Verb or Not?

Verb or Not?

​Verbs...

show what the subject of a sentence is doing.

​OR tell the state of being and tense

​

EXAMPLES:

• ​George buys ice cream every week.

• ​Ice cream is a special treat for most people.

• ​Sheila is eating a chocolate & vanilla swirl cone.

Multiple Choice

A local craft shop buys the leaves for craft classes.

• shop

• buys

• classes

• leaves

• craft

Multiple Select

Marcia was doing her homework after school.

• was

• school

• after

• doing

• homework

Multiple Choice

Ben and Jerry were the founders of an ice cream company.

• and

• were

• founders

• company

• an

​Some words...

​look like verbs but don't act like verbs. These are called verbals.

​

​While digging in her backyard, Annie found a dinosaur fossil.

​

​*In this sentence, "found" is a verb because it is the main action in the sentence. "Digging" is part of a modifier describing Annie; therefore, it's a verbal.

​

TIP: There can be more than one verb in a sentence.

​Gerunds...

​are a type of verbal.

​Gerunds are usually formed by adding an -ing to the end of a verb.

​Gerunds act like nouns (usually an activity)

​

​EXAMPLES:

​Hiking is Greg's favorite after-school activity.

​Glenda loves swimming laps at the pool.

​

​TIP: you can tell if a word is a gerund if you can replace it with another noun and seeing if the sentence still makes sense. Instead of "Glenda loves swimming," you could say, "Glenda loves cats." This lets you know "swimming" is being used as a noun.

Multiple Choice

Smirking at a teacher who asks you a question is not wise.

• verb

• gerund

Multiple Choice

I have always dreamed of acting in a Broadway play.

• verb

• gerund

Multiple Choice

Maria is baking cookies and cupcakes for the elementary bake sale.

• verb

• gerund

​Participles

• ​are a type of verbal

• usually formed by adding an -ed, -en, or -ing to the end of a verb

• ​act like adjectives - describe nouns in the sentence

​

​EXAMPLES:

• ​Sergio mixed two cups of chopped coconut to the cupcakes.

• ​Rebecca looked out at the shimmering ocean.

​

​TIP: you can tell if a word is a participle by replacing it with an adjective and still make sense. Instead of the "shimmering ocean" you could say "blue ocean." This lets you know that "shimmering" is acting as an adjective.

Multiple Choice

Linda realized that there were no more cookies in the jar.

• verb

• participle

Multiple Choice

Trained elephants perform regularly so they do not become restless.

• verb

• participle

Multiple Choice

The shouting fans waited at the finish line.

• verb

• participle

​Infinitives

• ​are a type of verbal

• ​are usually formed by placing the word "to" in front

• ​can function as a noun, an adjective, or an adverb

​

​EXAMPLES:

​Alana decided to water her tomato plants.

​To build a car made out of candy is Amanda's secret goal in life.

Multiple Choice

There is nothing to see here, folks.

• verb

• infinitive

Multiple Choice

I did not expect to succeed with so little effort.

• verb

• infinitive

Multiple Choice

Our hope for this event was to raise three thousand dollars.

• verb

• infinitive