• Verbs

Action Verbs

Action verbs are words that express action or possession.

Transitive

Intransitive

Always has a noun that receives the action of the verb, called the direct object

Sometimes have indirect objects, which name the object to whom or for whom the action was done.

Never has a direct or indirect object.

May be followed by an adverb or adverbial phrase

There is no object to receive its action.

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Determining the type of verb

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It's intransitive

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It's transitive

If there is a noun receiving the action
of the verb.

If there is no direct object to receive the action.

If the verb does not make sense with a direct object.

Ask yourself: ¿What is receiving the action of the verb?

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Helping Verbs

Linking Verbs

Connect or link the subject with its predicate(adjetive. noun, pronoun that identifies the subject).

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These verbs are only linking verbs when they are followed by adjetives, nouns, or pronouns that rename the subject.

Current Linking Verbs

Indicate a state

lie

.

look

feel

remain

be

seem

appear

smell

sound

stay

Also called "Subject Complement"

click to edit

Resulting Linking Verbs

Indicate that the role of the verb complement is a result of the process described in the verb.

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grow

turn

run

become

get

prove

go

Are used before action or linking verbs to convey additional information regarding aspects of

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time

possibility

The main verb with its accompanying helping
verb is called a verb phrase.

These words, called modals, always function as helping verbs

ought to

might

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would

should

can

could

must

shall

may

will

the following forms of the verbs to be, to do, and to have sometimes serve as helping verbs.

are

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In other cases, they may serve as action or linking verbs.

been

has

be

had

being

is

have

did

were

do

am

was

does

They can also add detail to how time is conveyed in a sentence.