Proofreading - Recognizing Verbs

Recognizing Verbs

​PROOFREADING LESSON #1

The verb of the sentence tells what the subject DOES or IS. The verb can also describe a state of being.​

​VERBS

A useful way to find the verb(s) is to ​read the sentence aloud three times:

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• the first time, add the word "today" at the beginning of the sentence

• the second time, add "yesterday"

• the third time, add "tomorrow"​

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​Note which words in the sentence have to change each time to make the sentence correct. THOSE ARE YOUR VERBS.

​How to Identify a Verb

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Hiking is my favorite activity.

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• Today, hiking IS my favorite activity.

• Yesterday, hiking WAS my favorite activity.

• Tomorrow, hiking WILL BE my favorite activity.

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Note that "hiking" doesn't change​. Even though it's an action word, "hiking" is NOT the verb in this sentence.

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​For example:

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The main verb of a sentence will not have "to" before it.​

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• Jamal rented a stretch limo to impress his girlfriend.

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In this sentence, "rented" is the main verb, not "impress."​

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​A tip:

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Any verb ending in "-ing" will only be the verb of the sentence if it follows a "to be" verb (e.g., is, am, are, was, were)​

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• Carmen is helping her mother with the grocery shopping.

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In this sentence, "is helping" is the main verb.

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​A tip:

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Open Ended

"Hannah's auto mechanic gives her an estimate for the cost of repairs to her VW."

Which word(s) in this sentence must change if you put "yesterday" or "tomorrow" at the beginning?

Open Ended

"Hannah's auto mechanic gives her an estimate for the cost of repairs to her VW."

Identify the verb(s) in this sentence.

Open Ended

"Hannah stares at the total of the estimate for a full minute."

Which word(s) in this sentence must change if you put "yesterday" or "tomorrow" at the beginning?

Open Ended

"Hannah stares at the total of the estimate for a full minute."

Identify the verb(s) in this sentence.

Open Ended

"Hannah takes a deep breath and asks the mechanic to double-check his math."

Identify the verb(s) in this sentence.

Open Ended

"The amount, $1,346.00, seems high to Hannah."

Identify the verb(s) in this sentence.

Open Ended

"Hannah knows her car needs major work, but this is shocking."

Identify the verb(s) in this sentence.

Open Ended

"She does a little figuring; then she looks at the mec."

Identify the verb(s) in this sentence.

Open Ended

"Hannah drives a loaner car to work, parks it where none of her co-workers can see it, and plans to ask her boss for overtime."

Identify the verb(s) in this sentence.

Multiple Select

The astronauts took pictures of the lunar landscape and collected many rock specimens.

Select the verb(s) of this sentence.

• pictures

• took

• collected

• landscape

Multiple Select

Elijah challenged King Ahab to a contest on Mt. Carmel, and he prayed for a miracle from God.

Select the verb(s) in this sentence.

• contest

• prayed

• miracle

• challenged

Multiple Select

We played our best but did not win.

Select the verb(s) of this sentence.

• played

• best

• did

• win

Multiple Choice

Thanksgiving occurs in November every year.

What is the verb of this sentence?

• Thanksgiving

• occurs

• November

• every year

Multiple Choice

Families gather together on the holiday.

What is the verb in this sentence?

• Families

• together

• holiday

• gather

Multiple Choice

The Thanksgiving meal includes turkey and cranberry sauce.

What is the verb in this sentence?

• meal

• includes

• turkey

• cranberry sauce

Multiple Choice

In fact, the Pilgrims only survived because of the Native Americans.

What is the verb in this sentence?

• In fact

• only

• survived

• because