Find the Verb in the Sentence Quiz - Can You Spot Them All?
Think you can find verb in a sentence? Identify the verb in the sentence and ace the quiz!
This quiz helps you find the verb in the sentence and spot verb phrases fast. Work through short items with instant feedback so you can fix weak spots before a test. For extra practice, try the advanced verb drill or the quick action‑verb warm‑up.
Study Outcomes
- Understand the Function of Verbs -
Learn what verbs do in a sentence and why they are essential for conveying action and state of being.
- Identify Verbs in Context -
Practice to find the verb in the sentence quickly by spotting action words and using clues from sentence structure.
- Differentiate Verbs from Other Parts of Speech -
Analyze sentences to distinguish verbs from nouns, adjectives, and adverbs for clearer grammatical insight.
- Apply Strategies to Locate Action Words -
Use proven techniques to find verb in a sentence across simple and complex examples with confidence.
- Evaluate Your Accuracy and Speed -
Track your quiz performance to identify strengths and areas for improvement when identifying the verb in the sentence.
- Reinforce Learning Through Interactive Practice -
Engage with fun, bite-sized quizzes that challenge you to continuously refine your verb-spotting skills.
Cheat Sheet
- Definition and Role of Verbs -
Verbs are words that express action, occurrence, or state of being, making them the engine of every sentence. When you find the verb in the sentence, look for the word that shows what the subject does or experiences (e.g., "The scientist experiments," "The sky is blue"). This clear definition, drawn from Purdue OWL, will help you confidently identify the verb in the sentence every time.
- Action, Linking, and Auxiliary Verbs -
Understanding the three main types of verbs allows you to find verb in a sentence more accurately: action verbs describe what the subject does, linking verbs connect the subject to a state or quality, and auxiliary verbs support a main verb. For example, in "She will dance," "dance" is the action verb and "will" is the auxiliary. Cambridge Grammar emphasizes this distinction to boost your ability to spot each verb type instantly.
- Recognizing Verb Phrases -
Many sentences use verb phrases - a combination of auxiliary verbs and a main verb - to convey tense, aspect, or mood (e.g., "has been running"). When you find the verb in the sentence, identify both the helpers (has, been) and the main action (running). Michigan's writing center recommends underlining the entire phrase to clearly identify the verb in a sentence.
- Subject-Verb Agreement -
Ensuring the verb matches its subject in number and person is key: singular subjects take singular verbs ("The cat purrs"), while plural subjects take plural verbs ("The cats purr"). A quick trick is to cover prepositional phrases and locate the true subject before choosing the verb form. This rule, supported by grammar texts from Oxford University Press, guarantees you'll correctly find the verb in the sentence every time.
- Verb Tenses and Forms -
Verbs change form to indicate past, present, and future (e.g., "walk," "walked," "will walk"), so when you identify the verb in the sentence, also note its tense. A handy mnemonic is "FAST" (Form, Agreement, Subject, Tense) to check all verb properties at once. The University of Cambridge advises practicing with various tenses to sharpen your ability to spot verb forms quickly.