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Understanding Action and Non-Action Verbs

Verbs identify actions, conditions, or states of being. Most verbs fall into two categories: action verbs and non-action verbs. Action verbs express physical or mental actions, while non-action verbs express conditions, states of being, or general truths. Verbs can also be more than one word, with helping verbs used with the main verb to show differences in time or emphasis.

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Manuel Gomez Zafra
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76 views2 pages

Understanding Action and Non-Action Verbs

Verbs identify actions, conditions, or states of being. Most verbs fall into two categories: action verbs and non-action verbs. Action verbs express physical or mental actions, while non-action verbs express conditions, states of being, or general truths. Verbs can also be more than one word, with helping verbs used with the main verb to show differences in time or emphasis.

Uploaded by

Manuel Gomez Zafra
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

VERBS

A verb is a word or group of words that identifies an action, condition, or state of being. A verb states what a thing or person is doing, or in what condition it exists. For example: Bryan Adams wrote the song. (action) I feel hungry. (condition) Doug is a teacher. (state of being) Most verbs fall into two groups: action and non-action.

ACTION VERBS
Action verbs express two kinds of action: physical and mental. For example: The car swerved off the road. (physical) I believe in my ability. (mental)

NON-ACTION VERBS
Non-action verbs express a condition, state of being, or general truth. The verb to be and sometimes the verbs of the senses function as non-action verbs. Here is a list of some common verbs of the sense: appear feel For example: John is a good runner, (state of being) Marcie was ill for the test. (condition) The bell should ring at noon. (general truth) The chicken smells bad to me. (condition of the chicken) look seem smell sound taste

In addition, become, grow, remain and stay usually function as non-action verbs. For example: I am growing tired of verbs.

NOTE: that a verb can sometimes be more than one word, that is, it can have one or more "helping verbs" used with the main verb to show differences in time or to show emphasis.
For Example: The car is swerving off the road. The car swerved off the road. The car did swerve off the road. The driver will be prosecuted. The helping verb can be separated from the main verb. For Example: Has the car swerved off the road? Will the man be prosecuted? Can the family cope?

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