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Types of verbs review - Printable English Worksheets year 8 - Wayground

Types of verbs review

18 questions

8th - 8th Grade

English

This Grade 8 English worksheet reviews how action, linking, and helping verbs function in sentences. Students define each verb type through multiple-choice questions, identify forms of to be, and locate action and helping verbs in context. They also analyze verbs such as looks and forgot, select sentences containing linking or helping verbs, and identify the complete verb phrase in a sentence. An open-ended item asks students to write a sentence with a linking verb. With 18 questions—7 multiple choice, 6 fill-in-the-blank, 4 multiple-select, and 1 open-ended—this free printable worksheet gives students varied practice moving from definitions to sentence-level identification. It is designed for Grade 8 English review, independent practice, homework, or a quick formative check. A complete answer key supports efficient checking and helps teachers review whether students can distinguish verb roles and recognize helping verbs within longer verb phrases.

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Types of verbs review

Total questions: 18

Name
Class
Date
1.

What is a LINKING VERB?

a)

a verb that links :)

b)

a verb that shows action in a sentence

c)

a verb that shows what something is; state of being verbs

d)

a verb that helps out the main verb

2.

What is a HELPING VERB?

a)

shows action, what you DO

b)

a part of speech

c)

state of being verbs, shows what you ARE

d)

part of a verb phrase, helps the main action verb by showing time

3.

What is an ACTION VERB?

a)

shows action, what you DO

b)

a part of speech

c)

state of being verbs, shows what you ARE

d)

part of a verb phrase, helps the main action verb by showing time

4.

Type in the "be" linking verb in the following sentence:

Her favorite movie is Twilight.

(a)  

5.

Type in the "be" linking verb in the following sentence:

After the movie, we were too tired to go out for ice cream, so we went home.

(a)  

6.

Choose ALL of the answers that are forms of "to be"

a)

Am

b)

Is, Was

c)

Had

d)

Were

7.

Write in the ACTION VERB of the following sentence:

The dog smelled a squirrel and started barking.

(a)  

8.

Write in the HELPING VERB of the following sentence:

I should write my essay tonight.

(a)  

9.

What kind of verb is "looks" in this sentence?

Our new neighborhood looks very safe.

a)

action verb

b)

linking verb

c)

adverb

d)

helping verb

10.

What kind of verb is "forgot" in this sentence?

Oh no, my sister forgot to feed the cat!

a)

action verb

b)

linking verb

c)

VeRBz

d)

helping verb

11.

What is the verb phrase in the following sentence?

I binged Stranger Things in one day, even though I should have been finishing my homework.

a)

should have

b)

binged

c)

been finishing

d)

should have been finishing

e)

should have been

12.

Choose all the answers that are ACTION VERBS.

a)

is

b)

run

c)

think

d)

had

e)

should

13.

Choose all the answers that have a LINKING VERB.

a)

She is so smart!

b)

My dog Sampson smelled gross after getting sprayed by a skunk.

c)

I will need you to help with the tournament.

d)

The volcano erupted yesterday!

e)

He seems okay.

14.

Write a sentence with a LINKING VERB.

4 lines
15.

Choose all the answers that have a HELPING VERB.

a)

She is so smart!

b)

My dog Sampson smelled gross after getting sprayed by a skunk.

c)

I will need you to help with the tournament.

d)

After I had bought it, I realized it was broken.

e)

He seems okay.

16.

Type in the action verb in the following sentence:

The volcano was inactive for a long time until it erupted last year.

(a)  

17.

Type in the helping verb(s):

The clouds had all disappeared, and moonlight brought the ruins into sharp relief.

(a)  

18.

How confident do you feel about the types of verbs quiz?

a)

I 100% got this

b)

Pretty confident

c)

Eh, I'm okay

d)

Not very confident at all

e)

I 100% don't got this

Answer Key

Types of verbs review

Total questions: 18

1.
c)

a verb that shows what something is; state of being verbs

2.
d)

part of a verb phrase, helps the main action verb by showing time

3.
a)

shows action, what you DO

4.
is, Is
5.
were
6.
a)

Am

, b)

Is, Was

, d)

Were

7.
smelled
8.
should
9.
b)

linking verb

10.
a)

action verb

11.
d)

should have been finishing

12.
b)

run

, c)

think

13.
a)

She is so smart!

, b)

My dog Sampson smelled gross after getting sprayed by a skunk.

, e)

He seems okay.

14.
n/a
15.
c)

I will need you to help with the tournament.

, d)

After I had bought it, I realized it was broken.

16.
erupted
17.
had
18.
n/a

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FAQs

What does the Types of Verbs Review worksheet cover?

This Grade 8 English worksheet covers action verbs, linking verbs, helping verbs, forms of to be, and verb phrases. Its 18 items use multiple choice, fill-in-the-blank, multiple-select, and an open-ended sentence-writing task to move students from defining verb types to identifying them in complete sentences.

How can I use this worksheet to teach action, linking, and helping verbs?

Introduce the three verb types with short example sentences, then have students complete the definition and forms-of-to-be items before analyzing verbs in context. Use the questions about looks, smelled, and should have been finishing to ask students what role each verb plays and how a helping verb contributes to a longer verb phrase.

What mistakes should I watch for when students complete this verb worksheet?

Students may confuse forms of to be with helping verbs, especially when selecting all correct answers, or identify only part of a verb phrase instead of the complete phrase, as in should have been finishing. They may also label a verb by its usual meaning rather than its role in context, such as treating looks or smelled as automatically action verbs. Check that the open-ended sentence contains a linking verb rather than an action or helping verb.

How do I assign and grade this verb worksheet?

You can assign the worksheet as a printable PDF or use it as a digital quiz on Wayground. It includes a complete answer key, and printable submissions can be graded by scanning student work with the Wayground for Teachers app. The printable format can also support schools that are reducing screen time.

How can I differentiate this action, linking, and helping verbs worksheet?

In the worksheet’s Advanced Settings, adjust font spacing or font size to make the verb examples, sentence choices, and fill-in-the-blank items easier to read. You can also apply a dyslexia-friendly font or translate the worksheet into another language while keeping the same verb-identification practice.

Where can I find more worksheets like this on Wayground?

Wayground offers a comprehensive collection of free printable worksheets and practice problems across all subjects, including downloadable PDFs with answer keys to help students master essential skills and concepts. Browse more resources at https://wayground.com/en-us/worksheets.

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