Spotlight grammar workbook verbs

Spotlight on Grammar: Verbs presents basic information about verb tenses, types of verbs, and irregular verbs.. Circle whether the underlined verb is a main verb or a helping verb.. main

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Printed in the U.S.A.

Carolyn LoGiudice and Kate LaQuay

Skill Area: GrammarAges: 8 through 11Grades: 3 through 6

To language and learning instructors devoted toimproving students’ skills and supporting theirhighest aspirations

About the Authors

Carolyn LoGiudice, M.S., CCC-SLP, was a speech-languageclinician in school, clinic, and private settings before joiningLinguiSystems in 1984 She has co-authored many materials

with LinguiSystems, including The WORD Test 2, No-Glamour

Vocabulary Cards, The Test of Semantic Skills (TOSS-P and TOSS-I), 100% Grammar, and 100% Punctuation.

Kate LaQuay, J.D., became part of LinguiSystems’ extendedfamily more than 20 years ago when her mother, CarolynLoGiudice, joined the company Now a mother herself, Katehas co-authored several LinguiSystems products, including

U.S History: A Reading Comprehension Book, U.S ment: A Reading Comprehension Game and Spotlight on Vocabulary: Levels 1 and 2 Previously, she practiced law for

Govern-six years in Los Angeles

Carolyn LoGiudice

Kate and Michael LaQuay

Illustrations by Margaret WarnerCover design by Jason Platt

Table of Contents

Introduction 4

Pretest/Posttest 6

What Is a Verb? 7

Identifying Verbs in Complete Predicates 8

Recognizing Verbs in Sentences 9

Identifying Verbs in Sentences 10

Identifying Verbs in Paragraphs 11

Present Tense 12

Subject-Verb Agreement 13

Present Verb Endings 14

Subject-Verb Agreement in Sentences 17

Past Tense 20

Helping Verbs 23

Future Tense 25

Past Participle 26

Irregular Verbs 27

Verbs With Direct Objects 33

Linking Verbs 34

Contractions 36

Troublesome Verb Pairs 37

Using Exact Verbs 38

Answer Key 39

By itself, “grammar” is not an engaging topic for students You won’t hear them spontaneously

discuss the function of an adjective vs an adverb Students don’t get excited about linking verbs Most adults outside the academic arena even shy away from grammar, especially now that our

computers can check our grammar for reports or other writings Even so, effective speakers and writers need to understand and use grammar as a sharp tool to express their thoughts Grammar rules help us modify a message for a target audience We even break some rules on purpose to

be more casual.

Some say the most practical reason to teach grammar in school is to help students score well on tests That practice, while pragmatic, ignores the lifelong benefits of solid grammar skills We make snap judgments when we meet people These impressions are based on communication style as much as appearance and background knowledge When all we know about someone is what that person has written, as in many e-mails, grammar and writing style are even more important.

How, then, do we entice students to master basic grammar well enough to apply it in their

conversation and their writing?

• First, teach the grammar concept or rule Highlight a specific grammar point.

• Then, give your students practice, practice, practice.

• Incorporate the grammar concept in both oral and written activities.

• Spotlight the concept as your students encounter it in textbooks, Internet articles, school announcements, and classroom interaction.

• Demonstrate both correct and incorrect use of the grammar concept Talk about the impact

of the concept on a message’s listener or reader Often a message is clearer when it is grammatically correct Incorrect grammar can also distract from the meaning or desired effect of a message.

The goals of Spotlight on Grammar are below.

• To help students recognize and utilize correct grammar in their speaking and writing

• To boost students’ reading comprehension by understanding the role of grammar

All six books in Spotlight on Grammar concentrate on basic grammar concepts typically mastered

by students in fifth grade Use the Pretest/Posttest on page 6 to determine your students’ specific strengths and weaknesses The activities within each book are sequenced by general complexity Sentence structure, vocabulary, and readability are kept simple to keep students’ energies focused

on the grammar concept vs reading comprehension.

Spotlight on Grammar: Verbs presents basic information about verb tenses, types of verbs, and

irregular verbs Below are additional activities to supplement the content of this book.

