Grammar 5-A: Verbs

Verbs

Verbs are words used to show action or a state of being.

Today we are recognizing action verbs, transitive and intransitive verbs, linking and helping verbs.

Action verbs

Action verbs tell what the subject is doing.

Multiple Choice

Identify the action verb in the sentence.

Carl pitched the first game.

• Carl

• first

• pitched

• game

Multiple Choice

Identify the action verb in the sentence.

The large vase tipped over.

• large

• tipped

• over

• vase

Multiple Choice

Identify the action verb in the sentence.

Belinda always thinks positively.

• positively

• always

• Belinda

• thinks

Multiple Choice

Identify the action verb in the sentence.

We believed her story

• positively

• always

• Belinda

• thinks

Multiple Choice

Identify the action verb in the sentence.

The Fishers own a canoe.

• Fishers

• own

• The

• canoe

Multiple Choice

Identify the action verb in the sentence.

With a wide grin, Dad placed the huge fish on the table.

• wide

• huge

• placed

• Dad

Open Ended

Write the action verb in the sentence.

Phil dodged the tackle.

Open Ended

Write the action verb in the sentence.

A comet's tail always points away from the sun.

Open Ended

Write the action verb in the sentence.

The swimmer dived from the dock at the end of the lawn into the clear lake.

Open Ended

Write the action verb in the sentence.

Everyone hoped for sunny days.

Open Ended

Write the action verb in the sentence.

Last summer, I visited my grandparents in Idaho for three weeks.

Open Ended

Write the action verb in the sentence.

The telephone rang all morning.

Open Ended

Write the action verb in the sentence.

The sailboat skimmed across the bay.

Open Ended

Write all of the action verbs in the paragraph.

People made vinegar thousands of years ago. Ancient Babylonians cooked with it. The first great doctor, Hippocrates, prescribed it. Roman legionnaires used it as a beverage. Today, campers treat rashes and bites with it. It also helps with sunburn and bruises. Pickle makers use thousands of gallons of it every year. People make vinegar from many kinds of fruits and vegetables. After a shampoo, some people rinse their hair with vinegar and water. People keep vinegar in their kitchens and their workshops. It removes stains and odors from pots and pans. It absorbs the smell of fresh paint. It keeps windshields free of frost. It takes stubborn decals off glass and paint. Vinegar cleans windows well too.

Transitive and Intransitive Verbs

Transitive verbs show action directly towards a person or a thing. It doesn't make sense by itself.

Intransitive verbs show action that is not directed at something. the sentence will still make sense with the verb by itself.

Multiple Select

Choose the correct type of verb in the sentence.

The teacher chose six ushers for the play.

• Transitive

• Intransitive

Multiple Select

Choose the correct type of verb in the sentence.

The ushers dressed neatly.

• Transitive

• Intransitive

Multiple Select

Choose the correct type of verb in the sentence.

The ant crawls at the rate of twelve feet per minute.

• Transitive

• Intransitive

Multiple Select

Choose the correct type of verb in the sentence.

Toni smelled the perfume

• Transitive

• Intransitive

Multiple Select

Choose the correct type of verb in the sentence.

Today Ronnie tasted clams for the first time.

• Transitive

• Intransitive

Multiple Select

Choose the correct type of verb in the sentence.

At the store, Mom bought milk and eggs.

• Transitive

• Intransitive

Multiple Select

Choose the correct type of verb in the sentence.

Five minutes later, Paul remembered the answer.

• Transitive

• Intransitive

Multiple Select

Choose the correct type of verb in the sentence.

Thomas Edison invented waxed paper.

• Transitive

• Intransitive

Multiple Select

Choose the correct type of verb in the sentence.

We ate before the play.

• Transitive

• Intransitive

Multiple Select

Choose the correct type of verb in the sentence.

Camels carry riders across the desert.

• Transitive

• Intransitive

Multiple Select

Choose the correct type of verb in the sentence.

