Defining a Verb

 by Lisa Binion

What exactly is a verb?  Simply put, a verb is a word that expresses action (to jump),  occurrence (to take place), or existence by using a form of the verb 'be' (is, am, are, was, were, be, being, been).  A sentence is not complete unless it has both a subject and a verb, so it is important to be able to recognize them.  There are many different kinds of verbs.  For right now, we are going to learn about action verbs, linking verbs, state of being verbs, and helping verbs.

Action Verbs

 Action verbs are easy to recognize because they show action, even if the action takes place in the mind.  Mental action verbs include words such as think, contemplate, and worry.  Physical action verbs include words such as jump, talk, run, and drive.  

The bear chased after its prey.

The bear is in action, chasing after its food.

The ghost floated through the cemetery.

A ghost cannot float through some place while remaining still, it must be moving. 

Richard thought about how to write the story.

Thinking takes place completely in the mind, therefore it shows mental action.

Maynard worried about his new job.

Once again, worry takes place completely in the mind, therefore it shows mental action.

State of Being Verbs

 State of being verbs link the subject of the sentence to information about it.  There are eight of these verbs.  The eight state of being verbs are:  is, am, are, was, were, be, being, been.  Now for some examples of the state of being verb in action.

Amanda is calm.

In the above sentence, is links Amanda to information about her.  We learn that she is calm.  That is her state of being.

Sheila was very angry.

In the above sentence, was links Sheila to information about her.  We learn that she was angry.  That is her state of being.

Linking Verbs

 State of being verbs are often confused with linking verbs.  That is because they are sometimes used as linking verbs.  Linking verbs do just what their name implies – they link the subject to information that renames or describes it. 

Verbs that are sometimes used as linking verbs are:  feel, taste, look, smell, appear, grow, remain, stay, turn, seem, sound, become, prove.  The eight state of being verbs also sometimes function as linking verbs.  Now for some examples of linking verbs in action.

The roaring lion looked hungry.

In the above sentence, looked links the subject 'lion' to a descriptive word, 'hungry'.  We learn that the lion is hungry.

The kitten grew tired.

in the above sentence, grew links the subject 'kitten' to a word that describes it, 'tired'.  We learn that the kitten is tired.

Since most words that function as linking verbs can also function as some other type of verb, how do you know for sure when it is functioning as a linking verb?  There is one very simple thing you can do.  Try substituting 'is' or 'are' for the verb.  If the sentence still makes sense, the verb is most likely being used as a linking verb.

Helping Verbs

Helping verbs, also known as auxiliary verbs, enable you to change the main verb to show past, present, or future tense without changing the main verb.  There are twenty-three helping  verbs and you simply put one of them in front of the main verb.  These wonderful verbs are:  can, could, would, should, do , does, did, has, have, had, may, might, must, shall, and will.  The eight state of being verbs (is, am, are, was, were, be, being, been) also function as helping verbs.

Below are some examples of how helping verbs are used.

Precious jumps over the couch. - The verb is in the present tense in this sentence.

Precious will jump over the couch. - Placing the helping verb 'will' in front of jump puts the verb in the future tense.

Precious had jumped over the couch. - Now the verb is in the past tense.