by

Bill Johanson
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 Chapter 1: Verbs
Verbs show action or state of being.

Lesson 1 Lesson 2

Verbs are the most important words in a sentence. Verbs are the first Instructions: Find the verbs in these sentences. These verbs will be
of the eight parts of speech that we will be studying. Most verbs are state of being verbs also known as linking verbs.
action words, but a few verbs indicate state of being or existence.
The first lessons will be about verbs, and how they are recognized 1. My uncle is a pilot.
and used.
2. The pie looks good.
Instructions: Find the verbs in the following sentences.
3. You seem upset.
1. The wolf ran across the sand.

2. Sit down.

3. The dog barked at the man.

Note: These verbs are linking verbs. Some common linking verbs
include: is, am, are, was, were, be, being, been, seem, look, feel, and
Note: All three verbs are action verbs since they show action. Action become. They do not show action; they just show that something
verbs are the most common verbs. exists.

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 Lesson 3 Lesson 4

Instructions: Pick out the verbs in these sentences and tell whether Sometimes a verb can be more than one word. When a verb is more
they are action verbs or linking verbs. than one word, it is called a verb phrase. Verb phrases can be two,
three, or four words. Verb phrases are made by using helping or
1. Suddenly someone sneezed loudly. auxiliary verbs with the main verb.

There are twenty-three (23) helping verbs that should be memorized

2. There are holes in my shirt. since they are used so often. If you memorize them, it will make
knowing and understanding verbs much easier. They are usually
grouped in the following six groups:
3. He appears happy.
Group 1: is, am, are, was, were
Group 2: be, being, been
4. The image appeared in the mirror. Group 3: has, have, had
Group 4: do, does, did
Group 5: shall, will, should, would
Group 6: may, might, must, can, could

Instructions: Pick out the verb phrases in these sentences.

1. You are going to Seattle.

2. You have been resting too much.

3. We must be early.

4. I will be finished shortly.

Note: Some verbs, like appear, can be either action or linking verbs
(this depends on whether the verb shows action or not).

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 Lesson 5

Some of the helping verbs can be used alone as the main verb. Is,
am, are, was, and were can be used alone as linking or state of being
verbs. Has, have, had, do, does, and did always show action when
used alone. Be, being, and been can be used with other verbs either
to show action, or state of being. The other helping verbs cannot be
used alone, but only as helping verbs.

As mentioned before, it's a good idea to memorize the helping verbs.

If you haven’t memorized them, take a few minutes to learn them.

Group 1: is, am, are, was, were (linking verbs when used alone)
Group 2: be, being, been (show action or state of being)
Group 3: has, have, had (show action when used alone)
Group 4: do, does, did (show action when used alone)
Group 5: shall, will, should, would (cannot be used alone)
Group 6: may, might, must, can, could (cannot be used alone)

Instructions: Find the verb or verb phrases in these sentences.

1. She has too many friends.

2. You do beautiful work.

3. I was in Canada last week.

4. You are being very stubborn.

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 Quiz for Lessons 1-5

Instructions: Find the verbs or verb phrases in the sentences, and

tell whether they are action verbs or linking verbs. For extra credit,
find the helping verbs.

1. Jim plays basketball.

2. They will return on the airplane.

3. Badger is a funny dog.

4. I have been here a long time.

5. I should have been playing the drum.

6. Go home.

Hint: The last verb in a verb phrase is always the main verb.

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 Lesson 6 Lesson 7

Instructions: Find the verb phrases in the following sentences. The use of helping verbs causes certain changes in verb phrases that
Remember to watch for the helping verbs. we need to be able to recognize. One change is the use of
contractions (contractions are two or more words combined together
1. I can understand his concern. with an apostrophe).

2. She must have told you ten times. As mentioned before, it’s a good idea to memorize the helping verbs.
If you haven’t memorized them, take a few minutes to learn them.
3. We shall go tomorrow.
Group 1: is, am, are, was, were
4. The wind was howling all night. Group 2: be, being, been
Group 3: has, have, had
Group 4: do, does, did
Group 5: shall, will, should, would
Group 6: may, might, must, can, could

Instructions: Find the contractions in the following sentences.

