Types of Verbs Parts of Speech Review

Types of Verbs

A verb is a word that shows action or links a subject to another word in a sentence.

There are 3 types of verbs:

Action

Linking

Helping

Types of Verbs

Action Verb - tells what the subject is doing

ran

hide

walk

swim

told

Types of Verbs

Linking Verb – connects or links a subject to a noun or an adjective in the predicate

Common linking verbs:

is are was were being been am

Mark is a football player. subject noun

Types of Verbs

Verbs such as smell, look, taste, feel, remain, turn, appear, become, sound, seem, grow, stay can also be linking verbs.

How do you know if it is linking or action? You need to ask yourself if the verb is linking the subject to a noun or adjective in the predicate.

Types of Verbs

Helping Verb – helps the main verb express tense and voice – Helping verbs need an action verb with them.

Susie will go to the store. helping

action

Types of Verbs

Common helping verbs:

shall will should would could must might can may have

had has do did is are was were am being been

Types of Verbs

How do you know if it is a helping verb or a linking verb?

If there is an action verb in the clause also, it is a helping verb. If you do not see any other kind of verb, it is a linking verb.

Verb Tense

Verbs are either past, present or future tense. In writing, you should always use the same tense for your verbs within your paragraph or essay.

What is the verb tense for each sentence?

Michael had played the piano for an hour.

past tense

Cheryl will walk home after school.

future tense

Susie is a cheerleader.

present tense

Subject – Verb Agreement

The subject and verb in a clause should always agree in number.

Joey walks. (singular subject/singular verb)

Joey and Maggie walk. (plural subject/plural verb)

She runs. (singular subject/singular verb)

They run. (plural subject/plural verb)