We're N Ot Types of Verbs, But We're Re Lated To Them!

t t y p e s
’ re n o
We , b u t
rb s
of ve ed t o Verbs
e r e la t
we’r ! Action Verbs
the m
Linking Verbs
(also: auxiliary, transitive, intransitive)

Verbs
A verb phrase is a group of two or more
words that have the same function as a
single verb in a sentence.
John eats an apple every day. (verb)
John is eating an apple (verb phrase)
We waited for you for over an hour.
We have been waiting for you for over
an hour.
There are ONLY two kinds of verbs
on the planet. They are:
action
linking
All real verbs are either
action or linking. There are
other “verby” things
(auxiliary/helping verbs,
verbals), but they are not true
verbs. We will discuss these
later.
Action Verbs
Action Verbs
 express either mental or physical activity
 The dogs barked all day.
 He thought about the day.

Action Verbs
 Verbs that describe actions, activities,

events and happenings.
 may be transitive or intransitive

Linking Verbs
Linking Verbs
 express a state of being
 connect (or link) the subject to a word or

word group that identifies or describes the
subject
My teacher is cranky.
Linking Verbs
 Some verbs do not describe actions,
thoughts, events, etc. but are used in
descriptions of what someone or
something is or what they are like such
verbs are known as linking verbs.
 never have objects
 ALWAYS intransitive
Action or Linking Verb?
action
We celebrated the Chinese New
Year yesterday.
linking
The holiday is usually in February.
linking
John looked tired.
action
John looked through the binoculars.
action
Remain in your seats until the end of
class.
linking
Remain calm.
Handy Tip for Linking Verbs
 Linking verbs are like the equal signs of

language. (=)
 Any verb that can be replaced with is, am,

are, be, become, or becomes, appear, feel,
get, go, grow, keep, look, make, prove,
remain, seem, smell, sound, stay, taste and
turn to create a sentence with nearly the
same meaning is a linking verb.
Linking Verbs
 The idea may appear sensible.

 My mother is very keen on art.
 We became good friends.
 I feel so tired these days.
 You look worried.
 That cake smells nice.
 The weather turned very cold.
Action or Linking Verb? Your Turn!
 Any verb that can be replaced with is, am,

are, be, become, or becomes to create a
sentence with nearly the same meaning
is a linking verb.
 The sky looks blue.

 I walked home.
 Our teacher seemed crazy.
Auxiliary/Helping “Verbs”
“auxiliary” just means “helping”
WARNING: Auxiliary verbs do not

function as verbs. They HELP the
main verb.
Auxiliary Verbs
An auxiliary verb is a verb that is used

along with a main verb to make
different tenses or to express ideas
such as possibility, necessity and
permission.
The auxiliary verbs can be divided
into 2 groups:
Primary auxiliary: be, have, do
Auxiliary Verbs
Modal auxiliary: can, could, may,

might, shall, should, will, would
and must
Auxiliary/Helping Verbs
 be  been  do  will
 am  being  did  would
 is  has  does  should
 are  have  can  may
 was  had  could  might
 were  shall  must
Auxiliary/Helping Verbs
help the main verb express action or a

state of being
 can speak
 may be
 has been named
 should have been caught
Auxiliary Verbs Verb Phrase
A verb phrase has one main verb

and one or more auxiliary verbs
Many people in Africa can speak

more than one language.
The packages may be at 401 Maple
Street.
Verb Phrase
 auxiliary verb(s) + main verb = verb phrase
 There may be more than one auxiliary

verb in a verb phrase. There is only one
main verb in a verb phrase. It is always the
LAST WORD in the verb phrase. The main
verb is either action (speak, named, caught)
or linking (be).
•can speak •has been named

•may be •should have been caught
Verb Phrase
 One auxiliary verb may relate to more than

one main verb in a sentence:
 People were (auxiliary verb) singing (main) and

dancing (main) in the streets.
Auxiliary Verb or Main Verb?
The highlighted words can function as main verbs or auxiliary
verbs. Can you tell which job each is doing?
 I am a teacher.
 I am writing a letter.
 We are hungry.
 The girls are playing ball.
Auxiliary Verb or Main Verb? Your Turn!
 Make your own examples using each of
these words in two ways: 1) as a main verb
and 2) as an auxiliary verb in a verb phrase.
 was
 does
 have
Auxiliary Verb or Main Verb? Your Turn!
was does have

 I was a track star.
 I was running quickly.
 She does the dishes.
 She does hear you.
 They have influenza.
 They have been cured.
Handy Tip for Verb Phrases
 Sometimes a verb phrase is interrupted by

another part of speech, like an adverb. In
a question, the subject often interrupts the
verb phrase.
 Our school has always held a victory

celebration when our team wins.
 Did you hear Jamie Foxx’s speech?
Transitive and Intransitive
It’s all about transfer of action to
an object.
Handy Tip
Since transitive/intransitive verbs
deal with whether or not action
passes from the subject to an
object, always start with labeling
the subject and verb in the
sentence.
sentence
Transitive Verbs
 express an action directed toward a person, a
place, a thing, or an idea (a.k.a., nouns)
 The action passes from the doer (the subject) to

the receiver of the action.
 The words that receive the action of transitive

verbs  direct objects  always nouns
 Transitive verbs can only be action verbs.

