VERBS

Action Verb
Linking Verb
Grammar Focus 1
VERBS
• A verb expresses action or being.
• An action verb is a word or group of words that expresses an action.
An action verb is often the key word in the predicate. It tells what the
subject does.
Action (verb)
Lily drives to work every day.
subject

2
 A linking verb connects the subject of a sentence with a word or
words in a sentence.
 The most common linking verb is be. Some forms of be are am, is,
are, was, were, and be.
 There are also verbs with multiple functions: become, feel, seem,
look, grow, prove, remain, sound, turn, taste, appear, and smell.
These verbs can be either linking verbs or action verbs.

3
 Action verbs Be verbs Verbs with multiple
functions
The footballers jog The footballers are The footballers appear
around the field. from Malaysia. extremely tired after the
practice.
Puan Azlina bakes Puan Azlina is a baker. Puan Azlina tastes her
chocolate cake for her cake before serving.
daughter.
Farid teaches English to Farid was a terrific Learning with Farid seems
international students teacher. exciting.
from Yemen.

4
 Present Past Perfect Tense Continuous
Tense Tense Tense

I am was have / had been am / was being

He / She / It is was has / had been is / was being

You / We / They are were have / had been are / were being

5
Present Simple
I am a teacher. You are a student. He /She is a student. It is a car. We are all teachers.
They are students.

Past Simple
I was a student. You were a student. He /She was a student. It was a nice day yesterday.
We were all students once. They were students.

Perfect Tense
_____________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________

Continuous Tense

_____________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________

6
• When we talk about verbs, we must consider SUBJECT-VERB
AGREEMENT.
• The verb changes according to the subject and tense used.

Basic Principle:
Singular subjects need singular verbs;
plural subjects need plural verbs. 
Eg:
My brother is a nutritionist. Singular subject + singular verb
My sisters are mathematicians. Plural subject + plural verb
Exercises
• https://www.grammarflip.com/quizzes/lesson-9-practice-action-verbs
-vs-linking-verbs/
• http://www.cityu.edu.hk/elc/quiz/subverb1.htm