Lesson 3: Action Verbs, Troublesome Word Pairs, Irregular Verbs and Verb
Agreement
I. Action Verbs
The right action verbs can make your writing more exciting and interesting.
Look at the unique action verbs below:
Staggered
Stumbled
Darted
Slithering
Whining
Pleading
Attempted
Fabricated
Generated
Formulated
Pursued
Slurped
Hurled
Swallowed
Giggled
Winked
Boomed
Clutched
Fidgeted
Chuckled
Muttered
Nibbled
Trudged
Constructed
Annihilated
Assuaged
Radiated
Scorched
Wobbled
Splashed
Drenched
Exploded
Popped
Slithered
Churned
Sizzled
Screamed
Bolted
Thrived
Captured
Stiffened
Shrieked
Determined
Flooded
Pleaded
Writing Activity: Spooked Out!
Directions: When it comes to writing, a variety of verbs can add a lot of flavor. Think
about a time when you were extremely afraid of something. Perhaps you realized you
were afraid of heights, or snakes, or haunted houses. Write a paragraph about how your
body reacts to this scary experience. Use the unique verbs above, and brainstorm other
verbs to make your paragraph exciting. (Hint: If you aren’t afraid of anything, then write
about someone you know or an imaginary experience.)
II. Troublesome Word Pairs
1. Accept, Except
Accept: to receive willingly. Ex. I accept your offer.
Except: to leave out, to exclude. Ex. The manager promoted all of his
employees except five.
2. Affect, Effect
Affect: to influence. Ex. Did the rain affect the tournament yesterday.
Effect: to accomplish or bring about. Ex. The principal’s warning effected a
change in Troy’s behavior.
3. Bring, Take
Bring: to carry or lead, usually toward the speaker. Ex. Please bring your history
notes to my house, so we can
study.
Take: to get something into one’s possession; to grasp; to carry away.
Ex. Please take my hand, and we will take this gift to our neighbor.
4. Lie, Lay
Lie: to rest or recline. Ex. May I lie on your sofa?
Lay: to put or set something down. Ex. Please lay this blanket on the sofa.
5. Sit, Set
Sit: to occupy a chair. Ex. Let’s sit in the front row.
Set: to place or put something somewhere.
Ex. You can set your tub of popcorn on the armrest.
6. Its, It’s
Its: possessive pronoun that shows possession or ownership.
Ex. My new couch is very comfortable. Its pillows are extremely large.
It’s: a contraction meaning it is.
Ex. It’s a quarter to ten o’clock.
7. There, Their, They’re
There: in or at a specific place or to introduce a sentence.
Ex. He stopped there for applause. OR
There is hope.
Their: possessive pronoun that shows ownership or possession.
Ex. Their parents were at the football game.
They’re: a contraction for they are. Ex. They’re coming to the game tonight.
8. Too, To, Two
Too: also or very much. Ex. I hope he enjoys the concert too.
To: preposition; used to express motion or direction. Ex. Mom went to the store.
Two: an amount; 2. Ex. I would like two pieces of candy.
Troublesome Verb Chart:
Base Form:
accept
affect
bring
effect
except
lay
lie
set
sit
take
Present Participle:
is accepting
is affecting
is bringing
is effecting
is excepting
is laying
is lying
is setting
is sitting
is taking
Past:
accepted
affected
brought
effected
excepted
laid
lay
set
sat
took
Past Participle:
has accepted
has affected
has brought
has effected
has excepted
has laid
has lain
has set
has sat
has taken
Grammar Activity: Pick the correct verb to fill in the blank below. Use the chart above
to help you.
Ex. Janet found a wallet ___lying__ on the sidewalk. (laying, lying)
1. Did your father ___________ the job offer in Chicago? (accept, except)
2. We can ____________ this small rug over the stain in the carpet. (lay, lie)
3. Candace, will you ____________ this package to the post office and mail it?
(bring, take)
4. An employee was ____________ new merchandise in the front window.
(setting, sitting)
5. I believe that recycling can ____________ a change in the environment.
(affect, effect)
6. Residents outside the state of Virginia are _____________from this offer.
(accepted, excepted)
7. Andrea and her friends ____________in the sun by the swimming pool. (laid, lay)
8. The candidate’s campaign promises ____________ my opinion of her.
(affected, effected)
9. The football game begins at one o’clock. ____________ the first game of the season.
(It’s, Its)
10. When you come to my house, please ____________ potato chips or soda with you.
(bring, take)
11. On Saturday, I am going ____________ the zoo with my family. (to, too, two)
12. That broken down car has ____________ in the neighbors’ driveway for months.
(set, sat)
13. _____________ attending the performance together. (Their, There, They’re)
14. Jenny would like an ice cream cone ____________. (to, two, too)
15. ____________ notebooks were left on the classroom floor. (Their, There, They’re)
III. Irregular Verbs
Please refer to irregular verb chart and worksheet.
IV. Verb Agreement.
Please refer to subject and verb agreement chart and worksheet.