Verb Types

Verb Types

Transitive Action

Intransitive Action

Linking

Helping

Transitive Action Verb

• This verb is an action verb that will affect a noun or pronoun in the sentence (a direct object [do]). Ask "what" or "whom" to the verb to find the direct object. Remember, though, it must be an action.

• Pierre sharpened the pencil. (Sharpened what? The pencil [do])

• Pierre asked a question. (Asked what? A question [do])

• Pierre helped the teacher. (Helped whom? The teacher [do])

• The teacher appreciated him. (Appreciated whom? Him [do])

• The teacher is tired. (Don't ask "what/whom" to anything here because "is" is not an action!)

Multiple Select

"Check" all of the transitive action verbs:

Pierre sleeps with a night light. It scares the monsters. The monsters hide in the closet. They would eat Pierre if he did not possess the light.

• Sleeps

• Scares

• Hide

• Eat

• Possess

Multiple Select

"Check" all of the transitive action verbs:

Pierre dislikes the monsters because they are cruel to him. Someday, he will grow bigger than the monsters. For now, he uses his light for safety.

• Dislikes

• Are

• Will

• Grow

• Uses

Multiple Select

"Check" all of the transitive action verbs:

Pierre wakes in the morning. He prepares breakfast for his family. He cooks for them, and they appreciate his help. They are a happy family.

• Wakes

• Prepares

• Cooks

• Appreciate

• Are

Intransitive Action Verb

• This verb will be an action that the subject can do, but it will not affect a noun or pronoun in the sentence (no direct object).

• Pierre graduated in 2021. ("in 2021" tells when, not what/whom)

• Pierre applied for college. ("for college" tells how, not what/whom)

• Pierre went to his dorm. ("to his dorm" tells where, not what/whom)

• Pierre studied every day. ("every day" tells how often)

• Pierre will be tired soon. (No intransitive verb here because neither "will" nor "be" are actions.)

Multiple Select

"Check" all of the intransitive action verbs:

Pierre rested his eyes before he read in the library. He enjoys reading, but reading can be exhausting. He sat in a comfortable chair.

• Rested

• Read

• Enjoys

• Be

• Sat

Multiple Select

"Check" all of the intransitive action verbs:

In his story, a brave knight travels around the world. She destroys monsters and flexes to show off. She is a powerful warrior who trains every morning, noon, and night.

• Travels

• Destroys

• Flexes

• Is

• Trains

Multiple Select

"Check" all of the intransitive action verbs:

This knight helps whenever she finds the time. Her adoring fans applaud each time she visits. They offer her gold, but she refuses as it goes against her code.

• Helps

• Finds

• Applaud

• Visits

• Offer

Linking Verb

• This verb will "link" a description or identity back to the subject. Descriptions are called predicate adjectives, and identities are called predicate nominatives.

• To be: Am Is Are Was Were Be Being Been

• Sensory Verbs: Tastes, Smells, Looks, Feels, Sounds, Appears, etc.

• Other: Grew, Turned, (anything that indicates change)

• Always Linking: Seem/Seems & Become/Becomes/Becoming

Linking Verb

• This verb will "link" a description or identity back to the subject. Descriptions are called predicate adjectives (PA), and identities are called predicate nominatives (PN).

• To Be: Pierre was tired (PA). Pierre is a student (PN).

• Sensory: Pierre smells pleasant (PA). Pierre's hair feels soft (PA).

• Other: Pierre's milk turned sour (PA). Pierre's flowers grew tall (PA).

• Always: Pierre seemed excited (PA). Pierre became a teacher (PN).

Multiple Select

"Check" all of the linking verbs:

Pierre prepared to run a marathon. This would be a challenging task. However, he felt ready for it! While working out, his muscles grew bigger and stronger! He will achieve his goal.

• Prepared

• Be

• Felt

• Grew

• Will

Multiple Select

"Check" all of the predicate adjectives:

Pierre prepared to run a marathon. This would be a challenging task. However, he felt ready for it! While working out, his muscles grew bigger and stronger! He will achieve his goal.

