Verbs
Learning Goal: In today's lesson, you will the two basic forms of verbs as well as their principal parts.
A verb is a word or group of words that expresses an action or a state of being. Verbs can be one word or several words.
Examples: I was in the shower. I would have been upset.
Examples: I was in the shower. I would have been upset.
Action Verbs express an action.
Examples: Johnny walked to school. I was looking for that ring!
Linking Verbs describe a state of being. They link the subject to a word that describes or renames the subject. The most common linking verb is be.
Examples: Sally is in her room. Johnny may be our guest in February.
We are all happy to be here. They will be on the bus for Friday.
Some verbs can act as either action or linking. If a verb can be replaced by a form of "be" in a sentences without significantly changing the meaning, it is acting as a linking verb.
Examples: Action Linking
The doctor felt my pulse. I felt (or was) weak and dizzy.
Sandra smelled perfume. The flowers smell (or are) lovely.
Daria grew tomatoes. Daria grew (or was) fond of her cat.
Examples: Johnny walked to school. I was looking for that ring!
Linking Verbs describe a state of being. They link the subject to a word that describes or renames the subject. The most common linking verb is be.
Examples: Sally is in her room. Johnny may be our guest in February.
We are all happy to be here. They will be on the bus for Friday.
Some verbs can act as either action or linking. If a verb can be replaced by a form of "be" in a sentences without significantly changing the meaning, it is acting as a linking verb.
Examples: Action Linking
The doctor felt my pulse. I felt (or was) weak and dizzy.
Sandra smelled perfume. The flowers smell (or are) lovely.
Daria grew tomatoes. Daria grew (or was) fond of her cat.
The Principal Parts of Verbs
The principal parts of a verb are the present, the past, the past participle, and the present participle. All other tenses and forms of the verb are formed from these principal parts:
Present: Used in the first person, present tense.
Past: Used in the first person, past tense.
Past Participle: Usually ends in -ed or -d. To find the past participle, decide what form of the verb you would like after "have."
Present Participle: Is formed by adding -ing to the infinitive (to talk, to handle, etc)
Examples: Present Past Past Participle Present Participle
to talk (I) talk (I) talked (have) talked talking
to bake (I) bake (I) baked (have) baked baking
Irregular Verbs: Many verbs do no follow the regular pattern of forming the principal parts. Often, the past and past-participle forms will differ. Dictionaries list irrregular verb forms under the main entry for the verb.
Examples: Present Past Past Participle Present Participle
to hear hear heard (have) heard hearing
to fall fall fell (have) fallen falling
Test your knowledge, with the following practice quiz: (Quibblo)
Present: Used in the first person, present tense.
Past: Used in the first person, past tense.
Past Participle: Usually ends in -ed or -d. To find the past participle, decide what form of the verb you would like after "have."
Present Participle: Is formed by adding -ing to the infinitive (to talk, to handle, etc)
Examples: Present Past Past Participle Present Participle
to talk (I) talk (I) talked (have) talked talking
to bake (I) bake (I) baked (have) baked baking
Irregular Verbs: Many verbs do no follow the regular pattern of forming the principal parts. Often, the past and past-participle forms will differ. Dictionaries list irrregular verb forms under the main entry for the verb.
Examples: Present Past Past Participle Present Participle
to hear hear heard (have) heard hearing
to fall fall fell (have) fallen falling
Test your knowledge, with the following practice quiz: (Quibblo)
Sources:
Language Power J. Toronto: Gage, 2003. Print
http://steckvaughn.hmhco.com/HA/correlations/pdf/l/LEf3_partsofverbs.pdf
Language Power J. Toronto: Gage, 2003. Print
http://steckvaughn.hmhco.com/HA/correlations/pdf/l/LEf3_partsofverbs.pdf