• Help your students to list all the verbs/action words they can think of for a given topic, such

as paper, school, or a current learning topic For enrichment, talk about adverbs that could modify these verbs and nouns that could do the actions.

• Encourage your students to make new verbs for the actions of imagined machines or

creatures If all the objects in your classroom were animated at night, what verbs would your students use to describe the objects’ actions?

• Point out that many nouns can become verbs and vice versa Add -or or -er to an action verb to make a noun that does the action: surfboard + -er = surfboarder, act + -or = actor, etc Likewise, add -ing to a verb and use it as a noun (gerund): study + -ing = studying

as in Studying exercises your brain.

• Write 20 nouns on separate cards Then write 20 verbs on separate cards, choosing actions that could be done by the nouns in the first set of cards Give each student one card and ask the students to pair themselves as a noun and a verb that go together well.

• Ask small groups of students to travel across the same path in your room, one at a time Each student must move differently The other students must think of a verb or verbs to describe each student’s movement across the room No two students may move the same way; they must vary their body position, speed, gestures, etc Allow your students to make

up new verbs for this activity, explaining the reasoning that led to creating such a word.

English has a rich vocabulary, yet we restrict our vocabulary to common words Each week, choose one common verb and challenge your students to list as many synonyms as they can Here are some good candidates for this activity:

We hope Spotlight on Grammar: Verbs enlivens grammar lessons for you and your students!

Carolyn and Kate

go hold write say

do use take sit

move get find know

Underline each action verb in these three sentences Circle each linking verb

1 I feel sad that my team scored just 14 points in the first half

2 Because this science textbook is heavy, I carry it in my backpack

3 Please fasten your seat belt, sit back, and be comfortable

Circle whether the underlined verb is a main verb or a helping verb

4 I will throw you the ball main verb helping verb

5 You could play Monopoly main verb helping verb

Write the correct verb in ( ) to complete each sentence

6 Mrs Sloan _ Spanish (teach / teaches)

7 They _ talented athletes (am / are)

8 My mom _ her lunch in her briefcase (carry / carries)

9 The crop duster _ fertilizer onto the fields (sprays / spray)

10 We _ the rain would stop (wish / wishes)

Write the past tense and the past participle of each verb

11 paint _ has _ 14 drink _ has _

12 teach _ has _ 15 run _ has _

13 sleep _ has _ 16 lay _ has _

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What Is a Verb?

Averb shows action in a sentence

It tells what someone or something does

We catch fish at the lake.

Omar brushes his teeth carefully.

Underline the verb in each sentence

1 Kevin shut the windows

2 I ride my bike to school

3 My mom walks the dog

4 Bake the muffins for 20 minutes

5 Caitlin draws with her new markers

6 Dad watches the news on TV every night

7 The store opens at ten o’clock

8 Please pass the salt

9 Jason followed the leader

10 The basketball player shot a basket

11 The wind blew hair in my face

12 I drank milk with lunch

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Identifying Verbs in Complete Predicates

A sentence has two parts, a complete subjectand a

complete predicate A noun or a pronoun is the main

word in a complete subject A verb is the main word in

a complete predicate

Uncle Dan’s dog chases squirrels in our yard.

Each complete predicate is underlined Circle the verb in each sentence

1 Ellie spins the dial

2 Thunderstorms scare me

3 I take a shower in the morning

4 Eva designs clothes for celebrities

5 I feed my goldfish a pinch of fish food

6 It rains a lot in a rainforest

7 Our teacher reads us one chapter a day

8 My grandfather snores loudly

9 The new theater charges ten dollars per person

10 The police look for evidence in the warehouse

11 Birds build nests for their eggs

12 The Troy Middle School Band marches in the homecoming parade

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Recognizing Verbs in Sentences

Look at the underlined word in each sentence

Circle yes if it is a verb Circle no if it is not a verb

1 Lily only reads mysteries yes no

2 My tooth hurts a lot yes no

3 I wash the dishes after dinner yes no

4 His dad drives us to practice yes no

5 Zephan delivers the Sunday paper yes no

6 The neighbors shovel snow from their driveways yes no

7 I talk to my best friend every day yes no

8 My grandmother drinks coffee at breakfast yes no

9 The choir sings beautifully yes no

10 The rock sinks to the bottom of the pond yes no

11 Robyn sprinkles sugar on her cereal yes no

12 The bell rings at the end of recess yes no

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Identifying Verbs in Sentences