1. I've done it again.

2. You aren't going with us.

3. She's staying to tend the kids.

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 Lesson 8 Lesson 9

A helping verb may be connected with another word in a contracted In sentences that are questions, the verb phrase is often separated by
form. The following sentences have verb phrases using contractions. another word.

Instructions: Find the verb phrases in each sentence. Determine if Instructions: Find the verb phrases in these sentences. Be sure to
the verb phases are action verbs or state of being verbs. watch for another word separating the helping verb from the main
verb.
1. I've done it again.
1. Have you been driving long?

2. You aren't going with us.

2. Where was the car parked?

3. She's staying to tend the kids.

3. Can I be of assistance?

Note: The words separating the verb phrases are nouns and
pronouns. This is very common in sentences that are questions.

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 Lesson 10

Sometimes verb phrases are separated by words called adverbs (we

will learn more about adverbs in later lessons). Adverbs are often
used with verbs; however, they are not considered part of the verb
phrase.

Instructions: Find the verb phrases in the following sentences. Are

the verbs action verbs or state of being verbs?

1. You have not helped your father today.

2. I will soon be home.

3. The child had suddenly choked on the food.

Note: The words separating the verb phrases are adverbs.

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 Quiz for Lessons 6-10

Instructions: Find the verb phrases in the following sentences.

1. My wife is reading in the hammock under the tree.

2. The message can't be altered.

3. Somewhere a party is being planned.

4. Shouldn't I be a clown for Halloween?

5. I've run out of time.

6. Write down as many of the twenty-three helping verbs as you can.

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 Lesson 11 Lesson 12

Not and its contracted form, n't, are never part of the verb. Verb phrases with two or more helping verbs always keep a definite
order. Most helping verbs can combine with other helping verbs but
Instructions: Pick out the verb phrases in these sentences. will not combine with all of them.

1. The game will not be finished for another hour. Examples of good combinations:
is being said
2. The horse shouldn't have been worked so much. has been said
will be said
3. Wouldn't you give me another chance? could have been said
may have said
had been said

Instructions: Arrange the following helping verbs with the word in

parentheses into a verb phrase. One of the helping verbs will not
combine and must be left out.

Example:
was, have, may (gone) = may have gone
- was will not combine in this group

1. am, will, being (fired)

2. been, could, does, have (learning)

3. might, do, have, been (sleeping)

4. must, were, be (discovered)

5. be, has, should (sold)

Hint: Verb phrases can have one, two, or three helping verbs in
them.

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 Lesson 13 Lesson 14

We can change the form of a verb (these changes in form are used in Instructions: Pick out only the helping verbs used in the verb
conjugations. Conjugations will be addressed in later lessons). For phrases.
example, a verb can have an s added to it as in eat, eats or run, runs.
Other changes could be eating, ate, or eaten for the verb eat. Run 1. He should have tried again.
could be changed to running, or ran. Irregular verbs, which we will
cover later, have several confusing changes. 2. The dog had suddenly come into the yard.

Instructions: Find the verb or verb phrases in these sentences. Take 3. Has anyone taken out the trash?
note of the different verb forms for come and sent.
4. Could they have been pointing at our car?
1. I am coming in the morning.
5. She's hoping for a call from her sister.
2. I came as soon as possible.

3. She comes by every day.

4. Send me the package in the mail.

5. The new part was sent to me.

6. I am sending Jeff with the neighbors.

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 Lesson 15

It's time to review what we have learned. Remember that verbs either
show action or state of being. Using helping verbs, we make verb
phrases. Verb phrases may be separated by other words. Verb
phrases follow a definite order and change form.

Instructions: Find the verb phrases and tell what kind of verbs they
are.

