The Action Verb
Recognize an action verb when you find one.
Explode! Scream! Sneeze! Type! Kick! What are these words doing? They are expressing action, something that a person, animal, force of nature, or thing can do. As a result, we call these words action verbs.
Read the examples below:
In the library and at church, Michele giggles inappropriately.
Giggling is something that Michele can do.
Because of the spicy Jamaican pepper, David reached for his glass of iced tea.
Reaching is something that David can do—happily, if his mouth is on fire.
Carlos watched pretty women in skimpy bikinis parading on the beach.
Watching is something that Carlos can do.
The squirrel stuffed its cheeks with acorns.
Stuffing is something that a squirrel can do.
The hurricane stirred the ocean into a frenzy.
Stirring is something that a hurricane can do.
The alarm clock buzzed like an angry bumblebee.
Buzzing is something that the alarm clock can do.
The coffee maker gurgled on the kitchen counter.
Gurgling is something that the coffee maker can do.
If you are unsure whether a sentence contains an action verb or not, consider every word in the sentence and ask yourself, "Can a person or thing do this?"
Read the sentence below:
During biology class, Omesh napped at his desk.
Is during something that you can do? Can you biology? Is there someone biologying outside right now? Can you class? Do your obnoxious neighbors keep you up until 2 a.m. because they are classing? Can you Omesh? What does a person do when he is Omeshing? Can you nap? Bingo! Sure you can! You would probably prefer napping to listening to a biology lecture. Can you at? Of course not! Can you his? Show me hising. Can you desk? Demonstrate desking for me!
In the sentence above, there is only one action verb: napped.
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L. Simmons
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