Linking verbs are NEVER transitive.
Transitive Verbs: Examples
S av
 Derrick greeted the visitors.
Derrick greeted whom? The action (greeted)
passes from the subject (Derrick) to the object
(visitors).
aux. v S av
 When will Felicia paint her room?
Felicia will paint what? The action (will paint)
passes from the subject (Felicia) to the object
(room).
Intransitive Verbs
 express action or tell something about the

subject without the action passing to a
receiver, or object
 Intransitive verbs may be either action

or linking verbs.
Intransitive Verbs: Examples
S av
 The train stopped.
The train stopped what? There is nothing in the
sentence to say what the train stopped (i.e.,
there is no object). There is no transfer of
action.
S av
 Last night we ate on the patio.
We ate what? There is nothing in the sentence
to say what we ate (i.e., there is no object). We
did not eat some “on the patio.” This is a
prepositional phrase telling where we ate, not
what. There is no transfer of action.
Transitive or Intransitive? Your Turn!
1) Label subject & verb. 2) Is the verb action or linking? If linking, it
cannot be transitive. If action, go on to step 3. 3) Say, “Subject, verb
WHAT?” If there is a noun that receives the action, it is transitive.
 The children play checkers.

 The children play quietly.
 Mr. Lopez is baking bread.

 Mr. Lopez is baking this afternoon.
 Have Roland and Tracy left their coats?

 Have Roland and Tracy left yet?
S av
The children play checkers.
The children play WHAT?
“Checkers” is a noun telling what
they play, so “play” is transitive.
S av
The children play quietly.
The children play WHAT? “Quietly”
is not a noun and it is not what they
play (it is how they play), so “play”
is intransitive.
S av
Mr. Lopez is baking bread.
Mr. Lopez is baking WHAT? “Bread”
is a noun and it tells what he is
baking, so “is baking” is transitive.
S aux. v av
Mr. Lopez is baking this afternoon.
Mr. Lopez is baking WHAT? “This
afternoon” is not what Mr. Lopez is
baking (it tells when), so “is baking” is
intransitive.
aux. v S S av
Have Roland and Tracy left their
coats?
Roland and Tracy have left WHAT?
“Coats” is a noun and it tells what they
left, so “have left” is transitive.
aux. v S S av
Have Roland and Tracy left yet?
Roland and Tracy have left WHAT?
“Yet” is not what they left (it tells
when), so “have left” is intransitive.
Label the subjects and verbs in these sentences.
Tell whether the verbs are transitive or
intransitive.
Melanie ate a baked potato.

Hector and Tom are reading.
They painted the house.
Did you carry his suitcase?
My plant grows quickly.
Finite and non finite verbs
 Finite verb: Any verb that changes or that

may change, in form to match its subject
or to indicate present, past or future.
 If there is only a main verb in a sentence,
then it will be a finite verb.
 I am very proud of you.
 We are very proud of you.
Finite verbs
 Where there is more than one auziliary

verb in a verb phrase, it is the first auxiliary
that is a finite verb, agreeing with its
subject or indication past, present or
future:
 I have been looking for you for ages.

 They might have been there.
Non-finite verbs
 Any verb that is not a finite verb is a non-

finite verb.
 Non-finite verbs do not change in form to
agree with the subject or to indicate past,
present and future.
 Present participles, past participles and
infinitives are non-finite verbs of English.
Non-finite verbs
 Non-finite verbs remain unchanged with a
change of subject.
 He is working very hard.
 They are working very hard
 Non-finite verbs remain unchanged with a

change from present to past time.
 He is working very hard.
 He was working very hard.
Verb Tenses
 Present
 Past
 Future
 Present Progressive
 Past Progressive
 Future Progressive
 Present Perfect
 Past Perfect
 Future Perfect

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t t y p e s

(also: auxiliary, transitive, intransitive)

 express either mental or physical activity

 The dogs barked all day.

 He thought about the day.

 Verbs that describe actions, activities,

 may be transitive or intransitive

 express a state of being

 connect (or link) the subject to a word or

 never have objects

 Linking verbs are like the equal signs of

 Any verb that can be replaced with is, am,

 The idea may appear sensible.

 Any verb that can be replaced with is, am,

 The sky looks blue.

WARNING: Auxiliary verbs do not

An auxiliary verb is a verb that is used

Modal auxiliary: can, could, may,

help the main verb express action or a

A verb phrase has one main verb

Many people in Africa can speak

 There may be more than one auxiliary

•can speak •has been named

 One auxiliary verb may relate to more than

 People were (auxiliary verb) singing (main) and

was does have

 Sometimes a verb phrase is interrupted by

 Our school has always held a victory

 The action passes from the doer (the subject) to

 The words that receive the action of transitive

 Transitive verbs can only be action verbs.

 express action or tell something about the

 Intransitive verbs may be either action

 The children play checkers.

 Mr. Lopez is baking bread.

 Have Roland and Tracy left their coats?

Melanie ate a baked potato.

 Finite verb: Any verb that changes or that

 Where there is more than one auziliary

 I have been looking for you for ages.

 Any verb that is not a finite verb is a non-

 Non-finite verbs remain unchanged with a

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