Chapter One: Verbs Verbs make things happen, show action or state of being & also indicate time of action or being Lesson 1 Verbs are the most important words in a sentence. Verbs are the first of the eight parts of speech that we will be studying. Most verbs are action words, but a few verbs indicate state of being or existence. The first lessons will be about verbs, and how they are recognized and used. Instructions: Find the action verbs in the following sentences. 1. The wolf ran across the sand. 2. Sit down. 3. The dog barked at the man. Lesson 2 Instructions: Find the state of being verbs in these sentences. 1. My uncle is a pilot. 2. The pie looks good. 3. You seem upset. Lesson 3 Instructions: Pick out the verbs in these sentences and tell whether they are action verbs or linking verbs. 1. Suddenly someone sneezed loudly. 2. There are holes in my shirt. 3. He appears happy. 4. The image appeared in the mirror.Lesson 4 Sometimes a verb can be more than one word. When a verb is more than one word, it is called a verb phrase. Verb phrases can be two, three, or four words. Using auxiliary or helping verbs makes verb phrases. There are twenty-three (23) helping verbs that should be memorized since they are used so often. If you will memorize them, it will make knowing and understanding verbs much easier. They are usually grouped in the following five groups: Group 1: is, am, are, was, were, be, being, been Group 2: has, have, had Group 3: do, does, did Group 4: shall, will, should, would Group 5: may, might, must, can, could Instructions: Pick out the verb phrases in these sentences. 1. You are going to Seattle. 2. You have been resting too much. 3. We must be early. 4. I will be finished shortly. Lesson 5 Some of the helping verbs can be used alone as the main verb. Is, am, are, was, and were can be used alone as linking or state of being verbs. Has, have, had, do, does, and did always show action when used alone. Be, being, and been can be used with other verbs either to show action, or state of being. The other helping verbs cannot be used alone, but only as helping verbs. Instructions: Find the verb or verb phrases in these sentences. 1. She has too many friends. 2. You do beautiful work. 3. I was in Canada last week. 4. You are being very stubborn.Quiz for Lessons 1-5 Instructions: List the verbs or verb phrases in the sentences, and tell whether they are action verbs or state of being verbs. For extra credit, find the helping verbs. 1. Jim plays basketball. 2. They will return on the airplane. 3. Badger is a funny dog. 4. I have been here a long time. 5. I should have been playing the drum. 6. Go home. ----------------The answers can be found at the end of the chapter. ----------------Lesson 6 Instructions: Pick out the verb phrases in the following sentences (remember to watch for the helping verbs). 1. I can understand his concern. 2. She must have told you ten times. 3. We shall go tomorrow. 4. The wind was howling all night. Lesson 7 The use of helping verbs causes certain changes in verb phrases that we need to be able to recognize. One change is the use of contractions (contractions are two or more words combined together with an apostrophe). Instructions: List the contractions in the following sentences. 1. I've done it again. 2. You aren't going with us. 3. She's staying to tend the kids.Lesson 8 A helping verb may be connected with another word in a contracted form. The following sentences have verb phrases using contractions. Instructions: Find the verb phrases in each sentence. Determine if the verb phases are action verbs or state of being verbs. 1. I've done it again. 2. You aren't going with us. 3. She's staying to tend the kids. Lesson 9 In sentences that are questions, the verb phrase is often separated by another word. Instructions: Find the verb phrases in these sentences. Be sure to watch for another word separating the helping verb from the main verb. 1. Have you been driving long? 2. Where was the car parked? 3. Can I be of assistance? Lesson 10 Sometimes verb phrases are separated by words called adverbs (we will learn more about adverbs in later lessons). Adverbs are often used with verbs; however, they are not considered part of the verb phrase. Instructions: Find the verb phrases in the following sentences. Are the verbs action verbs or state of being verbs? 1. You have not helped your father today. 2. I will soon be home. 3. The child had suddenly choked on the food.Quiz for Lessons 6-10 Instructions: List the verb phrases in the following sentences. 1. My wife is reading in the hammock under the tree. 2. The message can't be altered. 3. Somewhere a party is being planned. 4. Shouldn't I be a clown for Halloween? 5. I've run out of time. 6. Write down as many of the twenty-three helping verbs as you can. ----------------The answers can be found at the end of the chapter. ----------------Lesson 11 Not and its contracted form, n't, are never part of the verb. Instructions: Pick out the verb phrases in these sentences. 1. The game will not be finished for another hour. 2. The horse shouldn't have been worked so much. 3. Wouldn't you give me another chance? Lesson 12 Verb phrases with two or more helping verbs always keep a definite order. Most helping verbs can combine with other helping verbs but will not combine with all of them. The examples below show good combinations. is being said, has been said, will be said, could have been said, may have said, had been said Instructions: Arrange the following helping verbs with the word in parentheses into a verb phrase. One of the helping verbs will not combine and must be left out. Example: was, have, may (gone) = may have gone -was will not combine in this group. 