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hello and welcome to module one
simple sentences in order to write
effective sentences you need to be able to identify subjects
verbs and prepositional phrases and be able to understand their functions
sentences cannot exist without two key elements
subjects and verbs first we're going to look
and identifying verbs
verbs are the heart all sentences in the English language
verbs are words that express
action or link the subject of the sentence to the words following the verb
being able to identify verbs in your sentences
will improve the strength your sentences
action verbs are easy to identify because the reader or writer
can visualize the expressed action the following
are some common action verbs however
there are many more that you use every day as I read these verbs
try to visualize the action walk
walk take eat sit
stand lie play
work study sleep
love come go
leave arise plan
start finish want
tell say lead
help need and think an action verb
can appear along in a sentence rate can be accompanied by one or more helping
verbs helping verbs are invaluable
because they allow writers flexibility in expressing
action taking place in sentence the words below are common helping verbs
therefore their appearance in a sentence is often an indication
that they are accompaining another verb
these words can only be verbs
can shall is did
has must had
does will were
have do might
been am may
be was could
should are and would
in the sentences below
notice how to meaning for the action for changes
when the helping verbs appear I walk home from school
I shall walk home from school I walk home from work
I shall walk home from work I can walk home from work
I should walk home from work I could walk home from work
I will be walking home from work I may walk home from work
I have been walking home from work
I might walk home from work
I have walked home from work I will walk home from work
I had walked home from work
I must walk home from work I was walking home from work
I do walk home from work
I did work home from work as you notice in the sentences
above more than one helping verb sometimes
appears with the action verb helping verbs are sometimes separated from the main
verb
by such words as not
always never
sometimes also often
usually generally and even
these words are not considered
part of the verb helping verbs can also be separated
from the main verb in questions have
you done your homework will
you answer this question for me have you eaten dinner yet
another general classification
of verbs is linking verbs some common linking verbs are
am be
have been shall have been is
been have been should have been are
will be would be was shall be
should be were has been will have been
you'll notice that verbs also appear in the list is helping verbs
however each of these verbs can also be a linking verb
when it appears as the only verb in the sentence
linking verbs do not express action but do link
the subject to the words that follow the verb and describe
or rename the subject like action
verbs linking verbs provide writers with the flexibility needed to
communicate ideas effectively
a few perks including look feel and smell
can either be action verbs or linking verbs
depending on the context for example
the cool weather feels good after last summer's heat
that is a linking verb
I feel something under my feet
that's an action verb the cat smelled
the chicken cooking on this stove action verb
the cheesecake in the oven smells wonderful
linking verb like subjects
verbs can be compound and join together by and
or either or or neither
nor in compound verbs the parts of the verbs
are often separated the audience
giggled and squirmed through the audio-visual presentation
The student can walk to school or take the bus
either do laundry or wear dirty clothes
you should neither slump in your chair
nor sit too straight
in the following sentences underline the verbs twice
another proposal to reduce the number of firearms in america
is gun-swap programs
what is the verb
the verb is
gun-swap programs
offer various incentives in exchange for guns
where's the verb
for example in a gun swap program in New York City
citizens offered gift certificate for toys
in exchange for turning in a fire at a police station
let's identify the verbs
there's the helping verb
the main verb is offered helping verb this were
during a 14-day period in December 1993
approximately 1200 firearms brought to police stations in the city
let's locate the verb
were brought is the verb
the helping verb is were the main verb
is brought in Los Angeles
guns could be swapped for tickets to concerts
and sporting events
verb could be swapped the helping verb
is could be the main verb is
swapped approximately 400 firearms were exchanged
in los angeles's can swap program were exchanged is the verb
exchanged is the main verb the helping
verb is were other cities
thinking about again gun-swap program are thinking
is verb are is helping verb
thinking is the main verb
various civil rights organizations and church groups
have supported these programs and encourage local sponsors
have supported
have is helping verb supported is the main
verb can gun-swap programs really make a difference in
firearms reduction
can is the helping verb make
is the main verb what incentives
will be needed for these programs will be needed
is the verb needed is the main verb
will be is helping verb communities must either try innovative ways
of firearm reduction or accept the number firearms america's streets and homes
must is the verb
try is the main verb and accept
is the main verb
in conclusion we've just learned about
identifying verbs next
we will be moving to identify phrases