Verbs
The verb of a sentence expresses an action or simple states a fact.
Expresses an action:
Jenny cut down the tree.
States a fact and uses a linking verb:
Our senator is happy to win the political race.
23 Helping Verbs:
do
has
does
have
did
had
is
am
are
was
were
be
being
been
may
must
might
should
could
would
shall
will
Infinitive:
An infinitive is formed with the word to and the base form of a verb.
to write
to run
to see
to talk
Irregular Verbs:
Irregular verbs do not add ed to the past tense.
swim
swam
The confusing verbs set, lay, and raise will have direct objects.
can
20 Linking Verbs:
feel
taste
look
smell
appear
become
grow
remain
1. Never show action
2. Always link the subject with something
3. Linking verb check:
a. The pie tastes good.
is
seem
sound
stay
be ( is, am, are, was,
were, be, being,
been)
Predicate Adjective:
A predicate adjective describes the subject and always comes after a
linking verb.
a. The sentence must contain a linking verb.
b. The adjective must go back and describe the subject of the
sentence.
My wagon is red.
Predicate Nominative:
A predicate nominative renames the subject and always comes after the
linking verb.
Example:
My dad is the track coach at our school.
Check:
The track coach at your school is my dad.
Subject-Verb Agreement:
If the subject is singular, the verb will be singular.
Our maid cleans the room.
If the subject if plural, the verb is plural.
Our maids clean the room.
The noun and verb will never both end with an s.
Verb Phrase:
When two or more words make the verb, it is called a verb phrase.
Verb Phrase
should go
has been given
=
=
=
helping verb
should
has been
+
+
+
Verb
go
given
In an interrogative sentence, the verb phrase is often split.
Have my jeans been washed yet?
Verb Tenses:
Tenses mean time.
Present tense means it is happening today. It never has a helping verb.
Past tense means it happened yesterday. It never has a helping verb.
Future tense means it will happen later. It uses the helping verbs shall or
will.
In regular verbs, the past tense is formed by adding ed to the verb.
call
called
accept
add
admire
admit
advise
afford
agree
alert
allow
amuse
analyze
announce
annoy
answer
apologize
appear
applaud
appreciate
approve
argue
arrange
arrest
arrive
ask
attach
attack
attempt
attend
attract
avoid
back
bake
balance
ban
bang
bare
bat
bathe
battle
beam
beg
behave
belong
bleach
bless
blind
blink
blot
blush
boast
boil
bolt
bomb
book
bore
borrow
bounce
bow
box
brake
brake
branch
breathe
bruise
brush
bubble
bump
burn
bury
buzz
calculate
call
camp
care
carry
carve
cause
challenge
change
charge
chase
cheat
check
cheer
chew
choke
chop
claim
clap
clean
clear
clip
close
coach
coil
collect
color
comb
command
communicate
dam
damage
dance
dare
decay
deceive
deliver
depend
describe
desert
deserve
destroy
compare
compete
complain
complete
concentrate
concern
confess
confuse
connect
consider
consist
contain
continue
copy
correct
disapprove
disarm
discover
dislike
divide
double
cough
count
cover
crack
crash
crawl
cross
crush
cry
cure
curl
curve
cycle
dress
drip
drop
drown
drum
dry
decide
decorate
delay
delight
detect
develop
disagree
disappear
doubt
drag
drain
dream
dust
earn
educate
embarrass
employ
empty
encourage
end
enjoy
enter
entertain
escape
examine
excite
excuse
exercise
exist
expand
expect
explain
explode
extend
face
fade
fail
fancy
fasten
fax
fear
fence
fetch
file
fill
film
fire
fit
fix
flap
flash
float
flood
flow
flower
fold
follow
fool
force
form
found
frame
frighten
fry
gather
gaze
glow
glue
grab
grate
grease
greet
grin
grip
groan
guarantee
guard
guess
guide
hammer
hand
handle
hang
happen
harass
harm
hate
haunt
head
heal
heap
heat
help
hook
hop
hope
hover
hug
hum
hunt
hurry
identify
ignore
imagine
impress
