(TBASF) Lesson Topic 3: Verbs

Dance! Sing! Paint! Giggle! Chew! What are these words doing? They are expressing an action, something that a person, an animal, a force of nature, or a thing can do. As a result, words like these are called action verbs. Look at the example below:

• Clyde sneezes with the force of a tornado.

Sneezing is something that Clyde can do. Therefore, "sneezes" is an action verb.

Linking Verbs

Linking verbs, on the other hand, do not express action. Instead, they connect the subject of a sentence to additional information about the subject. Look at the examples below:

• Mario is a computer hacker.

"Is-ing" is not something that Mario can do. Is connects the subject, Mario, to additional information about him--that he will soon have the FBI on his trail.

Linking verbs tell what a noun is: is, was, were, be, am, and are. These are called linking verbs because they "link" a noun with another word that describes it.

• After receiving another failing grade in algebra, José became depressed.

Became connects the subject, José, to something said about him, that he was not happy.

• A three-mile run seems like a marathon during a hot, humid July afternoon.

Seems connects the subject, a three-mile run, with something more said about it--that it is more arduous depending on the day and time.

Most verbs, however, show action or tell what a noun does. Any verb to which the letters "-ing" can be joined is an action verb.

• The telephone rang with shrill annoying cries.

Ringing is something that the telephone can do.

• Thunder boomed in the distance, sending my poor dog scrambling under the bed.

Booming is something that thunder can do.

Watch the following clip of the classic 1974 "Schoolhouse Rock" video "Verb - That's What's Happening." While viewing, look for examples of our references to the "be verbs" mentioned, as well as regular verbs.

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