Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Lesson 1: Recognizing Verbs

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1. A VERB is a word that shows action, links another word to the subject, helps another verb, or merely indicates existence.

  • Liza ANNOUNCED the result. (action-verb ; shows what the subject is doing.)
  • The soup TASTES delicious. (linking verb; links delicious to the subject SOUP.)
  • They WILL enjoy the movie. (helping verb; 'Will' helps the verb 'ENJOY' to show action.)
  • Our classmates ARE here. (merely indicates the existence of CLASSMATES.)

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2. An ACTION VERB expresses physical action or mental action.

some examples:
  • landed
  • walk
  • laugh
  • arrive
  • eat
  • sink
  • consider
  • wants
  • hoped
  • dream
  • realized
  • appreciate

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3. A LINKING VERB does not express action. It LINKS a word in the predicate to the subject.

  • The gift LOOKS nice. (The verb 'LOOKS' links 'NICE' to the subject 'GIFT'.)
  • Justin IS a computer programmer. ( The verb 'IS' links 'PROGRAMMER' to the subject 'JUSTIN'.

examples of linking verbs:

  • be
  • am
  • is
  • are
  • was
  • were
  • can be
  • could be
  • has been
  • look
  • smell
  • appear
  • become
  • grow

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4. The verbs TASTE, FEEL, SMELL, SOUND, LOOK, APPEAR, BECOME, SEEM, GROW, REMAIN, STAY may be used as action verbs as well as linking verbs, depending on the sense of the sentence.

  • Maria LOOKS pretty in my dress. (LOOKS is a linking verb that links PRETTY to the subject MARIA.)
  • Maria LOOKS for an attractive but modest clothing. (LOOKS is an action verb. The subject is performing the action of looking.)
  • Norman APPEARS handsome in his new tuxedo. (APPEARS acts as a linking verb)
  • Norman APPEARS in the hall. (APPEARS acts a an action verb)

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5. An AUXILLIARY VERB or HELPING VERB helps the main verb to make a statement.

  • Children MUST obey their parents. ( The verb MUST helps the main verb OBEY to show action.)
  • Children MUST be obedient to their parent's wishes. ( The verb MUST helps the main verb BE to link OBEDIENT to the subject CHILDREN.)
  • We WILL be here next time. ( The verb WILL helps the main verb BE to indicate existence.)

Examples of Auxilliary Verbs:

  • be
  • am
  • is
  • are
  • was
  • were
  • have
  • has
  • do
  • does
  • shall
  • may
  • would
  • could
  • should

Note: The forms of "BE" may be linking as well as helping verbs. The forms of "HAVE" and "DO" may also be action verbs.


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6. A VERB PHRASE is a main verb and its helping verbs. Quite often, a verb phrase is interrupted by other words.

  • Today, farming HAS DEVELOPED into a highly scientific procedure.
  • Dependency, IS not SUGGESTED in the article that we read.
  • Where DOES discouragement COME from?


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Exercise:


Identify the verb and verb phrases in each sentence below.


1.) The rooms were cleaned for the opening.

2.) Did we prepare for the show?

3.) I had already left for the program.

4.) They were amazed by the beauty of the place.

5.) We have accepted the invitation.

6.) Tell Justin about the requirements.

7.) The truck did not deliver until noon.

8.) His gift was taken after the show.

9.) I haven't played the game ever since.

10.) Eating inside the library is not allowed.




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~end of lesson~

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