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The two fundamental parts of every English sentence are the subject and the predicate. A simple sentence can also be described as a group of words expressing a complete thought. Subjects can be described as the component that performs the action described by the Predicate. SUBJECT + PREDICATE = SENTENCE A simple sentence or independent clause must have a verb. A verb shows action or state of being. The subject tells who or what about the verb. SUBJECT + VERB = SENTENCE

In the English language, there are three basic types of verbs: Action verbs, Linking verbs, and Auxiliary verbs, sometimes called Helping verbs. Verbs are words that express action or state of being, and they are an essential part of a complete sentence. Now that you understand the role of verbs, let's now take a closer look at the different and forms of types.

Types of Verbs

1. Action Verbs
What is an Action Verb?

Action verbs are words that express action (ex: give, eat, walk, etc.) or possession (have, own, etc.). Action verbs can be either transitive or intransitive.

Transitive Verbs

A transitive verb always has a noun that receives the action of the verb. This noun is called the direct object.

Example:
Laurissa raises her hand.

The verb is raises. Her hand is an object receiving the verb's action. Therefore, raises is a transitive verb.

Transitive verbs sometimes have indirect objects, which name the object to whom or for whom the action was done.

Example:
Jantzen gave Becky the pencil.

The verb is gave. The direct object is the pencil. What did he give? the pencil. The indirect object is Becky. To whom did he give it? to Becky.

Intransitive Verbs

An intransitive verb never has a direct or indirect object. Although an intransitive verb may be followed by an adverb or adverbial phrase, there is no object to receive its action.

Example:
Laurissa rises slowly from her seat.

The verb is the word, rises. The words, slowly from her seat, modify the verb. But there is no object that receives the action.

Transitive or Intransitive?

To determine whether a verb is transitive or intransitive, follow these two steps: 1. Find the verb in the sentence. 2. Determine whether the verb has a direct object. Ask yourself, "What is receiving the action of the verb?" If there is a noun receiving the action of the verb, then the verb is transitive. If there is no direct object to receive the action, and if the verb does not make sense with a direct object, then it is intransitive. Note: Some verbs can be transitive in one case but intransitive in another. Intransitive: Becky walked to school. (No direct object). Transitive: Becky walked the dog to school. (The direct object is the dog.)

2. Linking Verbs

What is a Linking Verb?

A linking verb connects the subject of a sentence to a noun or adjective that renames or describes it. This noun or adjective is called the subject complement.

Examples:
Jason became a business major.

The verb, became, links the subject, Jason, to its complement, a business major.

Lisa is in love with Jason.

The verb, is, links the subject, Lisa, to the subject complement, in love with Jason, which describes Lisa.

The most common linking verb is the verb to be in all of its forms (am, are, is, was, were, etc.). This verb may also be used as a helping verb. Two other common linking verbs, to become and to seem, are always used as linking verbs.

Other verbs may be linking verbs in some cases and action verbs in others:

to appear	to feel	to look	to remain	to stay	to taste
to continue	to grow	to prove	to sound	to smell	to turn

3. Helping Verbs

What is a Helping Verb?

Helping verbs are used before action or linking verbs to convey additional information regarding aspects of possibility (can, could, etc.) or time (was, did, has, etc.). They are also called auxiliary verbs. The main verb with its accompanying helping verb is called a verb phrase.

Examples:
Teju is (helping verb) going (main verb) to Florida.
The trip might (helping verb) be (main verb) dangerous.

The following words, called modals, always function as helping verbs:

can	may	must	shall	will
could	might	ought to	should	would

In addition, the following forms of the verbs to be, to do, and to have sometimes serve as helping verbs.

Note: In other cases, they may serve as action or linking verbs.

am	be	being	do	had	have	was
are	been	did	does	has	is	were

This brings us to the end this lesson.
We have now covered the types and forms of verbs!

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Reference: English Grammar Lessons, University of Houston , Utah Valley State Writing Center
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