Parts of Speech

1
Parts of Speech
Notes on Verbs
2
Verbs

• Verbs are word(s) which reveal an action or state
  of being. Every sentence has at least one verb!
• A physical action (e.g., swim, write, climb).
• Example Sentence - Alison bought a ticket.
• The word bought expresses the physical activity
  to buy.
• A mental action (e.g., think, guess, consider).
• Example Sentence - I thought the same thing.
• The word thought expresses the mental activity to
  think.
• A state of being (e.g., to be, exist, appear).
• These are called linking verbs, which connect the
  subject (nouns and pronouns) in a sentence to
  other information.
• The most important verb in this group is the verb
  to be - seen in forms like is, are, were, was,
  will be, etc.
• Example Sentence - Edwin is the largest elephant
  in this area.
• The word is is a verb from the verb to be. It is
  linking Edwin (subject - noun) to the adjective,
  largest and noun, elephant.

3
Most Common Linking Verbs

• amarebeingappear
• bebecomefeelgetgrow
• have/has beenislielook

• might be
• might have beenproveremainseemsitsmellsound
  staytasteturnwere

4
More Information about Verbs

• Verb phrases are made up of a main verb and one
  or more helping verbs, which define the tense or
  change the meaning of the main verb.
• Ex. My teacher will tell us about Peru.
• Main Verb tell / Helping Verb will / Verb
  Phrase will tell
• Ex. Mr. Brute has been living here for twelve
  years.
• Main Verb living / Helping Verbs has been /
  Verb Phrase has been living
• Verb Tense verbs tell if something has already
  happened, if it will happen later, or if it is
  happening now.
• For things happening now, we use the present
  tense of a verb
  look (present) or is/are/am looking (present
  participle)
• For something that has already happened, we use
  the past tense. looked
  (past) or has/have/had looked (past participle)
• For something that will happen later, we use the
  future tense.
  will look (future)
• Irregular verbs do not change to past tense by
  just adding ed or d (begin is/are/am beginning
  began has/have/had begun)
• Some irregular verbs are formed by adding n, en,
  or ne to the present or past form (fly
  is/are/am flying flew has/have/had flown)

5
Most Common Helping Verbs

• may
• might
• must
• be
• being
• been
• am
• are
• is
• was
• were

• do
• does
• did
• should
• could
• would
• have
• had
• has
• will
• can
• shall

6
- Circle the verbs or verb phrases.
- Label
their tense present, present participle, past,
past participle, or future- Label
their type physical action, mental action, or
state of being.

• 1.) Dracula bites his victims on the neck.
• 2.) In early October, Gwen will plant twenty
  tulip bulbs.
• 3.) My first teacher was Miss Crawford, but I am
  remembering the janitor Mr. Wilson more vividly.
• 4.) Karl has bicycled around the world, but his
  diaries and his bicycle were destroyed.
• 5.) Jamie thought about her weekend, and decided
  she will go shopping with her sister.
• 6.) Ellas stories about castles are wonderful.

7
Answers (verbs in red)

• 1.) Dracula bites (present) (physical action) his
  victims on the neck.
• 2.) In early October, Gwen will plant (future)
  (physical action) twenty tulip bulbs.
• 3.) My first teacher was (past) (state of being)
  Miss Crawford, but I am remembering (present
  participle) (mental action) the janitor Mr.
  Wilson more vividly.
• 4.) Karl has bicycled (past participle) (physical
  action) around the world, but his diaries and his
  bicycle were destroyed (past) (physical action).
• 5.) Jamie thought (past) (mental action) about
  her weekend, and decided (past) (mental action)
  she will go (future) (physical action) shopping
  with her sister.
• 6.) Ellas stories about castles are (present)
  (state of being) wonderful.