Introductions to Verbs动词的介绍

Verbs are very important because they are at the heart of every sentence. In some cases a single verb can be an entire sentence (e.g. sentences like: Wait! Stop! Run! are sentences that are created using only one word). 

动词很重要,是一个句子的核心。 有时一个动词都可以是一话(例如:Wait!Stop!Run!)。

Verb /vɜːb/
A word that is used to describe an action, state of being, or the occurrence of an event
(e.g. running, playing, reading).

动词   /dòngcí/
描述动作、状态、或者事件发生的词
(如跑步、玩、阅读)。

Types of Verbs 动词类型

There are two main types of verbs: ‘action verbs’ and ‘linking verbs’. An action can be a physical action such as: yell, dance, kiss, etc., or it can be a mental state such as: wish, meditate, love, etc. However, a ‘linking verb’ doesn’t show physical or mental action. Linking verbs ‘link’ or ‘connect’ a subject to a descriptive word; therefore a linking verb shows ‘a state of being’. Common ‘linking verbs’ include words like: is, am, are, was, were, be, being, been, etc.

动词有两种主要类型:“动作动词”和“系动词”。 “动作动词”可以是物理状态如 yell, dance, kiss 等,也可以是心理状态,如 wish, meditate, love 等。“系动词”不表示物理或心理状态。 系动词“链接”或“连接”主语和描述主语的描述性词语; 因此系动词表示“存在状态”。 常见的“系动词”包括:is,am,are,was,were,be,being, been 等。

It is usually easy to identify ‘action verbs’ but it can be much more difficult to identify ‘linking verbs’ in a sentence. In addition to general ‘linking verbs’ you might also come across ‘sensory linking verbs (e.g. look, seem, feel, sound, taste, smell, touch, etc.) which are all words that relate to your five senses. The following words can also be linking verbs as well: turn, grow, appear, become, prove.

常见的系动词还有感官动词,如 look, seem, feel, sound, taste, smell, touch 等。此外,还有一些词通常也用作系动词 turn, grow, appear, become, prove。

Action & Linking Verbs Activity 1
动作和系动词活动1

Instructions: Underline the verb in each sentence and determine if it is an ‘action’ or ‘linking’ verb. Then explain your answer.
说明:给下列句子中的动词画下划线,判定是动作动词还是系动词,并加以解释。

  1. Action / Linking – You look very tired today.
    explanation:
  2. Action / Linking – She kicked the ball hard.
    explanation:
  3. Action / Linking – Mark cooked dinner for his girlfriend.
    explanation:
  4. Action / Linking – How are you?
    explanation:
  5. Action / Linking – He is a good swimmer.
    explanation:
  6. Action / Linking – She won a gold medal.
    explanation:
  7. Action / Linking – We slipped on the ice.
    explanation:
  8. Action / Linking – The children hid in the yard when playing ‘hide and seek’.
    explanation:
  9. Action / Linking – My brother plays video games on the weekends.
    explanation:
  10. Action / Linking – The children ride the bus to school everyday.
    explanation:

Action & Linking Verbs Activity 2
动作和系动词活动2

Instructions: Complete each sentence with the type of verb indicated in parentheses. A selection of action and linking verbs has been provided in the ‘Word Bank’. Some sentences may have more than one correct answer.
说明: 从“词库”中选择正确类型的词填空,注意有些句子有多个正确答案。

  1. (linking verb) – My teacher ______________  fair.
  2. (action verb) – Did you ______________  the book that I gave you?
  3. (linking verb) – My pizza ______________  strange.
  4. (action verb) – I ______________  you a letter the other day.
  5. (action verb) – Charlie ______________  a text message.
  6. (linking verb)  – My laundry ______________  really bad.
  7. (action verb) – She ______________  a new game.
  8. (linking verb) – Emily ______________  nice.
  9. (action verb) – I ______________  English when I was young.
  10. (action verb) – He already ______________  the report.

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