improve
increase
influence
inform
inject
injure
intend
interest
interfere
interrupt
introduce
invite
irritate
itch
include
instruct
invent
jail
jam
jog
join
joke
judge
juggle
jump
kick
kill
kiss
kneel
knit
knock
knot
label
land
last
laugh
launch
learn
level
license
lick
lie
lighten
like
list
listen
live
load
lock
long
look
love
man
manage
march
mark
marry
match
mate
matter
measure
meddle
melt
memorize
mend
mess up
milk
mine
miss
mix
moan
moor
mourn
move
muddle
mug
multiply
murder
nail
name
need
nest
nod
note
notice
number
obey
object
observe
obtain
occur
offend
offer
open
order
overflow
owe
own
pack
paddle
paint
park
part
pass
paste
pat
permit
phone
pick
pinch
pine
place
plan
plant
pop
possess
post
pour
practice
pray
preach
precede
prevent
prick
print
produce
program
promise
protect
provide
pause
peck
pedal
peel
peep
perform
play
please
plug
point
poke
polish
prefer
prepare
present
preserve
press
pretend
pull
pump
punch
puncture
punish
push
question
queue
race
radiate
rain
raise
reach
realize
receive
recognize
record
reduce
reflect
refuse
regret
reign
reject
rejoice
relax
release
rely
remain
remember
remind
remove
repair
repeat
replace
reply
report
reproduce
request
rescue
retire
return
rhyme
rinse
risk
rob
rock
roll
rot
rub
ruin
rule
rush
sack
sail
satisfy
save
saw
scare
scatter
scold
scorch
scrape
scratch
scream
screw
scribble
scrub
seal
search
separate
serve
settle
shade
shiver
shock
shop
shrug
sigh
sign
signal
sin
sip
ski
skip
slap
slip
slow
smash
smell
smile
smoke
snatch
sneeze
sniff
soothe
sound
spare
spark
sparkle
spell
spill
spoil
spot
spray
sprout
squash
squeak
squeal
squeeze
stain
stamp
stare
start
stay
steer
stop
store
strap
strengthen
stretch
strip
stroke
stuff
subtract
succeed
suck
suffer
suggest
suit
supply
support
suppose
surprise
surround
suspect
suspend
share
shave
shelter
snore
snow
soak
step
stir
stitch
switch
talk
tame
tap
taste
tease
telephone
tempt
terrify
test
thank
thaw
tick
tickle
tie
time
tip
tire
touch
tour
tow
trace
trade
train
transport
trap
travel
treat
tremble
trick
trip
trot
trouble
trust
try
tug
tumble
turn
twist
type
undress
unfasten
unite
unlock
unpack
untidy
use
vanish
visit
wail
wait
walk
wander
want
warm
warn
wash
waste
watch
water
wave
weigh
welcome
whine
whip
whirl
whisper
whistle
wink
wipe
wish
wobble
wonder
work
worry
wrap
wreck
wrestle
wriggle
x-ray
yawn
zip
yell
zoom
Irregular Verbs
Present
arise
ask
attack
awaken
bear
begin
blow
break
bring
burst
choose
cling
come
dive
do
drag
draw
drink
drive
drown
eat
fall
fly
forgive
freeze
get
give
go
grow
hang (things)
hang (people)
happen
know
lay
lead
lie
loosen
lose
pay
ride
ring
rise
run
Past (-ed form)
arose
asked
attacked
awakened OR awoke
bore
began
blew
broke
brought
burst
chose
clung
came
dived OR dove
did
dragged
drew
drank
drove
drowned
ate
fell
flew
forgave
froze
got
gave
went
grew
hung
hanged
happened
knew
laid
led
lay
loosened
lost
paid
rode
rang
rose
ran
Past Participle (-en form)
arisen
asked
attacked
awakened
borne/born
begun
blown
broken
brought
burst
chosen
clung
come
dived
done
dragged
drawn
drunk
driven
drowned
eaten
fallen
flown
forgiven
frozen
got OR gotten
given
gone
grown
hung
hanged
happened
known
laid
led
lain
loosened
lost
paid
ridden
rung
risen
run
see
set
shake
shrink
sing
sink
sit
speak
spin
spit
spring
steal
sting
stink
strive
study
swear
swim
swing
take
tear
throw
wake
wear
weave
wring
write
saw
set
shook
shrank OR shrunk
sang
sank OR sunk
sat
spoke
spun
spat
sprang OR sprung
stole
stung
stank OR stunk
strove
studied
swore
swam
swung
took
tore
threw
woke OR waked
wore
wove
wrung
wrote
seen
set
shaken
shrunk OR shrunken
sung
sunk
sat
spoken
spun
spat
sprung
stolen
stung
stunk
striven
studied
sworn
swum
swung
taken
torn
thrown
woken OR waked
worn
