VERBS - PART PF SPEECH BASIC INFORMATION AND TUTORIALS

TUTORIAL ABOUT VERBS. WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT VERBS

Verbs name an action or describe a state of being. Every sentence must have a verb.

There are three basic types of verbs: action verbs, linking verbs, and helping verbs.

1. Action Verbs
Action verbs tell what the subject does. The action can be visible (jump, kiss, laugh) or mental (think, learn, study).

The cat broke Louise’s china.

Louise considered buying a new china cabinet.

An action verb can be transitive or intransitive. 

Transitive verbs need a direct object.
The boss dropped the ball.
The workers picked it up.

Intransitive verbs do not need a direct object.
Who called?

The temperature fell over night.

Quick Tip
To determine if a verb is transitive, ask yourself “Who?” or “What?” after the verb.

If you can find an answer in the sentence, the verb is transitive.

2. Linking Verbs
Linking verbs join the subject and the predicate. They do not show action. Instead, they help the words at the end of the sentence name or describe the subject.

The most common linking verbs include: be, feel, grow, seem, smell, remain, appear, sound, stay, look, taste, turn, become. Look for forms of to be, such as am, are, is, was, were, am being, can be, have been, and so on.

The manager was happy about the job change.

He is a good worker.

Many linking verbs can also be used as action verbs.

Linking: The kids looked sad.

Action: I looked for the dog in the pouring rain.

Quick Tip
To determine whether a verb is being used as a linking verb or an action verb, substitute am, are, or is for the verb. If it makes sense, the original verb is a linking verb.

3. Helping Verbs
Helping verbs are added to another verb to make the meaning clearer. Helping verbs include any form of to be, do, does, did, have, has, had, shall, should, will, would, can, could, may, might, must.

Verb phrases are made up of one main verb and one or more helping verbs.

They will run before dawn.

They still have not yet found a smooth track.

English has eight parts of speech:
✔Adjectives
✔Adverbs
✔Conjunctions
✔Interjections
✔Nouns
✔Prepositions
✔Pronouns
✔Verbs

The way a word is used in a sentence determines what part of speech it is.

SUBJECT - VERB AGREEMENT BASIC INFORMATION AND TUTORIALS

This is a simple post about Subject - Verb Agreement.

When you write a sentence you must make sure that the subject and the verb agree.

1. If the subject is a singular noun, or the pronoun he, she or it, you need a singular verb.

Examples:

The zookeeper is feeding the animals.

The children are playing on the swings.

The earth moves round the sun.

Dad always drives to work.

The clerk is wrapping a package.

Does everyone know the answer?

Mom has bought a dress for Sara.

2. Use a plural verb if the subject is a plural noun, or the pronoun we, you or they.

Examples:

The stars shine brightly on a clear night.

Mom and Dad love us a lot.

Do you all know the words?

We have finished our game of tennis.

They have both worked very hard.

Collective nouns may be used with either singular or plural verbs. If the group members are all acting together as one, use a singular verb. If the members of the group are acting as individuals, use a plural verb.

Singular
That family has moved to Texas.
The team is coached by Mr. Clark.

Plural
The family were giving their opinions.
The team are sharing new ideas.

Some plural nouns, such as people, cattle, police, don’t end with -s. Always use a plural verb with these nouns.

For example:

People like to be praised.

The cattle are in the field.

The police have caught the thief.