Name That

Verb!
Action Verbs
Linking Verbs
Helping/Main Verbs

There are different
types of verbs.
Some show action,
and some dont.
Verbs words that describe
action or a state of being.
 Action verbs describe
activity.
The action may be physical, or
may describe a quiet activity.
Physical actions: eat, walk, run, sleep,
swim, scream, read, write, watch
Quiet actions: love, think,
care, grow, forgive, concentrate
 An action verb
shows action. It
tells what the
subject of the
sentence does.
 Action Verbs

Bill hit the ball.

The cat purred softly.
I walk to school.
Susan spoke to me.
 A linking verb
links, or connects,
the subject to the
predicate. It does
not show action.
 Linking Verbs
Linking verbs describe a state of
being.

Bob was a great baseball coach.

The dinner looks wonderful.
Common Linking
Verbs

am is are was
were be been
seems feels tastes
 Linking Verbs

We are hungry.
He was late to school.
The winner is Johnny.
The rose smells good.
 A helping verb
helps a main verb.
The helping verb
comes before the
main verb.
Helping verbs help the main verb
describe action that happened in the pa
is happening in the present, or will
happen in the future.
 Helping/Main
Verbs

I am eating my lunch.
Ed has taken the test.
We were talking.
am being do have must

are can does is shall

be could had may should
been did has might was
were will would
The main verb can have up to thre
helping verbs.
He must have been sleeping soundly to
sleep through the alarm.

She could have gone to the movies if

she had finished her homework.
 Practice Time
In the following
sentences, see if
you can identify
the verb.
 Ready?
Lets get started!
They are watching
television.
They are watching
television.

Verb: are watching

Type: helping/main
Frank was tired
after work.
 Frank was tired
after work.

Verb: was
Type: linking verb
My dad drove his
car to the store.
 My dad drove his
car to the store.

Verb: drove
Type: action verb
Finding Nemo is her
favorite movie.
Finding Nemo is her
favorite movie.

Verb: is
Type: linking verb
I did my homework
right after school.
I did my homework
right after school.

Verb: did
Type: action verb
Ann was cooking
dinner in the
kitchen.
 Ann was cooking
dinner in the
kitchen.

Verb: was cooking

Type: helping/main
 The boys were
playing in the park.
 The boys were
playing in the park.

Verb: were playing

Type: helping/main
ACTIVITY