1. am, will, being (fired) 2. been, could, does, have (learning)3. might, do, have, been (sleeping) 4. must, were, be (discovered) 5. be, has, should (sold) Lesson 13 We can change the form of a verb (these changes in form are used in conjugations. Conjugations will be addressed in later lessons). For example, a verb can have an s added to it as in eat, eats or run, runs. Other changes could be eating, ate, or eaten for the verb eat. Run could be changed to running, or ran. Irregular verbs, which we will cover later, have several confusing changes. Instructions: Find the verb or verb phrases in these sentences. Take note of the different verb forms for come and sent. 1. I am coming in the morning. 2. I came as soon as possible. 3. She comes by every day. 4. Send me the package in the mail. 5. The new part was sent to me. 6. I am sending Jeff with the neighbors. Lesson 14 Instructions: Pick out only the helping verbs used in the verb phrases. 1. He should have tried again. 2. The dog had suddenly come into the yard. 3. Has anyone taken out the trash? 4. Could they have been pointing at our car? 5. She's hoping for a call from her sister.Lesson 15 It’s time for a review! Remember that verbs either show action or state of being. Using helping verbs makes verb phrases. Verb phrases may be separated by other words. Verb phrases follow a definite order and change form. Instructions: Find the verb phrases and tell what kind of verbs they are. 1. I can understand your concern. 2. Is Mrs. Johanson going with you? 3. The rooms cannot be held any longer. 4. I haven't seen him for an hour. Quiz for Lessons 1-15 Instructions: Answer each question true or false. 1. Verbs never change form. 2. A verb is never just one word. 3. Verb phrases keep a definite order. 4. There are twenty-three helping verbs. 5. Helping verbs cannot be the main verb. 6. Helping verbs can be action verbs. 7. Verb phrases can have three helping verbs. 8. Verbs can be in contracted form. 9. State of being verbs show action. 10. Verbs are the most important words in a sentence. ----------------The answers can be found at the end of the chapter. ----------------Verbs Answer Key Lesson 1 Answers: The verbs in the sentences are: ran, sit, and barked. All three verbs are action verbs since they show action. Action verbs are the most common verbs. Lesson 2 Answers: The verbs in the sentences are: is, looks, and seem. These verbs are state of being or linking verbs. Some common linking verbs include: is, am, are, was, were, be, being, been, seem, look, feel, and become. They do not show action; they just show that something exists. Lesson 3 Answers: The verbs are: sneezed, are, appears, and appeared. Sneezed and appeared are action verbs. Are and appears are linking, or state of being verbs. Some verbs, like appear, can be either action or linking verbs (this depends on whether the verb shows action or not). In the sentence above, Appears is like saying seems, which shows no action. However, appeared shows the action of the image. Lesson 4 Answers: The verb phrases are: going, have been resting, must be, and will be finished. Lesson 5 Answers: The verb and verb phrases are: has, do, was, & are being. Has and do are action verbs, was and are being are state of being verbs. Answers for Quiz (Lessons 1-5): 1. plays -action 2. will return -action 3. is -linking or state of being 4. have been -state of being 5. should have been playing -action 6. go -action The helping verbs are: will, have, should, have, and been. The been in sentence four is not a helping verb because it is the main verb. The last verb in a verb phrase is always the main verb. Lesson 6 Answers: Can understand, must have told, shall go, and was howling are the verb phrases. Lesson 7 Answers: I’ve, aren’t, and she’s are contractions. Lesson 8 Answers: The verb phrases are: 've (have) done, are going, and 's (is) staying. Have and is are in contracted form. Are is connected to the contracted form of not. All three verb phrases are action verbs.Lesson 9 Answers: The verb phrases in the sentences are: have been driving, was parked, and can be. The words separating the verb phrases are nouns and pronouns. This is very common in sentences that are questions. The first two verbs are action verbs, and the last verb is a state of being verb. Lesson 10 Answers: The verb phrases are: have helped, will be, and had choked. The first and third sentences are action verbs, and the second sentence is a state of being verb. Answers for Quiz (Lessons 6-10): The verb phrases are: is reading, can be altered, is being planned, should be, and 've (have) run. The twenty-three helping verbs are: is, am, are, was, were, be, being, been, have, has, had, do, does, did, shall, will, should, would, may, might, must, can, and could. Lesson Eleven Answers: The verb phrases are: will be finished, should have been worked, and would give. Not and n't are not part of the verb phrase. Verb phrases can have one, two, or three helping verbs in them. Lesson 12 Answers: 1. am being fired 2. could have been learning 3. might have been sleeping 4. must be discovered 5. should be sold Lesson 13 Answers: The answers are am coming, came, comes, send, was sent, and am sending. Lesson 14 Answers: 1. should have 2. had 3. has 4. could have been 5. 's (is) Lesson 15 Answers: 1. can understand -action 2. is going -action 3. can be held -action 4. have seen -action Answers for Quiz (Lessons 1-15): 1. false (lesson 13) 2. false (lesson 4) 3. true (lesson 12) 4. true (lesson 4) 5. false (lesson 5) 6. true (lesson 5)7. true (lesson 4) 8. true (lesson 8) 9. false (lesson 1) 10. true (lesson 1)