Chapter 1: The Verb (Exercises 5 & 6)
Complete Grammar Explanation & Interactive Answer Key
Main & Helping Verbs, Action vs. Linking Verbs, Transitive vs. Intransitive Verbs • Interactive Study Guide
What Is a Verb and How Are Verbs Classified in Chapter 1?
A verb is a word that expresses physical or mental action or a state of being. In Chapter 1 of Holt Traditions: Warriner's Handbook, Sixth Course (and Elements of Language), every verb or verb phrase in Exercises 5 and 6 is classified by function using four core categories:
| Verb Classification | Definition & Grammatical Function | Textbook Example |
|---|---|---|
| Action Verb | Expresses physical or mental activity performed by the subject. | galloped, runs, wonder, can remove, designed |
| Linking Verb | Connects the subject to a subject complement that identifies or describes it. | is, was, should be, became, has become, have remained |
| Transitive Verb | Has a direct object (a word or word group that receives the action). | did make (day), used (typewriter), paid (costs) |
| Intransitive Verb | Does not have an object (all linking verbs are intransitive). | will appear, has lived, agreed, came, must be |
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Important Notice for Students, Parents, and Educators: This comprehensive grammar guide and interactive answer key is published strictly for educational help, academic support, self-checking, and concept mastery—NOT for cheating or copying homework. Study the complete verb rules below, solve Exercises 5 and 6 independently first, and then click Click to Show Answer below each item to check your understanding.
Complete Lesson Explanation: The Verb (Rule 1d)
Rule 1d: A verb expresses action or a state of being.
In this textbook, verbs are classified in three ways: (1) as helping or main verbs, (2) as action or linking verbs, and (3) as transitive or intransitive verbs.
1. Main Verbs, Helping Verbs (Auxiliary Verbs), and Verb Phrases
A main verb and one or more helping verbs (also called auxiliary verbs) make up a verb phrase.
- EXAMPLE: Daniel has played. (Has is the helping verb; played is the main verb.)
- EXAMPLE: Simon will be going. (Will and be are the helping verbs; going is the main verb.)
- EXAMPLE: Lynn should have been working. (Should, have, and been are the helping verbs; working is the main verb.)
| Common Helping Verbs | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Forms of Be | am are be |
been being is |
was were |
| Forms of Have | had | has | have |
| Forms of Do | do | does | did |
| Modals | can could may |
might must shall |
should will would |
Modals (Modal Auxiliaries): A modal (or modal auxiliary) is a helping verb that is joined with a main verb to express an attitude such as necessity or possibility.
- Necessity Example: We must win this game to reach the playoffs.
- Possibility Example: Mr. Garza said that if we work hard enough on the play we are writing, we may get to perform it for the whole school.
Separated Verb Phrases: A helping verb may be separated from the main verb (especially in questions or by adverbs).
- Question Example: Have you seen Tom Stoppard's play Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead?
- Adverb Example: You should not miss it.
2. Action Verbs (Physical & Mental Activity)
An action verb expresses either physical or mental activity.
| Physical Action Verbs | speak, sleep, carry, throw |
|---|---|
| Mental Action Verbs | think, imagine, dream, know |
- Physical Examples: The horse galloped across the field. / The Colorado River runs through the Grand Canyon.
- Physical & Mental Examples: If the ball touched the line, the umpire made the right call. / Do you ever wonder what dogs dream?
3. Linking Verbs & Subject Complements
A linking verb connects the subject to a word or word group that identifies or describes the subject. Such a word or word group is called a subject complement.
- EXAMPLE: Wovoka was an influential Paiute prophet. (The subject complement prophet identifies the subject Wovoka.)
- EXAMPLE: Marcy looks serious. (The subject complement serious describes the subject Marcy.)
- EXAMPLE: Computers were once so large that they could fill a room but are now small enough, in some cases, to fit in a pocket. (The subject complements large and small describe the subject Computers.)
| Common Linking Verbs | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Forms of Be | |||
| am is are was were being |
be can be may be might be must be shall be |
will be could be should be would be has been have been |
had been shall have been will have been could have been should have been would have been |
| Others | |||
| appear become feel |
grow look remain |
seem smell sound |
stay taste turn |
Verbs Used as Either Linking or Action Verbs: Some of the verbs listed as Others in the chart above can be used as either linking verbs or action verbs, depending on the context of the sentence.
- LINKING: The alarm sounded shrill.
- ACTION: I sounded the alarm.
• LINKING: The fabric felt soft. ("The fabric was soft" makes sense → linking verb.)
• ACTION: I felt the fabric. ("I was the fabric" does not make sense → action verb.)
