Grammar Lesson Plan · Grades 6–10

Understanding Verbs Lesson

Teach students the three types of verbs — action, linking, and helping — with a clear lesson and three sets of sentence-level practice exercises. Includes 16 action verb sentences, 9 linking verb sentences, 9 helping verb sentences, and a complete answer key.

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All Understanding Verbs Worksheets

Subject

Grammar

Grades

Grades 6–10

Skill Focus

Verbs, parts of speech, grammar

Lesson Length

30–45 minutes

Lesson Overview

What Is a Verb?

A verb is the engine of a sentence. It tells you something about the subject — either what the subject does (action verbs) or what the subject is (linking verbs). Action verbs include words like run, laugh, and played. Linking verbs connect the subject to a description and include all forms of be (is, are, was, were), as well as become and seem. A key tip: linking verbs can sometimes act as helping verbs instead, assisting another verb rather than standing alone.

This lesson gives students practice identifying all three verb types across three targeted exercises. Part 1 asks students to underline action verbs in 16 sentences (some with more than one). Part 2 covers linking verbs in 9 sentences. Part 3 covers helping verbs in 9 sentences. The complete answer key covers all three parts.

How to Use This Lesson

1. Read the lesson on page 1 together. Review the definitions and examples for action verbs, linking verbs, and helping verbs. Discuss the tip about linking verbs functioning as helping verbs using the Sally example.

2. Complete Part 1 on page 2: underline all action verbs in each sentence. Remind students that some sentences contain more than one action verb.

3. Complete Parts 2 and 3 on page 3: underline linking verbs, then underline helping verbs. Review all answers using the key on pages 4 and 5.

Printable Resource

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