1. I can understand your concern.

2. Is Mrs. Johanson going with you?

3. The rooms cannot be held any longer.

4. I haven't seen him for an hour.

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 Quiz for Lessons 1-15

Instructions: Answer each question true or false.

1. Verbs never change form.

2. A verb is never just one word.

3. Verb phrases keep a definite order.

4. There are twenty-three helping verbs.

5. Helping verbs cannot be the main verb.

6. Helping verbs can be action verbs.

7. Verb phrases can have three helping verbs.

8. Verbs can be in contracted form.

9. State of being verbs show action.

10. Verbs are the most important words in a sentence.

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 Chapter 2: Nouns
The name of a person, place, thing, or idea.

Lesson 16 Lesson 17

A noun is a word that names a person, place, thing, or idea. Nouns can be singular (as in Lesson 16) or plural in form. Plural
Examples of nouns include: man, city, book, and courage. Nouns means two or more. Plurals are formed by adding s, es, changing y to
often follow words like a, an, and the. i and adding es, and with changes in spelling, as in man becoming
men.
Instructions: Pick out all the nouns in these sentences.
Examples:
1. The teacher told the student that a person should always be loyal. car, cars
fox, foxes
2. People with perseverance will be successful in life. baby, babies
man, men
3. I bought a new pen at the drugstore across the street.
Instructions: Find the nouns in the following sentences. Some are
4. The man said to the policeman that he had not seen the accident. plurals and some are not.

1. Computers are making work easier for secretaries.

2. Children always require great energies from parents.

3. Labors on farms take great effort by workers.

4. Alaina doesn't like puzzles or mathematics.

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 Lesson 18 Lesson 19

Nouns are grouped into two general classifications: proper and Nouns can be classified in specific ways. Concrete nouns, abstract
common. Proper nouns name a special person, place, or thing and nouns, and compound nouns are three such ways.
begin with capital letters. All other nouns begin with small letters and
are considered common. Concrete nouns name things that exist physically as sidewalk, bird,
toy, hair, and rain.
Examples of common nouns include: city, man, boat, and radio.
These could be changed into proper noun forms by naming specifics: Abstract nouns name ideas, characteristics, or qualities as courage,
Chicago, Mr. Jones, Santa Maria, and Motorola. pride, goodness, and success.

Instructions: Pick out the nouns in these sentences and tell if they Compound nouns are made up of more than one word as dining
are common or proper. room, Bill of Rights, Jeff Hansen, and homerun.

1. Becky went with her sisters to Disneyland on Friday. Instructions: Find the nouns and classify them as concrete,
abstract, or compound.

2. My youngest son is in Brazil until September. 1. People like to see a homerun hit over the wall.

3. Mr. Smith works with his wife in Los Angeles. 2. My daughter works for the post office in Salt Lake City.

4. Love could bring marriage to Mark and Terri. 3. Rhode Island is a success, although smaller than Texas.

4. Respect must be earned, but honesty should always be our policy.

Note: Compound nouns can also be concrete or abstract.

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 Lesson 20

Three other specific classifications for nouns are collective nouns,

count nouns, and mass nouns.

Collective nouns name groups, such as team, class, and choir.

Count nouns can be counted. You can use a, an, many, or a number
before count nouns. Examples include: one boy, six sheep, and many
days.

Mass nouns are not countable and include words like gasoline,
water, and dirt.

Instructions: Find the nouns in these sentences and classify them as

collective nouns, count nouns, or mass nouns.

1. Get some gasoline, or the class will be late arriving.

2. The alien group should come by bus soon.

3. The orchestra will be playing in the arena in the evening.

4. The water at the beach was covered with oil.

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 Quiz for Lessons 16 - 20

Instructions: Pick out the nouns in the following sentences and tell
whether they are common or proper.

1. Mrs. Mills told the officer at the post office to weigh the package.

2. The principal at the school held Eric after the bell.

3. Sheep and horses eat grass shorter than cattle.

4. The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution are

important to Americans.

5. War is a terrible thing that all nations should work to stop.

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