The third part of speech presented in this module is the verb, one of the main parts of every sentence. Here are some hints that may help you locate verbs. A sentence is not a sentence without at least one verb.
Verbs usually tell about an action.
Verbs are often found in the middle of sentences.
Verbs may consist of one word.
Verb phrases3 may have up to five words.
Verb phrases can be interrupted by small words like not, never, always.
Verbs change their form to tell about actions taking place at different times.
For example, We walked to the store yesterday can be changed to show the action happening in the future. We will walk to the store tomorrow. The word walked became will walk; therefore, they are verbs.
Here are some sentences that show verbs at work. Notice that some verbs have more than one word and are sometimes interrupted by small words that are not part of the verb.
The pitcher threw the ball to the catcher.
The runner flew down the race track.
The farmer used all the water in his pond.
The dog was chasing its tail.
I have finished the laundry.
Have you written that letter?
They had already bought her present.
I have never seen anything like that before.
Paul can do anything.
Tracy will be buying her wedding dress in New York.
My dad thought that he could sell his old car for more.
She might have been being chased before her car smashed into the bridge.
Most students are usually sitting on the steps when the teacher arrives.
Some special verbs are a little more difficult to find because they do not show any action. When you find the words am, are, is, was, and were used in a sentence between two nouns, you have found one of these special kinds of verbs.
My sister is a nurse; I am a teacher; our father was a millwright.
Sometimes these special verbs are used to show how a person is feeling or to describe a quality.
Alex and Jim were unhappy with their marks.
She is beautiful and talented.
They were always honest.
Exercise 5: Verbs
Copy these sentences in your notebook and then underline the verbs.
1. The pitcher threw the ball.
2. The robin perched on a lower branch.
3. Seagulls flew lazily in the light breeze.
4. The New Brunswick flag cost five dollars.
5. He dreamed about his recent accident.
6. Melissa always walks to work in the morning.
7. She often rode the bus home at night.
8. His parents thought about him every day.
9. The Christmas tree looked beautiful.
10. The lions slept in the sun for hours.
Exercise 6: Verbs
Copy these sentences in your notebook and then underline the verbs.
1. Sue sat on the bench as we were jogging through the park.
2. John ate his lunch slowly.
3. He was enjoying a ham and cheese sandwich.
4. After work, we decided on a movie.
5. Since his accident, he has been driving more carefully.
6. You will never guess the answer.
7. Are you reading that magazine, or have you finished it?
8. Lucy will send you her new address.
9. Finally, the dealer agreed to our price.
10. Everyone wants a lucky lottery ticket.
Exercise 7: Verbs
A. Copy these sentences in your notebook and then underline the verbs.
1. We learned about the effects of the storm from Norma.
2. Many branches had been broken by the wind.
3. Heavy icy was still bringing down many power lines.
4. Only a few people could stay in their houses without electricity.
5. After three days, food became scarce.
6. Volunteers arrived with emergency supplies.
7. People from nearby communities brought many loads of firewood.
8. Soon, life was returning to normal.
9. They are calling it the storm of the century.
10. We hope that we will not have another ice storm this year.
B. Write a paragraph about an exciting event. Underline all the verbs you used.
