Identifying Verbs and Verb Phrases

Verbs and Verb Phrases

Goal: I can identify a verb and verb phrases.

Well….. Sort of.

Verb

Definition: a word that shows a state of being or
action

What you have most likely heard is that a verb is
what you DO!

It also can link your subject to something being
described.

Multiple Choice

Identify the verb in the sentence: Billy jumped over the fence.

• Billy

• jumped

• over

• fence

Multiple Choice

What is the verb? My sister and I ate cheeseburgers for breakfast.

• ate

• I

• cheeseburgers

• breakfast

• for

Multiple Choice

What is the verb? Justin and Matt are my best friends.

• Matt

• my

• are

• best

Multiple Choice

What is the verb? Ariel sang a song about her cool collection.

• sang

• song

• Ariel

• about

Multiple Choice

What is the verb? Terrance wrote a book about a boat.

• Terrance

• a book

• wrote

• wrote a

Multiple Choice

What is the verb? Lincoln was our 16th President.

• Lincoln

• 16th

• was

• our

Verb Phrase

A little math for you…

Helping Verb(s) + Main Verb = Verb Phrase

Helping Verbs:

be, am, is, are, was,
were, been, have, has,
had, should, would,
could, shall, will, might,
must, may, can, do, did,
does

Main Verb:

The verb that is actually

telling something. It
comes last in the verb

phrase.

Examples

●Columbus did not discover a route to the Far East.

○What is an action word?

■DISCOVER

○Do you have any other verbs that might be helping?

■DID

○So your verb is… DID DISCOVER.

●Columbus explored the West Indies.

○What is an action word?

■EXPLORED

○Do you have any other verbs that might be helping?

■NOPE!

○So your verb is… EXPLORED

Remember: Mrs.
Doenges always
says that NOT is
NEVER EVER
EVER a verb.

Multiple Choice

What is the verb/verb phrase? Cindy must have been watching the same show.

• watching

• have been watching

• been watching

• must have been watching

Multiple Choice

Select the verb phrase for the following sentence:

"I may not have had a birthday party last year."

• may not have

• may not have had

• may had

• may have had

Multiple Choice

Select the verb phrase for the following sentence:

"I am feeling annoyed by that marker clicking!"

• am feeling annoyed

• am feeling

• am feeling annoyed by

• am feeling annoyed by that

Multiple Choice

Select the verb phrase from the following sentence:

"Wilson and I may actually come to parent night tonight."

• Wilson and I

• may actually come

• may come

• may actually come to

Multiple Choice

Select the verb phrase from the following sentence:

"The hyper giraffe was not thinking when he lept the fence."

• was thinking

• was not thinking

• lept the fence

• when he lept

Helping Verbs

There are 22 (sometimes people say 23).

These verbs HELP a main verb in the sentence.

They are: be, am, is, are, was, were, been, have, has, had, should, would, could,
shall, will, might, must, may, can, do, did, does, (and some say being)

Here’s a song… Helping Verb Song

Action Verbs

Definition: An action verb expresses either physical or mental activity.

This means it could be THINK or DO.

These verbs are probably the easiest. We understand a word that shows an
action.

Here’s the School House Rock Video about Verbs

Multiple Choice

They are laughing. What is the helping verb?

• Laughing

• They

• Are

Multiple Choice

Sometimes I can eat a lot of pizza. Which is the helping verb?

• Pizza

• Can

• Eat

Multiple Choice

By Christmas we will be on vacation. Which is the helping verb?

• Will

• Christmas

• Vacation

Multiple Choice

I have to study for my test. Which is the helping verb?

• Test

• Have

• Study

Multiple Choice

They are enjoying in the pool. Which is the helping verb?

• Having

• Pool

• Are

Linking Verbs

Definition: Links the subject of a sentence with a subject complement.

Most common: be, am, is, are, been, was, were

Some other options (but not all!): appear, become, continue, feel, grow, look,
remain, seem, smell, sound, taste

Multiple Choice

Her brothers are the sloppiest boys in the class.

