Lights! Camera!! Action Verb!!! I'm Vinny, and I express action. Every sentence needs a verb, and I'm the one taking action in mine. Watch.
Lights! Camera!! Action Verb!!!
Trailer
Section 1 · Meet the Verbs
Sections 2–7
Meet the Verbs! (overview)
An action verb shows what someone or something does. The action can be physical, like run or jump, or mental, like think or decide.
Action Verbs Express Action
An action verb shows what someone or something does. Some action is physical, where the body moves, like run or jump; some is mental, where the mind moves, like think or decide.
- Physical Action : Action verbs that name something a body does.
- Mental Action : Action verbs that name something a mind does.
In a sentence
Action splits in two. Bodies move. Minds move. Both count.
Now you try
An action verb names something a body or a mind does. You could try sprinted, or dashed, or tumbled, or cartwheeled. Action means something is happening, physical or mental.
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Transitive Action Verbs
A transitive verb passes its action to an object. Find the verb, then ask 'what?' If the sentence answers, the verb is transitive.
- Transitive Action Verbs : Action verbs that pass their action on to a direct object.
In a sentence
Find the action verb. Ask 'what?' after it. If the answer is in the sentence, the verb is transitive.
Now you try
A transitive verb needs an object. You could try grabbed, or caught, or yanked, or carried. Ask 'what?' after the verb. If the answer follows, it's transitive.
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Intransitive Action Verbs
An intransitive verb keeps its action to itself. Find the verb and ask 'what?' If there is no answer, the verb is intransitive.
- Intransitive Action Verbs : Action verbs that work alone, with no direct object.
In a sentence
Same diagnostic. Ask 'what?' after the verb. No answer in the sentence means the verb stands on its own. That is intransitive.
Now you try
An intransitive verb works alone. You could try danced, or slept, or laughed, or napped. Ask 'what?' after the verb. If there is no answer in the sentence, it is intransitive.
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Action Verb or Linking Verb?
Some verbs can be an action verb or a linking verb. Swap the verb for an equals sign: if the sentence still works, it is linking (Lucy's); if not, the action is mine.
In a sentence
Some words show up in both camps. Replace the verb with 'is'. If the sentence still makes sense, that was Lucy's. If it does not, it was mine.
Now you try
If the verb shows something happening, it is an action verb. You could try lowered, or tossed, or flung. If you could replace it with an equals sign and the sentence still works, that is Lucy's territory.
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Verb Tenses (Past, Present, Future)
Verb tenses show when an action happens. Present tense shows action now (I walk, she walks). Past tense shows action that already happened (I walked, she walked). Progressive tenses show ongoing action (I am walking, she is walking).
- Regular Past Tense Verbs : Past tense verbs formed by adding -ed (or -d) to the base verb.
In a sentence
Watch the verb change with the clock. Yesterday, today, tomorrow.
Now you try
Present tense happens now; past tense already happened, and most past verbs add -ed. For yesterday, you could try jumped, or climbed, or hopped.
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Irregular Past Tense Verbs
Most verbs form the past tense by adding -ed. However, irregular verbs do not follow this pattern and must be memorized (go/went, eat/ate, see/saw, run/ran, swim/swam, write/wrote, break/broke).
- Regular Past Tense Verbs : Past tense verbs formed by adding -ed (or -d) to the base verb.
- Irregular Past Tense Verbs : Past tense verbs that do not follow the -ed pattern. The irregular form must be memorized.
In a sentence
The -ed pattern works for most verbs. These are the exceptions. Same sentence shape, today vs yesterday, watch the verb change shape.
Now you try
Most past tense verbs add -ed (walk to walked). Irregular ones do not follow that rule (go to went, eat to ate, see to saw). You have to memorize them.
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Another mission accomplished. Six kinds of action verb, all in a day's work for a hero. Head down the hall to The Big Verb Quiz. Eight questions. Admit it, you had fun.
Or skip ahead to the quiz without checking in.