Underline each verb in these sentences

1 My uncle rides a green motorcycle

2 We go to every home football game

3 Tara answered every question correctly

4 Dad always listens to my jokes

5 Superheroes rescue people from danger

6 My brother works at the supermarket after school

7 Female lions hunt for prey in the tall prairie grass

8 We shop for fresh fruit at the local farmer’s market

9 At the park, we hang from the monkey bars

10 Every night before bed, I read a chapter in a book

11 Sydney spends all of his allowance every week

12 We build sand castles at the beach

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Identifying Verbs in Paragraphs

Underline each verb in these passages

1 Harman draws funny pictures of his friends He

makes one part of their head too big He once drew

a picture of me He made my ears huge! Harman

shows the pictures to us We laugh at them with Harman

2 My sister Jenna takes piano lessons after school She goes once a week Shepractices her songs every day She plays at recitals once a month My family goes to every recital

3 Easton wants a new bike It costs 40 dollars He mows lawns in our neighborhood

He saves his money He has 20 dollars so far He needs 20 more for his bike

4 Lorenzo collects comic books He likes Amazing Heroes the best He has every

issue He reads them on the bus Sometimes he shares them with me

5 In the spring we plant new flowers in the garden It rains a lot in the spring Theflowers grow fast Sometimes we cut our favorite flowers We bring them inside

My mom arranges them in a vase I like our purple flowers the best

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Present Tense

The tense of a verb tells when the action happens

A verb in the present tensetells what is happening now

Underline the verbs that tell action happening now

1 Elephants have many muscles in their trunks

2 The train jumped the tracks

3 The band practices on the football field

4 I collect special rocks

5 Sometimes my brother helps me with my math homework

6 We hang the wet clothes on the clothesline in the backyard

7 American astronauts landed on the moon first

8 The hurricanes in Florida destroyed many homes

9 We clapped our hands at the end of the concert

10 Lamar rides his bicycle around and around the track

11 First we mix all of the ingredients together

12 Dana carries all of her books in her backpack

13 Helicopters make lots of noise

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Subject-Verb Agreement

The subject of a sentence must agree in numberwith its verb

in the predicate A singular subject needs a singular verb form

(A singular verb usually ends in -s, like jumps or runs.) A plural

subject needs a plural verb form

My shoe squeaks My shoes squeak

Circle whether each subject is singular or plural Then write the correct verb in theblank to complete each sentence

1 My bike _ a new tire

2 The washing machine _ the mud

off of our clothes

3 My parents _ my presents until

my birthday

4 Aunt Rita’s jokes _ me

5 My cousin _ the violin

6 Too much candy usually _ me a

stomachache

7 Polar bears _ at the North Pole

8 The referee _ the call

9 Your performance _ each time

10 That picture _ me of something

11 The new players on the team _

the same uniform

Present Verb Endings 1

If a verb ends with - s , - sh , - ch , or - x , add - es

to make it singular

itch Scooter’s ears itch Scooter’s ear itches.

Use the correct present tense verb form to finish each

sentence Make sure you use a singular verb for a

singular subject and a plural verb for a plural subject

1 toss The players _ the ball around before practice

2 wish Robin _ she had magical powers

3 fish My family _ for trout at Lake Clearview

4 miss My friends _ me when I go on vacation

5 wash The rain _ the dirt off of the street

6 catch The animal patrol _ stray pets

7 fix The cook always _ lunch for us

8 mix The artist _ red and yellow paint together

to make orange

9 crush My dad _ empty soda cans so they take

up less room in the garbage

10 watch Lifeguards _ the people in the water

11 scratch Dylan _ his head when he is confused

12 push Josh _ his books to one side of his desk

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Present Verb Endings 2

Some verbs need a spelling change to make them singular If a

verb ends with a vowel + - y , just add an - s to make it singular

play The twins play tennis One twin plays tennis.

