Action Verbs

“It’s what you do!”

jump

What is an action verb?

A verb is one of the most important parts of the sentence. It tells the subject’s actions, events, or state of being. It is always found in the predicate of a sentence. A verb that shows action is called an action verb.

The words are action verbs:

coughedyawn

awake

ran

ride sang

Can you find the action verb in each sentence?

1. The girls danced in the recital.

2. Our mailman drove a funny car last week.

3. His teacher wrote the answers on the board.

4. Alice worked on her homework last night.

Move On

No, try again.

Yes, that word is an action verb!

Try another sentence Move On

Present verbs

An action verb that describes an action that is happening now is called a present tense verbpresent tense verb.The bird fliesflies through the sky.

FliesFlies is a present tense verb because it is happening right now.

Present tense verbs

Many present tense verbs end with ss, but some end with eses, or iesies.

sleepss splasheses

criesies

Past Verbs

Verbs which tell about actions which happened some time ago are past tense verbs.

The dog wantedwanted a bone.Wanted is a past tense verb because the action has already happened.

Past tense verbs

Many past tense verbs end with ed, ed, but some end with d, d, or ied ied.

clapped

played

tried

Future Verbs

Verbs which tell about actions which are going to happen are future tense verbs.

We will awaken at six a.m.Will awakenWill awaken is a future tense verb because the action has not yet happened.

Future tense verbs

Future tense verbs use special words to talk about things that will happen: will, going to, shall, aim to, etc.

going to start

shall email

will enjoy

Helping Verbs

A helping verb works with a main verb to help you understand what action is taking place.

Elmer was was usingusing the computer.

23 Helping Verbs

maymightmust 

bebeingbeenamareiswaswere

(main)

dodoesdid

(main)

shouldcouldwould

havehadhas

(main)

willcanshall

Helping Verbs

Other things to keep in mind: •Not every sentence will have a helping verb with the main verb. •When you see an "ing" verb such as "running", be on the lookout for a helping verb also.

Helping Verbs

•Sometimes there is another word which separates the helping verb from the main verb. One common example is "not", as in: The boy couldn't find his socks. The helping verb is could and the main verb is find.

Helping Verbs

•A sentence may contain up to three helping verbs to the main verb. An example would be: The dog must have been chasing the cat. The helping verbs are: must, have, and been; the main verb is chasing.