In this Grade 6 grammar lesson from Elements of Language, 3rd Course, students learn to identify and distinguish between action verbs, linking verbs, transitive verbs, and intransitive verbs. The lesson covers how action verbs express physical or mental action, how linking verbs connect a subject to a subject complement, and how the same verb can function as transitive or intransitive depending on whether its action is directed toward an object. Students practice these concepts through exercises identifying and classifying verbs in sentences.
Section 1
Verb
A verb is a word that is used to express action or a state of being.
Think of a verb as the engine of a sentence. It’s the word that shows what the subject is doing (an action) or what the subject is (a state of being). Every complete sentence in English must have a verb to express what is happening.
Section 2
Action Verb
An action verb expresses physical or mental action.
Action verbs tell you what the subject is doing. This can be a physical action you can see, like running or jumping, or a mental action that happens in the mind, like thinking or wondering. Remember to include any helping verbs (like is, can, have, or will) when identifying the full verb.
Section 3
Transitive and Intransitive Verbs
A transitive verb expresses action that is directed toward a person, place, or thing. An intransitive verb expresses action that is not directed toward an object.
The key difference is the object. A transitive verb needs an object to receive the action (e.g., She reads the book). An intransitive verb makes sense without one (e.g., She reads daily). A verb isn't always one or the other; its function depends on the sentence.
Section 4
Linking Verb
A linking verb expresses a state of being by linking its subject to a word or word group that renames or describes the subject.
A linking verb acts like a mathematical equals sign (=) in a sentence. It connects the subject to a noun that renames it or an adjective that describes it. This connected word is called a subject complement. Be aware that many common linking verbs can also function as action verbs.
Section 5
Verb Phrase and Helping Verbs
A verb phrase contains at least one main verb and one or more helping verbs.
Verbs aren't always single words. A verb phrase is a team consisting of a main verb (showing the core action) and one or more helping verbs (adding detail about time or possibility). Remember, other words can split the verb phrase, and the word not (or n't) is never part of it.
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Section 1
Verb
A verb is a word that is used to express action or a state of being.
Think of a verb as the engine of a sentence. It’s the word that shows what the subject is doing (an action) or what the subject is (a state of being). Every complete sentence in English must have a verb to express what is happening.
Section 2
Action Verb
An action verb expresses physical or mental action.
Action verbs tell you what the subject is doing. This can be a physical action you can see, like running or jumping, or a mental action that happens in the mind, like thinking or wondering. Remember to include any helping verbs (like is, can, have, or will) when identifying the full verb.
Section 3
Transitive and Intransitive Verbs
A transitive verb expresses action that is directed toward a person, place, or thing. An intransitive verb expresses action that is not directed toward an object.
The key difference is the object. A transitive verb needs an object to receive the action (e.g., She reads the book). An intransitive verb makes sense without one (e.g., She reads daily). A verb isn't always one or the other; its function depends on the sentence.
Section 4
Linking Verb
A linking verb expresses a state of being by linking its subject to a word or word group that renames or describes the subject.
A linking verb acts like a mathematical equals sign (=) in a sentence. It connects the subject to a noun that renames it or an adjective that describes it. This connected word is called a subject complement. Be aware that many common linking verbs can also function as action verbs.
Section 5
Verb Phrase and Helping Verbs
A verb phrase contains at least one main verb and one or more helping verbs.
Verbs aren't always single words. A verb phrase is a team consisting of a main verb (showing the core action) and one or more helping verbs (adding detail about time or possibility). Remember, other words can split the verb phrase, and the word not (or n't) is never part of it.
Book overview
Jump across lessons in the current chapter without opening the full course modal.
Continue this chapter