Action Verbs

Verbs – Past, Present, Future

23 Helping Verbs

jump

What is an action verb?

A verb is one of the most important parts of the sentence. It tells the subject’s actions, events, or state of being.

It is always found in the predicate of a sentence. A verb that shows action is called an action verb.

These words are action verbs:

coughed

swallowed

awaken

ran

ride

sang

Can you find the action verb in each sentence?

1. The girls danced in the recital.

2. Our mailman drove a funny car last week.

3. His teacher wrote the answers on the board.

4. Alice worked on her homework last night.

Move On

No, try again.

Yes, that word is an action verb!

Try another sentence Move On

Present verbs

An action verb that describes an action that is happening now is called a present tense verbpresent tense verb.

The bird fliesflies through the sky.

FliesFlies is a present tense verb because it is happening right now.

Present tense verbs

Many present tense verbs end with ss, but some end with eses, or iesies.

sleepss splasheses

criesies

Past Verbs

Verbs which tell about actions which happened some time ago are past tense verbs.

The dog wantedwanted a bone.

Wanted is a past tense verb because the action has already happened.

Past tense verbs

Many past tense verbs end with ed, ed, but some end with d, d, or ied ied.

clapped

played

tried

Future Verbs

Verbs which tell about actions which are going to happen are future tense verbs.

We will awaken at six a.m.

Will awakenWill awaken is a future tense verb because the action has not yet happened.

Future tense verbs

Future tense verbs use special words to talk about things that will happen: will, going to, shall, aim to, etc.

going to start

shall email

will enjoy

Helping Verbs

A helping verb works with a main verb to help you understand what action is taking place.

Elmer was was usingusing the computer.

Verb Phrase

A verb phrase is a phrase that consists of at least one helping verb followed by a main verb.

The story of Mr. Do

GOAL: Learn the 23 Helping Verbs.

The title of the story is Mr. Do.  Like some stories, this story has a moral. The moral is:

"Maybe Mr. Do should have a will."

Read on and you will see why!

Once upon a time there was a famous, Hollywood mouse named Mr. Do. Mr. Do was very rich. Unfortunately, he was very ill too.

His many relatives were dreaming of the day the sick mouse would die. They wondered which one

of them would inherit his money.

Finally, one day Mr. Do did die. All the relatives searched his house for a will. They didn't find one. They searched his house three times. They still did not find a will. The relatives did not get one dime of Mr. Do's fortune.

So what’s the moral?

Maybe Mr. Do should have a will. 

Just remember this sentence and you will

know how to set up a chart of the 23 helping verbs! 

The largest "family" is the "BE" family with eight members. The other five families

have three members each.

23 Helping Verbs

maymightmust 

bebeingbeenamareiswaswere

dodoesdid

shouldcouldwould

havehadhas

willcanshall

Notice how helping verbs work

together with main verbs to

make a complete verb phrase.

TEAMWORK

EXAMPLES:is leaving may become

might have remainedhad seemed would move

might have thought should be going

does sing

Sometimes the parts of a verb phrase are separated by other words.

Did you hear President Bush’s speech?Has the D.J. played the new CD for

you?She had always been thinking of her

future.We could never have moved the

bleachers.

Other things to keep in mind

Not every sentence will have a helping verb with the main verb.

When you see an "ing" verb such as "running", be on the lookout for a helping verb also.

A sentence may contain up to three helping verbs to the main verb. An example would be: The dog must have been chasing the cat.

Other things to remember

The word “not” is always an adverb. It is

never a part of the verb phrase even

when it is part of a contraction.

Examples:He should not have borrowed his

book.He shouldn’t have borrowed his book.

Helping Verbs Song

Helping verbs, helping verbs, there are 23!Am, is, are,Was and were,Being, been and be!Have, has, had,Do, does, did,Shall, should, will, and would!There are five more helping verbs:May, might, must, can, could!

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Video from WatchKnowLearn

1. Fill in the chart.

2. Complete page 140 in your Practice Book.

It’s your turn to practice.

23 Helping VerbsMay Be Do Should Will