Verbs Phrases and Gerunds Parts of Speech

Verbs

Verbs show time and action.

Example will jump-kick jump-kicks was jump-kicking

Action Verbs

Things that can be done.

Example ran punched left did

Verbs of Being

Existing is an action. Helping verbs show time and existence.

Examples

I am mad. He was sorry.

Am, is, are, was, were, will, be, being, been, has, have, had, do, did, does, may, might, must, shall, should, would, could, can

Helping Verbs

Help to show when the action happened. All forms of being verbs can be helping verbs Example: They were running away from zombies. John should wait for his friends to come.

Verb Phrases

Verb phrases show time and express action. Helping verb + action verb = verb phrase

Examples I am studying. They are playing class. They will fail.

Linking Verbs Links a subject to words that describe what it is like.

Examples: She was grumpy last week. He is only smart when he wants to be.

Be, being, is, am, shall be, will be, has been, have been, should be, would be, can be, could be, are, was, were, appear, become, feel, grow, look, remain, seem, shall, sound, stay, taste, turn

Gerunds Gerunds are noun forms of verbs.

Sometimes, we talk about actions as things.

Example Reading is fun. Eating late at night may lead to nightmares. He hates doing homework. Not every sentence has a gerund.

Telling the Difference Between Gerunds and Verb Phrases

Ask who’s doing what in this sentence?

Ex: Writing notes is fun and exciting.

Nobody is writing notes in this sentence. Writing notes is a thing is this sentence. Ex: I am writing notes. Writing notes is an action in this sentence.

Review Verbs of being show time. Verb of being + action verb = verb phrase. I am walking. I was walking. Gerunds are noun forms of verbs. Walking is a good time. I like walking.

Practice

1.  Write down each sentence. 2.  Underline the verbs. 3.  Circle the gerunds.

1

Eating pizza is fun.

2

Tim might study if he’s not too busy.

3

Playing sports can be healthy.

4

Tom went home, did his chores, and slept.

5

I am not good at lying.

6

Stealing, lying, and cheating are wrong.

7

Are you going to the store?

Extra Practice: Find the verb in each sentence.

1.  Unfortunately, he did need surgery. 2.  His physical therapist had designed an

exercise program for him. 3.  Before exercise, he must spend five

minutes warming up. 4.  Mr. Jensen always sweeps the floors first. 5.  Then he washes the chalkboards. 6.  He works slowly but steadily.

Extra Practice: Find the verb in each sentence.

7. He felt foolish when his car ran out of gas. 8. Suddenly, it turned very dark, and the wind began to blow fiercely. 9. I am happy that you won the chess match. 10. That building is the new public library. 11. The car sounds funny. 12. The moose was huge when it ran towards me.

Independent  Prac,ce  Iden,fy  the  verbs  in  each  sentence  below.  

1.  Some  words  come  from  other  languages,  such  as  Spanish  and  French.  

2.  Books,  music,  and  movies  oBen  feature  new  words  that  are  then  added  to  everyday  speech.  

3.  Many  useful  and  amusing  words  came  into  our  language  during  World  War  II.    

4.  Now  these  words  are  familiar  throughout  the  United  States.    

5.  One  of  these  words  is  gremlin.  

Independent  Prac,ce  Iden,fy  the  verbs  in  each  sentence  below.  6.  Fliers  were  oBen  troubled  by  mysterious  mechanical  problems.    7.  Not  knowing  what  caused  these  problems,  they  joked  that  gremlins—small,  mischievous  creatures—were  in  the  aircraB.  8.  According  to  Grandpa  Jefferson,  these  gremlins  could  be  helpful  as  well  as  harmful.    9.  Many  fliers  claimed  that  they  had  miraculously  escaped  danger  only  because  the  gremlins  had  come  to  their  rescue.    10.  Ar,sts  drew  imps  as  liWle  men  with  beards  and  funny  hats  who  played  all  over  the  planes.