Action Verbs

What are Action Verbs?

Every sentence has a verb, and many verbs show action. Run, talk, like and use all are action verbs. A verb may show an action that is visible or invisible.

Other verbs express being instead of action. These verbs state that someone or something exists. They are called state-of-being verbs. Information about a person or thing often follows these verbs in sentences. Forms of the verb be and words that can replace them are the most common state-of-being verbs.

Practice

Name the verb in each sentence.

1. Immigrants came to this country from many lands. _________

2. They left their homelands for many different reasons. __________

3. Most Americans are descendants of immigrants. _________

4. Even today people enter this country in search of a new life. _________

A. Write the verb in each sentence.

1. Millions of people immigrated to the United States. __________

2. The cities attracted the greatest numbers of immigrants. _________

3. In the 1840s and 1850s, many Irish came. _________

4. Immigration climbed rapidly between 1860 and 1890. ________

5. At first, most newcomers were from northern Europe. _________

6. In time the homelands of our immigrants shifted to southern and eastern Europe. _________

B. Write each verb and label it action or state-of-being.

1. Some native-born Americans resented the new arrivals. ______________________________________________________________________________

2. Sentiment for restrictions became stronger in the 1880s. ______________________________________________________________________________

3. In 1882, Congress restricted immigration into the country. ______________________________________________________________________________

4. In 1924, Congress severely limited immigration. ______________________________________________________________________________

5. It set limits for the number of immigrants per year. ______________________________________________________________________________

6. Each country even had a quota for its immigrants. ______________________________________________________________________________

7. This policy was painful to people from many countries. ______________________________________________________________________________

8. The quotas for some countries seemed too low. ______________________________________________________________________________

9. Thousands of people waited for years for their immigration visas. ______________________________________________________________________________

10. Finally, in 1952, Congress changed these laws. ______________________________________________________________________________

C. The writer of these sentences used forms of the verb be too often. Replace each verb with another state-of-being verb.

1. Immigrants are in every part of the United States. ______________________________________________________________________________

2. At first many immigrants are uncomfortable in America. ______________________________________________________________________________

3. In their eyes they are different from the other Americans. ______________________________________________________________________________

4. In time, however, they are familiar with America, its people, and its customs. ______________________________________________________________________________

5. Eventually they are at home in their new country. ______________________________________________________________________________

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