This document discusses the three main types of verbs: action verbs, linking verbs, and helping verbs. Action verbs describe what the subject is doing and can take objects. Linking verbs connect the subject to a noun or adjective in the predicate and show what the subject is or is like. Helping verbs help out the main verb and are used to express tense and voice. The document provides examples and explanations to distinguish between the different verb types.

1. Types of Verbs
The Big Three:
• Action
• Linking
• Helping

2. Action verbs—the “DOers"
Tell us what the subject is doing
Sometimes have objects that receive
the action of the subject
Can be found by asking the question,
“Can I…”

3. Linking verbs
 Connects a subject to noun or adjective in
the predicate (2nd part of the sentence)
Mark is a football player

4. Linking verbs
Act like an equals sign in the sentence.
The subject isn’t doing anything.
Instead, it is or is like something else in
the sentence.
Tell us the subject is renamed (noun) or
described (adjective) in the predicate.

5. Linking verbs at work
Subject LV
Mrs. Kauffmann is the nicest teacher in the school.

6. Linking verbs at work
The trees are beautiful in the fall.

7. Helping verbs
Helps out the main verb
Used to express tense and voice
helping
Paul will go to the football game.
action

8. How do I know which is which?
If there are two + verbs, and one is
an action verb, the other is a
helping verb.
If you don’t see any other kind of
verb, it’s a linking verb.