Verb Basics
What is a verb?
A word that shows action or a state of being.
Choose the correct verb: The players (is/are) ready.
The players are ready.
What is the linking verb: She is happy.
She is happy.
What is the helping verb:
She is running to school.
She is running to school.
Present progressive of jump = ?
is jumping
Identify the verb: The dog barked loudly.
barked
Choose the correct verb: Each student (has/have) a book.
Each student has a book.
What is the linking verb: The sky looks dark.
The sky looks dark.
What is the helping verb:
They have finished their homework.
They have finished their homework.
Past progressive of play = ?
was playing
Which sentence has a linking verb?
A) The cat sleeps on the couch.
B) The soup tastes salty.
B) The soup tastes salty.
Choose the correct verb: Neither answer (is/are) correct.
Neither answer is correct.
What is the linking verb: He became angry when he lost.
He became angry when he lost.
What are the helping verbs:
The Phillies will be traveling tomorrow.
The Phillies will be traveling tomorrow.
Future progressive of study = ?
will be studying
Find the verb phrase: She has been running every day.
She has been running every day.
Main vrb = running
Which sentence is correct? Explain why.
A) The team of players are winning.
B) The team of players is winning.
B) The team of players is winning.
“Team” is a collective noun treated as singular here.
In this sentence, identify whether the verb is linking or action, and explain your reasoning:
The bread smells delicious.
smells = linking verb because it connects the subject (bread) to the description (delicious). It does not show an action being performed.
Identify all the helping verbs AND main verb:
The students had been studying for hours before the test.
The students had been studying for hours before the test.
Helping verbs = had been, Main verb = studying
Identify the progressive verb and tense:
They will be practicing every day after school this week.
They will be practicing every day after school this week.
will be practicing = future progressive
Identify ALL the verbs and their tense:
The Phillies were playing when the rain began.
The Phillies were playing when the rain began.
were playing = past progressive
began = simple past
Correct the mistake and explain:
The group of fans were cheering loudly for their team.
The group of fans were cheering loudly for their team.
The group of fans was cheering loudly for their team. —
“Group” is singular, even though “fans” is plural inside the phrase.
Identify the linking verb AND the subject complement:
The dog was tired after the long walk. Is the complement a noun or adjective?
The dog was tired after the long walk.
Linking verb = was
Complement tired (adjective)
Rewrite this sentence in past perfect progressive tense:
She is reading her book.
She had been reading her book.
Write one sentence in each progressive tense (present, past, future) using the verb pitch.
Examples:
Present = He is pitching the ball.
Past = He was pitching last night.
Future = He will be pitching tomorrow.