• Example: You should have been here yesterday. (Here tells where, and yesterday tells when.)
4. Transitive and Intransitive Verbs
- Transitive Verbs: A transitive verb has an object—a word or word group that tells who or what receives the action of the verb.
Examples: The rain lashed the windows. (The object windows receives the action of lashed.) / We closed and bolted the shutters. (The object shutters receives the action of closed and bolted.) - Intransitive Verbs: An intransitive verb does not have an object.
Examples: The rain fell. / My cousin arrived yesterday. - Verbs That Can Be Either Transitive or Intransitive: Many English verbs can be either transitive or intransitive, depending on how they are used.
• TRANSITIVE: The chorus sang patriotic songs. (The object songs receives the action of sang.)
• INTRANSITIVE: The chorus sang beautifully. (No object; beautifully is an adverb telling how.)
Classifying Verb Phrases: Like a one-word verb, a multi-word verb phrase is classified as action or linking and as transitive or intransitive:
- The actors are practicing their lines. → action, transitive (object: lines)
- The director is meeting with the stage crew. → action, intransitive (no object; with the stage crew is a prepositional phrase)
- Preparation for the opening night has been hectic! → linking, intransitive (subject complement: hectic)
Exercise 5: Identifying and Classifying Verbs and Verb Phrases (Items 1–10)
Directions: Identify the verbs and verb phrases in the following sentences. Then, classify each verb or verb phrase as linking or action, and as transitive or intransitive.
Answer: did make—action, transitive
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- will appear — action, intransitive (Here appear means "come into view," expressing action with no receiver/object.)
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- has lived — action, intransitive (No direct object; for approximately twelve thousand years is a prepositional phrase.)
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- can name — action, transitive (The object places receives the action of can name.)
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- is — linking, intransitive (Links the subject purpose to the predicate nominative What.)
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- can remove — action, transitive (Object: chewing gum)
- harden — action, transitive (Object: it)
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- used — action, transitive (Object: typewriter)
- wrote — action, transitive (Object: The Adventures of Tom Sawyer)
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- should be — linking, intransitive (Links the subject You to the predicate adjective careful.)
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- became — linking, intransitive (Links Tiger Woods to the subject complement winner.)
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- Have been listening — action, intransitive (Followed by the prepositional phrase to the Shostakovich CD, not a direct object.)
- lent — action, transitive (Direct object: that; indirect object: you.)
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- was — linking, intransitive (Links Super Bowl to the predicate adjective exciting.)
- defeated — action, transitive (Object: Kansas City Chiefs.)
Exercise 6: Identifying and Classifying Verbs and Verb Phrases (Items 1–10)
Directions: Identify the verbs and verb phrases in the following sentences. Then, classify each verb or verb phrase as linking or action, and as transitive or intransitive.
Answer: have visited—action, transitive
2. It must be a truly amazing sight.
Answer: must be—linking, intransitive
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- has become — linking, intransitive (Subject complement: landmark)
- may be — linking, intransitive (Subject complement: structure)
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- possesses — action, transitive (Object: appeal)
- symbolizes — action, transitive (Object: liberty)
- awes — action, transitive (Object: visitor)
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- has withstood — action, transitive (Object: assaults)
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- designed — action, transitive (Object: statue)
- came — action, intransitive (Followed by the prepositional phrase from the drawing board, no direct object.)
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- has — action, transitive (Object: framework)
- supports — action, transitive (Object: pose)
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- was — linking, intransitive (Subject complement: gift)
- paid — action, transitive (Object: costs)
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- persuaded — action, transitive (Object: people)
- needed — action, transitive (Object: statue)
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- agreed — action, intransitive (No object)
- celebrated — action, transitive (Object: dedication)
- was — linking, intransitive (Links what to the subject complement Bedloe's Island)
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- modeled — action, transitive (Object: face)
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- have remained — linking, intransitive (Links features to the subject complement symbols)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
As explained under the Common Linking Verbs chart in Chapter 1, verbs like appear, feel, grow, look, remain, smell, sound, stay, taste, and turn can function as either linking verbs or action verbs depending on the sentence context. In "When will Halley's Comet next appear?", appear means "to come into view" (an action) rather than linking the subject to a descriptive complement.
No. A linking verb connects the subject to a subject complement (a predicate nominative or predicate adjective), not a direct object that receives action. Therefore, every linking verb in Exercises 5 and 6 is classified as linking, intransitive.
Words like not, -n't, and never modify the verb by telling to what extent or when. They are adverbs that interrupt the verb phrase, not helping verbs.