculars.

action

linking

Action or Linking Verb?Action or Linking Verb?Remain in your seats until the end of

class.Remain calm.

Remain in your seats until the end of class.

Remain calm.

action

linking

Handy Tip for Linking VerbsHandy Tip for Linking Verbs

Linking verbs are like the equal signs of language. (=)

Any verb that can be replaced with is, am, are, be, become, or becomes to create a sentence with nearly the same meaning is a linking verb.

Action or Linking Verb? Your Turn!Action or Linking Verb? Your Turn!

Any verb that can be replaced with is, am, are, be, become, or becomes to create a sentence with nearly the same meaning is a linking verb.

The sky looks blue.I walked home.Our teacher seemed crazy.

Auxiliary/Helping “Verbs”Auxiliary/Helping “Verbs”“auxiliary” just means “helping”

Helping verbs and linking verbs are the same words…if they have an action verb buddy they are helping verbs…if they are by themselves, they are

linking verbs.

WARNING: Auxiliary verbs do not function as verbs. They HELP the main verb.

Auxiliary/Helping VerbsAuxiliary/Helping Verbs

beamisarewaswere

(sing to the tune of “Jingle Bells” for a handy mnemonic)

beenbeinghashavehad

dodiddoescancouldshall

willwouldshouldmaymightmust

Auxiliary/Auxiliary/HelpHelping Verbsing Verbs

help the main verb express action or a state of being

can speakmay behas been namedshould have been caught

Auxiliary Verbs Auxiliary Verbs Verb Phrase Verb Phrase

A verb phrase has one main verb and one or more auxiliary verbs

**verb phrase=hv+avMany people in Africa can speak more

than one language.The packages may be at 401 Maple

Street.

Helping Verb or Linking Verb?Helping Verb or Linking Verb?

I am a teacher.I am writing a letter.

We are hungry.The girls are playing ball.

The highlighted words can function as main verbs or auxiliary verbs. Can you tell which job each is doing?

HelpingHelping Verb or Verb or LinkingLinking Verb? Your Turn! Verb? Your Turn!

was does have I was a track star. I was running quickly. She does the dishes. She does hear you. They have influenza. They have been cured.

Helping Verb=Participle Tense

I am talking on the phone. Present participle

I have been in class. Past Participle

I will go home. future

Handy Tip for Verb PhrasesHandy Tip for Verb Phrases

Sometimes a verb phrase is interrupted by another part of speech, like an adverb. In a question, the subject often interrupts the verb phrase.

Our school has always held a victory celebration when our team wins.

Did you hear Jamie Foxx’s speech?

Transitive and IntransitiveTransitive and IntransitiveTransitive and Intransitive

It’s all about transfer of action to an object.

Handy TipHandy TipSince transitive/intransitive verbs

deal with whether or not action passes from the subject to an object, always start with labeling always start with labeling the subject and verb in the the subject and verb in the sentencesentence.

Transitive VerbsTransitive Verbsexpress an action directed toward a person, a

place, a thing, or an idea (a.k.a., nouns)

The action passes from the doer (the subject) to the receiver of the action.

The words that receive the action of TVtransitive verbs need direct objects, direct

objects are always nouns

Transitive verbs can only be action verbs or verb phrases (hv+av). Linking verbs are NEVER transitive.

Transitive Verbs: ExamplesTransitive Verbs: Examples

Derrick greeted the visitors.Derrick greeted whom? The action (greeted)

passes from the subject (Derrick) to the object (visitors).

When will Felicia paint her room?Felicia will paint what? The action (will paint)

passes from the subject (Felicia) to the object (room).

SS avav

SS avavaux. vaux. v

Intransitive VerbsIntransitive Verbs

express action or tell something about the subject without the action passing to a receiver, or object

Intransitive verbs may be either action, verb phrases (hv+av), or linking verbs.

Intransitive Verbs: ExamplesIntransitive Verbs: Examples

The train stopped.The train stopped what? There is nothing in the

sentence to say what the train stopped (i.e., there is no object). There is no transfer of action.

Last night we ate on the patio.We ate what? There is nothing in the sentence

to say what we ate (i.e., there is no object). We did not eat some “on the patio.” This is a prepositional phrase telling where we ate, not what. There is no transfer of action.

SS avav

SS avav

Transitive or Intransitive? Your Turn!Transitive or Intransitive? Your Turn!

The children play checkers.The children play quietly.

Mr. Lopez is baking bread.Mr. Lopez is baking this afternoon.

Have Roland and Tracy left their coats?Have Roland and Tracy left yet?

1) Label subject & verb. 2) Is the verb action or linking? If linking, it 1) Label subject & verb. 2) Is the verb action or linking? If linking, it cannot be transitive. If action, go on to step 3. 3) Say, “Subject, verb cannot be transitive. If action, go on to step 3. 3) Say, “Subject, verb WHAT?” If there is a noun that WHAT?” If there is a noun that receives the actionreceives the action, it is transitive., it is transitive.


The children play checkers.The children play WHAT?

“Checkers” is a noun telling what they play, so “play” is transitive.

The children play quietly.The children play WHAT? “Quietly”

is not a noun and it is not what they play (it is how they play), so “play” is intransitive.

SS avav

SS avav


Mr. Lopez is baking bread.Mr. Lopez is baking WHAT? “Bread”

is a noun and it tells what he is baking, so “is baking” is transitive.

Mr. Lopez is baking this afternoon.Mr. Lopez is baking WHAT? “This

afternoon” is not what Mr. Lopez is baking (it tells when), so “is baking” is intransitive.

SS avav

SS avavaux. vaux. v


Have Roland and Tracy left their coats?Roland and Tracy have left WHAT?

“Coats” is a noun and it tells what they left, so “have left” is transitive.

Have Roland and Tracy left yet?Roland and Tracy have left WHAT?

“Yet” is not what they left (it tells when), so “have left” is intransitive.

SS avavSSaux. vaux. v

SS avavSSaux. vaux. v

Transitive or Intransitive? Your Turn!Transitive or Intransitive? Your Turn!Label the subjects and verbs in these sentences.

Tell whether the verbs are transitive or intransitive.

Melanie ate a baked potato.

Hector and Tom are reading.

They painted the house.

Did you carry his suitcase?

My plant grows quickly.

Verbs verbsverbs

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