Use the correct present tense verb form to finish each sentence

Make sure you use a singular verb for a singular subject and a

plural verb for a plural subject

1 destroy Tornadoes _ everything in their path

2 pay Every week Mr Todd _ me ten dollars to

mow his lawn

3 annoy Bossy people _ me

4 say The textbook _ the answer is 54

5 enjoy My aunt _ the annual fireworks show

6 delay Joel often _ doing his chores

7 employ The company _ 100 workers

8 play My friends _ in a rock-’n’-roll band

9 stay Abigail _ with her father on the weekends

10 relay Reporters _ important information to the public

11 display The artist _ her artwork in her studio

12 replay My little brother usually _ his favorite songs

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Present Verb Endings 3

Some verbs need a spelling change to make them singular If a

verb ends with a consonant + - y, change the yto i and add - es

bury Turtles bury their eggs A turtle buries its eggs

Use the correct present tense verb form to finish each

sentence Make sure you use a singular verb for a singular

subject and a plural verb for a plural subject

1 fly Those birds _ south every winter

2 hurry The girls _ to catch the bus

3 cry Baby Eli _ when he is hungry

4 study Karen _ for the test in her room

5 worry My father _ if I don’t get home on time

6 rely My mom _ on me to take out the trash

7 apply Jessica _ sunscreen before she swims

8 carry Uncle Daniel _ his tools on his tool belt

9 scurry Ants _ back to their anthill

10 reply Matt _ to all of his grandpa’s e-mails

11 fry Leslie _ the tortillas in hot oil

12 marry The judge sometimes _ couples at the courthouse

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Subject-Verb Agreement in Sentences 1

Use the correct present tense verb form to finish each

sentence Make sure you use a singular verb for a singular

subject and a plural verb for a plural subject

1 hang Bats _ upside down

2 lay A crocodile _ its eggs in a nest in the ground

3 stretch Athletes _ their muscles before competing

4 teach Mrs Meyers _ music

5 write My favorite authors _ short stories

6 open This key _ the front door

7 leave Don’s boots _ big footprints

8 play Leanne _ the drums

9 spy My sister always _ on me and my friends

10 fix Can the mechanic _ my bike?

11 pass Quarterbacks _ the football

12 toss Darin _ the remote to me

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Subject-Verb Agreement in Sentences 2

Use the correct present tense verb form to finish each

sentence Make sure you use a singular verb for a singular

subject and a plural verb for a plural subject

1 eat I often _ a whole

carton of ice cream by myself

2 design Aunt Ann _ computer games

3 practice We _ three times a week

4 make Everyone _ mistakes sometimes

5 carry They _ our luggage to the hotel

6 balance Drew _ on the tightrope

7 bring You _ it to me, please

8 kiss They _ me goodnight

9 run Who _ the fastest?

10 finish We _ the puzzle together

11 play Gordon _ piano with the orchestra

12 carry I usually _ eggs very carefully

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Subject-Verb Agreement in Sentences 3

Use the correct present tense verb form to finish each sentence Make sure you

use a singular verb for a singular subject and a plural verb for a plural subject

1 toss Glen _ the Frisbee to his dog

2 swim They _ laps in the big pool

3 deliver I _ newspapers on the

weekend

4 eat Rory _ the same thing for lunch every day

5 pretend We _ to be superheroes

6 stay They _ late on Wednesdays

7 study Gloria _ at the library

8 teach He _ calligraphy at the community center

9 watch Erin _ for cars

10 say The sign _ “Danger ahead.”

11 fly We _ kites on windy days

12 enjoy I _ the state fair every year

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Past Tense 1

Past tenseverbs tell what already happened

Circle present or pastfor each underlined verb

1 She slipped on the wet floor

2 You wait until it’s your turn

3 Miranda checked her list twice

4 The dog begs for a treat

5 I arrived on time

6 Tracy borrows DVDs from the library

7 The bus driver stopped the bus in the parking lot

8 We looked everywhere for Ben’s glasses

9 I visit my aunt once a month

10 Eric returned the game to me

11 We trust the judge’s opinion

12 My parents adopted my brother and me