Verbs
What’s a verb?
A verb is a word that shows action or links a subject to another word in a sentence.
Examples
Tornadoes cause tremendous damage. (action verb)
Examples
The weather is often calm before a storm. (linking verb)
Action Verbs
An action verb tells what the subject is doing.
Example
Natural disasters hit the globe nearly every day.
Linking Verbs
A linking verb connects--or links--a subject to a noun or an adjective in the predicate.
Linking Verbs
The most common linking verbs are forms of the verb be (is, are, was, were, being, been, am).
Linking Verbs
Verbs such as smell, look, taste, feel, remain, turn, appear, become, sound, seem, grow, and stay can also be linking verbs.
Examples
The San Andreas Fault is an earthquake zone in California.
(The linking verb is connects the subject to the noun zone in the predicate.)
Examples
Earthquakes there are fairly common.
The linking verb are connects the subject to the adjective common in the predicate.
Helping Verbs
A helping verb helps the main verb express tense.
Helping Verbs
The most common helping verbs are shall, will, should, would, could, must, might, can, may, have, had, has, do, did, and forms of the verb be--is, are, was, were, am, being, been.
Examples
It has been estimated that 500,000 earthquakes occur around the world every year.
(These helping verbs indicate that the tense is present perfect.)
Examples
Fortunately, only about 100 of those will cause damage.
(Will helps express the future tense of the verb.)
Forming Regular Present tense verbs
The present tense describes things happening now. In most cases, if the subject is he, she, it, or a person’s name, add -s to form the present. Verb: Present tenseCut cutsPlace placesRain rains
If the subject is I, you, we, they, or more than one person, do not add -s.Verb: Present tenseWait waitPaint paint
Like like
Forming Regular Past Tense Verbs
The past tense describes things that already happened.To turn most verbs into the past tense, simply add -ed. Verb: Past tenseCook cookedWalk walked
If a verb ends in e, form the past tense by simply adding -d.Verb:Past tensePlace placedDance dancedIf a verb ends in y, form the past tense by removing the y and adding -ied.Verb: Past tenseCarry carriedHurry hurried
Progressive Verbs
Progressive verb tenses describe ongoing actions in the present, past or future. -You use the words am/was/will be followed by an -ing verb Example: I was walking; I am walking; I will be walking
Perfect Tense Verbs
Perfect verb tense is used to show an action that is complete and finished, or perfected. This tense is expressed by adding one of the auxiliary verbs — have, has, or had — to the past participle form of the main verb. Example: I have seen the movie Example: She has decided to go swimming. Example: They had been punished for their actions.
Active Versus Passive Voice
In a sentence written in the active voice, the subject of sentence performs the action. Example: Ms. Buck reads her book The students passed their Verbs quiz In a sentence written in the passive voice, the subject receives the action. Example: The book is read by Ms. Buck The quiz was passed by the students
Forming Irregular Verbs Present tense
The present tense describes things happening now.If the verb ends in s, ch, sh, x, or z, form the present by adding ‑es. Example: Verb Present tenseFix- fixesWish- wishes
If the verb ends in y, change the y to an i and add ‑es.Verb: Present tenseCarry- carriesFly- flies
Continued
If the subject is I, you, we, they, or more than one person, do not add anything. Verb: Present tenseWish stays wishFly stays fly
Foirming Irregular Verbs Past tense
Some verbs follow special rules to form the past tense. Some examples are: Verb: Past tense
Hear- heardMake- made
Go- went
Think- thought
Begin- began
Draw- drew
The past tense describes things that already happened. (Example: Alyssa hit the winning home run in the game last night.) Some verbs follow special rules to form the past tense. If unsure, look it up!
Verbs
Amber Buck
Created on October 16, 2025
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Transcript
Verbs
What’s a verb?
A verb is a word that shows action or links a subject to another word in a sentence.
Examples
Tornadoes cause tremendous damage. (action verb)
Examples
The weather is often calm before a storm. (linking verb)
Action Verbs
An action verb tells what the subject is doing.
Example
Natural disasters hit the globe nearly every day.
Linking Verbs
A linking verb connects--or links--a subject to a noun or an adjective in the predicate.
Linking Verbs
The most common linking verbs are forms of the verb be (is, are, was, were, being, been, am).
Linking Verbs
Verbs such as smell, look, taste, feel, remain, turn, appear, become, sound, seem, grow, and stay can also be linking verbs.
Examples
The San Andreas Fault is an earthquake zone in California.
(The linking verb is connects the subject to the noun zone in the predicate.)
Examples
Earthquakes there are fairly common.
The linking verb are connects the subject to the adjective common in the predicate.
Helping Verbs
A helping verb helps the main verb express tense.
Helping Verbs
The most common helping verbs are shall, will, should, would, could, must, might, can, may, have, had, has, do, did, and forms of the verb be--is, are, was, were, am, being, been.
Examples
It has been estimated that 500,000 earthquakes occur around the world every year.
(These helping verbs indicate that the tense is present perfect.)
Examples
Fortunately, only about 100 of those will cause damage.
(Will helps express the future tense of the verb.)
Forming Regular Present tense verbs
The present tense describes things happening now. In most cases, if the subject is he, she, it, or a person’s name, add -s to form the present. Verb: Present tenseCut cutsPlace placesRain rains
If the subject is I, you, we, they, or more than one person, do not add -s.Verb: Present tenseWait waitPaint paint Like like
Forming Regular Past Tense Verbs
The past tense describes things that already happened.To turn most verbs into the past tense, simply add -ed. Verb: Past tenseCook cookedWalk walked
If a verb ends in e, form the past tense by simply adding -d.Verb:Past tensePlace placedDance dancedIf a verb ends in y, form the past tense by removing the y and adding -ied.Verb: Past tenseCarry carriedHurry hurried
Progressive Verbs
Progressive verb tenses describe ongoing actions in the present, past or future. -You use the words am/was/will be followed by an -ing verb Example: I was walking; I am walking; I will be walking
Perfect Tense Verbs
Perfect verb tense is used to show an action that is complete and finished, or perfected. This tense is expressed by adding one of the auxiliary verbs — have, has, or had — to the past participle form of the main verb. Example: I have seen the movie Example: She has decided to go swimming. Example: They had been punished for their actions.
Active Versus Passive Voice
In a sentence written in the active voice, the subject of sentence performs the action. Example: Ms. Buck reads her book The students passed their Verbs quiz In a sentence written in the passive voice, the subject receives the action. Example: The book is read by Ms. Buck The quiz was passed by the students
Forming Irregular Verbs Present tense
The present tense describes things happening now.If the verb ends in s, ch, sh, x, or z, form the present by adding ‑es. Example: Verb Present tenseFix- fixesWish- wishes
If the verb ends in y, change the y to an i and add ‑es.Verb: Present tenseCarry- carriesFly- flies
Continued
If the subject is I, you, we, they, or more than one person, do not add anything. Verb: Present tenseWish stays wishFly stays fly
Foirming Irregular Verbs Past tense
Some verbs follow special rules to form the past tense. Some examples are: Verb: Past tense Hear- heardMake- made Go- went Think- thought Begin- began Draw- drew
The past tense describes things that already happened. (Example: Alyssa hit the winning home run in the game last night.) Some verbs follow special rules to form the past tense. If unsure, look it up!