The seals played in the surf.

• Transitive

• Intransitive

Multiple Select

Choose the correct type of verb in the sentence.

Last week, we hiked the steepest trail.

• Transitive

• Intransitive

Multiple Select

Choose the correct type of verb in the sentence.

The couple strolled along the busy street.

• Transitive

• Intransitive

Multiple Select

Choose the correct type of verb in the sentence.

Magellan began his trip around the world in 1519.

• Transitive

• Intransitive

Multiple Select

Choose the correct type of verb in the sentence.

I smell smoke!

• Transitive

• Intransitive

Multiple Select

Choose the correct type of verb in the sentence.

Jayden waved to her friend.

• Transitive

• Intransitive

Multiple Select

Choose the correct type of verb in the sentence.

Tony felt the pony's side.

• Transitive

• Intransitive

Multiple Select

Choose the correct type of verb in the sentence.

Benjamin Franklin founded the world's first lending library.

• Transitive

• Intransitive

Linking Verbs

Linking verbs "link" another word that renames or describes the subject.

Multiple Choice

Identify the linking verb in the sentence.

Live oak trees are green year-round

• green

• are

• year

• Live

Multiple Choice

Identify the linking verb in the sentence.

The park is full of fantastic attractions.

• is

• full

• of

• fantastic

Multiple Choice

Identify the linking verb in the sentence.

Her photographs were beautiful.

• her

• photographs

• were

• beautiful

Multiple Choice

Identify the linking verb in the sentence.

Your voice sounds scratchy.

• your

• voice

• sounds

• scratchy

Multiple Choice

Identify the linking verb in the sentence.

That dog must be very old by now.

• dog

• must be

• be very

• very old

Multiple Choice

Identify the linking verb in the sentence.

The small children grew restless during the performance.

• small

• restless

• during

• grew

Open Ended

Write the linking verb in each sentence.

Could this rumor be true?

Open Ended

Write the linking verb in each sentence.

The comedian might have been funnier.

Open Ended

Write the linking verb in each sentence.

Those tennis shoes were too small.

Open Ended

Write the linking verb in each sentence.

Our center is the tallest person in school.

Open Ended

Write the linking verb in each sentence.

It was too early for ripe blackberries.

Open Ended

Write the linking verb in each sentence.

Those trees are pines.

Open Ended

Write the linking verb in each sentence.

This amount will be enough for me.

Helping Verbs

Helping verbs combine with a main verb to form a verb phrase. A verb phrase is a main verb and one or more helping verbs.

Multiple Choice

Identify the verb phrase.

My brother has been watching tennis games on t.v.

• has

• has been watching

• been watching

• watching tennis

Multiple Choice

Identify the verb phrase.

Five robins are looking for worms on our lawn.

• are looking

• are

• looking for

• for worms

Multiple Choice

Identify the verb phrase.

Many elm trees have been killed in this country.

• trees have

• been

• been killed

• have been killed

Multiple Choice

Identify the verb phrase.

Jill was watering the plants in the window boxes.

• Jill was

• watering the

• was watering

• watching tennis

Multiple Choice

Identify the verb phrase.

Patty and I have been waiting an hour for you.

• have

• have been

• waiting

• have been waiting

Multiple Choice

Identify the verb phrase.

Joe has been listening to music through his headphones.

• through

• has been

• listening to music

• has been listening

Open Ended

Write the verb phrase in the sentence.

You should have seen the golden carp in that pool.

Open Ended

Write the verb phrase in the sentence.

Ginny will spot you by your red scarf.

Open Ended

Write the verb phrase in the sentence.

You must be home by nine tonight at the very latest.

Open Ended

Write the verb phrase in the sentence.

Emily might have gone instead of me.

Open Ended

Write the verb phrase in the sentence.

We would have felt better with smaller dinner portions.

Open Ended

Write the verb phrase in the sentence.

I haven't yet bought a ticket to the football game.