woven
wrung
written
acknowledged
advised
announced
assented
bantered
bemoaned
blustered
carped
cheered
confessed
contradicted
decided
denied
disrupted
emphasized
enumerated
expressed
giggled
hinted
instructed
laughed
mentioned
murmured
noted
offered
praised
professed
quibbled
reciprocated
replied
resumed
ruled
shouted
sneered
spoke
stipulated
taunted
threatened
vocalized
wailed
wondered
Other words for said
added
addressed
affirmed
agreed
answered
approved
assumed
atoned
bargained
bawled
bet
blubbered
boasted
cajoled
cautioned
challenged
chuckled
cited
commented
complained
corrected
cried
declared
demanded
denounced
dictated
drawled
droned
ended
enjoined
estimated
exclaimed
feared
fumed
greeted
grinned
implied
indicated
itemized
jeered
lectured
leered
mimicked
moaned
muttered
nagged
notified
objected
ordered
pleaded
prayed
predicted
promised
prompted
quipped
ranted
related
reminded
requested
responded
retorted
returned
scolded
scowled
shrieked
simpered
sobbed
specified
sputtered
stammered
stormed
stressed
tempted
theorized
told
urged
voiced
volunteered
warned
wept
asked
questioned
admitted
allowed
argued
babbled
began
blurted
balled
chatted
coaxed
confided
debated
demurred
disclosed
elaborated
encouraged
explained
gasped
grunted
informed
lamented
lied
mumbled
named
observed
pointed out
proclaimed
publicized
reassured
repeated
restated
roared
screamed
snapped
speculated
stated
suggested
thought
uttered
vowed
whispered
inquired
abbreviate
compliment
accent
compose
accept
compute
act
conduct
add
connect
agree
consider
allow
contrast
alphabetize
contribute
alter
convert
analyze
cooperate
answer
copy
apply
correct
argue
count
arrange
criticize
articulate
cross
ask
cut
assemble
dab
attempt
dance
attend
decrease
begin
deduce
bisect
defend
blend
define
blow
demonstrate
bow
derive
brush
describe
build
design
buy
designate
calculate
detect
calibrate
develop
call
diagram
capitalize
differentiate
carve
direct
categorize
disagree
change
discover
chart
discriminate
check
discuss
choose
display
circle
dissect
cite
distinguish
clap
distribute
clasp
divide
classify
document
clutch
dot
collect
draw
color
drill
combine
duplicate
communicate edit
compare
emit
compile
enter
complete
estimate
Mental-Action Verbs
evaluate
join
point
rewrite
supply
excuse
keep
position
roll
support
exit
label
pour
rub
switch
expand
laugh
practice
sand
swivel
explain
lead
praise
save
syllabicate
extend
leave
predict
saw
systematize
extrapolate
lengthen prepare
say
tabulate
find
limit
present
sculpt
take
finger
list
proceed
select
tally
finish
locate
produce
send
tell
fit
look
pronounce
serve
thank
fold
manipulate propose
set
time
follow
map
prove
shake
trace
forgive
mark
provide
share
transfer
form
match
punctuate sharpen
translate
formulate
measure question
shorten
trim
frame
meet
quote
sign
underline
gather
melt
react
signify
use
generalize
miss
raise
simplify
varnish
generate
mix
read
sing
verbalize
get
modify
rearrange
sit
verify
give
mold
recall
sketch
visit
graph
move
recite
smile
volunteer
greet
multiply reconstruct smooth
watch
group
mute
record
sort
weigh
grow
nail
reduce
speak
whisper
guide
name
re-group
specify
whistle
hammer
note
relate
spell
wipe
handle
number
remove
square
wrap
harmonize
offer
rename
stamp
write
heat
omit
reorder
start
help
operate
reorganize state
hold
order
repeat
stick
hum
organize
replace
stir
hyphenate
outline
report
store
illustrate
paint
reproduce straighten
include
pantomime reset
strike
increase
paraphrase respond
stir
indent
participate restate
store
indicate
pass
retell
suggest
induce
past
return
summarize
infer
pat
inform
perform
insert
permit
integrate
place
interact
plan
interpolate
plant
invite
play
isolate
plot
itemize
pluck
Muscular Action Verbs
arch
balk
bang
