1.4 Verbs There are several types of verbs to be studied: the action verb, the linking verb, and the help- ing verb. 7 Action Verbs An action verb tells what action (often a physical action) a subject is performing, has per- formed, or will perform. My father delivers packages to department stores each day. Louie bowled a perfect game last night. Suzanne skated across the rink in Central Park. Turn at the next corner, Noel. Oscar will help Petra with the project. 7 Linking Verbs A linking verb connects (or links) a subject to a noun or an adjective in the predicate. The most common linking verbs are the forms of the verb “to be” (is, are, was, were, been, being, am) and appear, become, feel, grow, look, remain, seem, smell, sound, stay, taste, and turn. My sister is a doctor. (The linking verb, is, connects the subject, sister, with the predicate nominative, doctor.) My sister is studying to become a doctor. (In this sentence the word is is a helping verb for the main verb, studying. Is does not function as a linking verb.) He appeared tired. (The linking verb, appeared, links the subject, He, with the predicate adjective, tired.) He appeared at the game. (In this sentence the verb, appeared, is an action verb, not a linking verb.) In the following group of sentences, the odd-numbered sentences exemplify the linking verb and the even-numbered sentences show the same verb used as either an action verb or a helping verb. Discuss why each verb functions as it does. 1. Reggie looked confused. 2. Reggie looked for his missing wallet. 3. Tammy grew tired during the long concert. 4. Tammy grew tomatoes in her garden this year. 5. I feel confused in math class. 6. I feel the penny at the bottom of this pool.
1.6 Prepositions (Continued) Another type of preposition is the compound preposition. It does the same as a common preposition but is composed of two or more words. Here are the most common compound prepositions: according to ahead of apart from as of aside from because of by means of in addition to in back of in front of in place of in spite of instead of in view of next to on account of out of prior to Adverb or preposition? The difference between a preposition and an adverb is that an adverb answers the questions, Where? When? How? To what extent? by itself. Both common and compound prepositions need more than just themselves to answer the same questions: He fell down. (Down is an adverb because it takes only one word to tell where he fell.) He fell down the stairs. (Down is a preposition because it takes more than a single word to tell where he fell.) Trey walked aboard. (Aboard is an adverb because it takes only one word needed to tell where Trey walked.) Trey walked aboard the ship. (Aboard is a preposition because it takes more than one word to tell where Trey walked.) WRITING TIP Know when a word is a preposition and when it is an adverb. In the sentence “The captain walked aboard,” aboard is an adverb because it does not start a prepositional phrase. In the sentence “The captain walked aboard the ship,” aboard is a preposition that begins the prepositional phrase, aboard the ship. Look for the prepositional phrase to check that the word is a preposition and not an adverb.