Author: Drama Queen

English 9
Parts of Speech
Main Verbs and Helping Verbs
Name ______________________________________
Period _________
Score _________
There are certain words you can always count on as verbs, such as am, is, are, was, were, be, has, have, had, do, does, or did. Sometimes these words are used alone. Sometimes they are used as helping verbs with other verbs. A verb may consist of a main verb and one or more helping verbs.
HV HV MV
She had been watching the program.
(had and been are helping verbs, watching is the main verb)
To find the verb in a sentence:
1. Look for a word that tells action or state of being.
2. Look for words such as is, am, are, was, were, be, been, have, has, had, do, does, did.
3. Look for all the words that make up the verb.
Main verbs and helping verbs. Underline the verbs in the following sentences. Mark the main verb MV and the helping verbs HV.
HV MV
Example: Greta has forgotten her lunch.
The coach was describing the play.
We have watered the plants three times.
Roger is waiting patiently at the front door.
The astronauts have arrived at the space station.
Five students are developing a science project.
He has been painting her portrait for weeks.
That company has made many commercials.
The committee was planning the decorations for the dance.
Too many bikes have been stolen.
Summer weather is coming earlier this year.
King Kong was shown on television last night.
The cafeteria certainly does serve a good hot lunch.
Toby has been learning new dives.
A.J. had expected a warmer welcome.
Hundreds of people will be running in the marathon.

English 9
Parts of Speech
Parts of the Verb
Name ______________________________________
Period _________
Score _________
A verb often consists of more than one word. Each main verb may have one or two helping verbs with it, such as is, do, has, have. Here are some additional helping verbs.
will go can go would go could go must go
shall go may go should go might go
The words that make up a verb are sometimes separated by other words that are not verbs.
should not have gone will probably arrive
might never have happened could barely understand
Identify the parts of the verb. In the following sentences, underline the helping verbs twice, and the main verbs three times. Write HV over the helping verbs and MV over the main verbs. HV HV MV
Example: Brett might have gone to the movies.
The bus will follow our car.
Jane could never finish a whole pizza.
She may have gone to the store at the corner.
Do you go to the Ice Capades every year?
You should have closed the door.
The next batter will probably hit the ball out of the park.
Pam should remember the message.
I will wait for you.
The girl might have talked to the teacher.
Can you play backgammon?
Use helping verbs. The following sentences have main verbs but no helping verbs. Write the helping verbs in the blanks provided.
We _____________________________never seen such a sight.
You ____________________________ always cross the street at the corner.
They ____________________ ______________________ read that book before.
_________________________ you throw the ball hard?
_________________________ you made your costume yet?

English 9
Parts of Speech
Verbs
Name ______________________________________
Period _________
Score _________
A verb is a word used to express action, condition, or state of being. An action verb expresses a physical or mental action. A linking verb links the subject of a sentence to a word in the predicate. Some linking verbs are forms of to be, such as am, is, was, and were. Others, such as appear, become, feel, look, remain, sound, and taste, may express conditions. Some verbs such as grow, feel, and taste can be either action or linking verbs.
Auxiliary verbs, also called helping verbs, are combined with verbs to form verb phrases. Some common auxiliary verbs are forms of be, and had, do, might, would, will, must, could, and would.
Identifying verbs
Underline the verb or verb phrase in each sentence. In the space above each verb, write A if it is an action verb, L if it is a linking verb, or AUX if it is an auxiliary verb.
Bonnie and Clyde were famous bank robbers during the 1930s.
In only two years, they killed a dozen innocent people
They were arrested by the law for a variety of crimes.
Crime seemed romantic to Bonnie for about a year.
She and Clyde were traveling all over Texas together.
However, the life of a criminal is often harsh and short.
Bonnie was seriously injured in an auto accident at one point.
Clyde treated her at home without the help of doctors or hospitals.
Just before her death, Bonnie looked sick and old.
Bonnie and Clyde died in a hail of bullets during a police ambush in 1934.
In each of the following sentences, circle the verb or verbs.
Mr. Johnson’s attorney issued a statement.
The critic praised the performance of “Marcus is Walking.”
That Christmas jingle is extremely catchy.
A ritzy resort is located down in the valley.
The banker seemed confident about his position at the bank.
Josie daydreamed about her vacation in California and wished she could go back.
A tornado has destroyed our town!
The turtles basked in the sun.
This collar feels stiff.
The runner hurdled the barrier.