Identifying Verbs
Action
Verbs. The
first and largest category of verbs are action verbs. Although you may
have learned to define them as words that "express an action," a
definition that you will probably find more effective is this one:
An action verb is a
word or group of words that expresses what someone
or something is doing, did, or will do.
Both definitions work well with words like
"run," "jump," and
"throw" but words like "Sleep," "sit,"
and "decide" don't seem to express much action even though they are
action verbs. "Sleep," "sit," and
"decide" do express something you can do. You can "sleep."
You can "sit." You can "decide." Our definition accounts
for action verbs that really do express action as well as those action
verbs that don't express much action.
Linking Verbs. A linking verb
acts like an equal sign, connecting a subject with something that
describes it or something it is.
The most common linking verb is also the most common verb in English and is also one of the oddest. It takes eight different forms:
Occasionally verbs having to do with the senses are used as linking verbs. The following sensory verbs can also be used as linking verbs:
Helping Verbs. A helping verb appears in front of a main verb and helps it to express its meaning. The following words are all the helping verbs,. They are always verbs, with the exceptions indicated in parentheses.
There are two additional rules that will help you identify words which may or may not be verbs:
Examples:
Marcy is a nurse. Devon was angry. Tanya looked tired.
The most common linking verb is also the most common verb in English and is also one of the oddest. It takes eight different forms:
am, is, are, was, were, be, been, being
Occasionally verbs having to do with the senses are used as linking verbs. The following sensory verbs can also be used as linking verbs:
look, sound, seem,
smell, taste, or feel
Helping Verbs. A helping verb appears in front of a main verb and helps it to express its meaning. The following words are all the helping verbs,. They are always verbs, with the exceptions indicated in parentheses.
| forms of "be" |
forms of
"have" |
forms of "do" |
others |
| be (unless it has a "to" in front of it) | have (unless it has a "to" in front of it) | do (unless it has a "to" in front of it) | can (unless referring to a metal
container for food) |
| is |
has |
does | could |
| are |
had |
did | may |
| am |
having (when it has a helping verb in front of it) | doing (when it has a helping verb in front of it) | might |
| was |
must | ||
| were |
shall | ||
| been |
should | ||
| being (when it has a helping verb in front of it) | will | ||
| would |
There are two additional rules that will help you identify words which may or may not be verbs:
- If the word ends in -ing and does not have a helping verb, then it is not a verb.
- If the word has a "to" in front of it, it is not a verb.