• the

• brothers

• Her

• are

Multiple Choice

I am the most prepared member of the group.

• am

• I am

• the

• most prepared

Multiple Choice

Mr. Applegate was my favorite coach.

• Mr. Applegate

• was

• my

• favorite

Multiple Choice

She is the hardest worker in the class.

• She

• the

• is

• worker

Multiple Choice

She was best player in the history of the school.

• in

• She

• best player

• was

Some of those verbs sound like action verbs…. How
do I tell the difference?

Mrs. Doenges’ super special hint-- READY????

If you can replace the verb (or even verb phrase) with one of these options:

IS or AM or ARE

Then the verb (or verb phrase) is a linking verb.

Linking verb song here

Next page has my example….

Multiple Choice

Walk, run, and jog are examples of ____

• Helping Verb

• Linking Verb

• Action Verb

Multiple Choice

What is the underline word?

The farmers are producing more vegetables and fruits this season.

• Helping Verb

• Linking Verb

• Action Verb

Multiple Choice

What is the underline word?

Peridot is increasing the number of books she will read.

• Helping Verb

• Linking Verb

• Action Verb

Multiple Choice

What is the underline word?

I am gorgeous and kind.

• Helping Verb

• Linking Verb

• Action Verb

Multiple Choice

What is the underline word?

She was unapproachable before.

Now, she is helpful and friendly to everyone.

• Helping Verb

• Linking Verb

• Action Verb

Multiple Choice

What is the underline word?

The apples were decomposing already when I craved for it.

• Helping Verb

• Linking Verb

• Action Verb

Multiple Choice

What is the underline word?

The NCR is the smallest region of the Philippines.

• Helping Verb

• Linking Verb

• Action Verb

Mrs. D’s example

People felt excited about the possibility of space travel.

Step 1: Find the verb

FELT

Step 2: Action or Linking? Can I replace it with one of the words (am, is, or are)?

People ARE excited about the possibility of space travel.

Step 3: Does that sentence mean the same thing?

YES!

Answer: Felt is being used as a linking verb in this sentence.

Why did she
say “in this
sentence”?

Multiple Choice

Decide if the underlined verb is an action or linking verb.

Maria felt the straps to make sure they were fastened correctly.

• Action Verb

• Linking Verb

Multiple Choice

Decide if the underlined verb is an action or linking verb.

I felt angry after my sister dropped the last piece of cake on the floor.

• Action Verb

• Linking Verb

Multiple Choice

Decide if the underlined verb is an action or linking verb.

The guard sounded the alarm when the enemy approached.

• action verb

• linking verb

Multiple Choice

Decide if the underlined verb is an action or linking verb.

His voice sounded strange on the phone.

• action verb

• linking verb

Multiple Choice

The vegetable stew tasted too salty.

• action verb

• linking verb

Multiple Choice

Decide if the underlined verb is an action or linking verb.

Alex tasted his dad's new chili recipe.

• action verb

• linking verb

Multiple Choice

Decide if the underlined verb is an action or linking verb.

The old chest smelled moldy when I opened it.

• action verb

• linking verb

Multiple Choice

Decide if the underlined verb is an action or linking verb.

The dog smelled my dirty clothes.

• action verb

• linking verb

Multiple Choice

Decide if the underlined verb is an action or linking verb.

I looked across the fields to watch the hunters come home.

• action verb

• linking verb

Video

Here’s the School House Rock Video…

School House Rock Verb Video

Sometimes we call the verb a predicate. The
verb starts the predicate. Here’s another
School House Rock Video about Mr. Morton.

School House Rock Mr. Morton video

Multiple Choice

Decide if the underlined verb is an action or linking verb.

My sister looked pretty when she left for the dance.

• action verb

• linking verb

What now?

Then do these two google forms:

Verbs #1: Find the Verb

Verbs #2: Find the verb phrase

If you get it, go and do something else
educational. Like go verb somewhere…
be...run… exist.

If you need more help, see Mrs. Doenges
tomorrow.