Verbs
Verbs are the fuel to a sentence. A verb is the action taking place within a sentence. Without a verb, there is no complete thought; hence, no sentence.
What can a verb do for my writing?
a. Give an action
The shark swam towards the shore.
b. Indicate being or position
The dog is in the kitchen
c. Describe a state of being
The singer was tired after the concert.
Verb Forms
Transitive Verb
Within the sentence there is an object which receives the action of the verb.
The basketball player made three baskets.
Verb = made
Ask “made what?”
Object = baskets
Intransitive Verb
Within the sentence these verbs show location or being.
The boy was in his bedroom.
Verb = was
This verb tells us “where” the boy is located.
Linking Verb
Within a sentence these verbs offer a state of being.
The athlete was tired after the game.
Linking Verb = was
Adjective = tired
Verb Tenses
Verbs can fall into four distinct tense categories: present, past, past participle, and future. Look to the chart below for a few examples.
1. Present tense – I drink water every day.
2. Past tense – I drank water yesterday.
3. Past participle – I had drunk all the water (these use auxiliary verbs has, have, or had.)
4. Future – I will drink water tomorrow.