• To Run

• Challenging

• Ready

• Bigger / Stronger

• Goal

Multiple Select

"Check" all of the linking verbs:

His biggest competition is his best friend. She also trained for several months. She had always been a strong competitor. She had ran countless marathons before this one. They are both excited.

• Is

• Trained

• Been

• Ran

• Are

Multiple Select

"Check" all of the predicate nominatives:

His biggest competition is his best friend. She also trained for several months. She had always been a strong competitor. She had ran countless marathons before this one. They are both excited.

• Friend

• Months

• Competitor

• Marathons

• Excited

Helping Verb

• This verb will "help" the other verb types. They are always eventually followed by another verb or several verbs.

• To Do: Do / Did / Does

• To Have: Have / Has / Had

• To Be: Am / Is / Are / Was / Were / Be / Being / Been

• Modals: Would / Could / Should / Must / Might / May / Can / Will / Shall / Ought to (These are the only verbs that are always helping)

Helping Verbs

• Helping verbs "help" another verb or verbs in the sentence.

• Pierre did complete his work.

• Pierre had supported his classmates.

• Pierre was checking his notes.

• Pierre would be successful.

• Pierre will have been a student for years.

• Pierre had quickly grown intelligent.

Multiple Select

"Check" all of the helping verbs:

Pierre would help his mother. She had been wanting to plant a rose garden.

• Would

• Help

• Had

• Been

• Wanting

Multiple Select

"Check" all of the helping verbs:

He purchased a few flowers. He is planning on buying a few more. The seeds might not grow, but he will try his best.

• Purchased

• Is

• Planning

• Might

• Try

Multiple Select

"Check" all of the helping verbs:

His mother and he did plant the garden, and now they must wait for results. Hopefully the flowers can grow big and strong.

• Did

• Plant

• Must

• Wait

• Can

Verb Types

• Transitive Action Verb (An action with a DO)

• Intransitive Action Verb (An action without a DO)

• Linking Verb (Links descriptions and identities back to a subject)

• Helping Verb (Goes before other verbs and "helps" them)

Multiple Select

Select the verb types that are present in the following:

Pierre is a kid who worked hard. His successes have impressed his family.

• Transitive Action Verb

• Intransitive Action Verb

• Linking Verb

• Helping Verb

Multiple Select

Select the verb types that are present in the following:

Pierre will be a teacher soon. He is excited about this job opportunity.

• Transitive Action Verb

• Intransitive Action Verb

• Linking Verb

• Helping Verb

Multiple Select

Select the verb types that are present in the following:

A school hired him right away. Now, he can prepare for his upcoming new life as a teacher.

• Transitive Action Verb

• Intransitive Action Verb

• Linking Verb

• Helping Verb

Multiple Select

Select the verb types that are present in the following:

Pierre bought pencils for his classroom. He also rented a comfortable desk chair. Lastly, he borrowed a few textbooks from his old teachers.

• Transitive Action Verb

• Intransitive Action Verb

• Linking Verb

• Helping Verb

Multiple Select

Select the verb types that are present in the following:

His first day on the job was great! The students appeared friendly, and his coworkers were really nice, too! He loved his first day!

• Transitive Action Verb

• Intransitive Action Verb

• Linking Verb

• Helping Verb

Multiple Select

Select the verb types that are present in the following:

His first assignment will be available on GradeCam today. The students will submit their work on time.

• Transitive Action Verb

• Intransitive Action Verb

• Linking Verb

• Helping Verb

Multiple Select

Select the verb types that are present in the following:

The first assignment felt challenging, but the kids performed well. Their scores impressed the principal, who will be sure to congratulate Pierre later today.

• Transitive Action Verb

• Intransitive Action Verb

• Linking Verb

• Helping Verb

Multiple Select

Select the verb types that are present in the following:

You should ask questions if this topic confuses you still. Thank you!

• Transitive Action Verb

• Intransitive Action Verb

• Linking Verb

• Helping Verb

Verb Types

• Transitive Action Verb (An action with a DO)

• Intransitive Action Verb (An action without a DO)

• Linking Verb (Links descriptions and identities back to a subject)

• Helping Verb (Goes before other verbs and "helps" them)