bat
beat
bend
bite
blink
bob
boomerang
boot
bounce
bound
box
brush
buff
bump
carry
cast
catch
chase
chew
chuck
churn
circle
clash
climb
coast
collide
creep
cringe
crinkle
crumple
crunch
crush
dally
dangle
dart
dawdle
delay
devour
dig
dine
dip
dive
dodge
double
drag
drift
drink
drive
droop
drop
dunk
eat
erase
face
fall
falter
feed
file
fire
fix
flap
flee
flick
flinch
fling
flip
float
flutter
fly
fold
fray
gallop
glide
gnash
gnaw
goad
gobble
gorge
grab
grasp
grate
graze
grind
gulp
hammer
haul
heave
hike
hit
hoist
hop
hover
hurdle
hurl
jab
jerk
jiggle
jimmy
jog
jostle
jump
kick
knead
knock
labor
launch
leap
lift
linger
loiter
lurch
make
massage
march
meander
mend
mount
nip
pace
parade
pinch
pitch
pivot
plod
plunge
poke
polish
pound
prance
press
prod
pry
pucker
pull
punch
push
put
quake
quaver
quiver
ram
ramble
rap
rebound
recoil
reel
revolve
riddle
roam
rock
roll
romp
rove
rub
run
rush
sag
scamper
scour
scram
scrape
scrub
scurry
scuttle
sew
shake
shiver
shoot
shove
shrink
shrivel
shuffle
shun
shut
so[
skate
ski
skip
slacken
slide
sling
slip
slither
slump
smile
smite
soar
sock
somersault
spring
sprinkle
squeeze
squint
stagger
stamp
stand
step
stir
strain
stray
stretch
strike
strive
stroll
struggle
stuff
sway
swerve
swim
swing
swirl
tack
tarry
tear
throb
throw
toddle
toil
toss
tow
tread
tremble
trip
trudge
tuck
tug
tumble
tweak
twirl
twitch
vault
waddle
walk
wallow
wander
wave
wheel
whirl
wiggle
wince
wink
wither
wobble
work
wriggle
wrinkle
yank
Vivid Verbs
Verbs are the words that make your writing jump off the page. Don’t settle for the same
old words – try something new.
aching
babbling
bashing
battering
beaming
bickering
blaring
blinding
blinking
blistering
bubbling
cackling
chanting
chatting
chugging
clanking
clucking
coughing
crackling
creeping
crooning
crowing
crunching
dancing
dazzling
dribbling
drifting
engulfing
entertaining
flailing
flaring
flickering
flitting
floating
flopping
flowing
fuming
glaring
gliding
glowing
grinding
groaning
gunning
hissing
hooting
inviting
laughing
kissing
jerking
jumping
leaping
kicking
lighting
loaning
moaning
munching
mumbling
mocking
nailing
nicking
peeping
piling
plopping
popping
pouncing
pounding
puttering
quacking
rattling
reflecting
rumbling
shimmering
shrieking
sizzling
slapping
sloshing
soaring
spinning
squawking
smoking
splashing
streaking
smashing
scolding
sailing
sprinkling
sputtering
thumping
thundering
trilling
twinkling
wailing
whipping
whirring
whisking
winking
wheezing
whistling
yapping
yelling
zooming
accomplished
achieved
administered
affected
analyzed
applied
appraised
approved
arranged
assessed
attained
awarded
built
calculated
cataloged
clarified
coached
communicated
compared
composed1
conceived
conducted
contracted
controlled
convinced
correlated
created
decided
defined
delegated
demonstrated
designed
detailed
developed
devised
directed
distributed
earned
effected
encouraged
enforced
enlarged
MORE VERBS . . .
equipped
established
estimate
evaluated
examined
expanded
experimented
facilitated
formed
formulated
founded
generated
governed
grouped
guided
handled
illustrated
implemented
improved
increased
influenced
initiated
innovated
inspired
installed
instituted
integrated
interviewed
introduced
invented
investigated
launched
maintained
managed
mediated
motivated
negotiated
observed
obtained
organized
originated
perceived
performed
persuaded
pioneered
planner
prepared
presented
produced
programmed
promoted
proposed
proved
provided
recommended
recorded
recruited
rectified
researched
reviewed
revised
saved
scheduled
searched
secured
selected
simplified
sold
solved
stimulated
strengthened
structured
succeeded
summarized
supported
synthesized
systematized
tailored
taught
transformed
united
validated
translated
verified