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Every sentence needs a verb, so you start with the verb when you want to do anything to your sentence — including correct it. Verbs come in all shapes and sizes. In this chapter, I explain how to distinguish between linking and action verbs and to sort helping verbs from main verbs. Then I show you how to choose the correct verb for each sentence. Finally, I explain which pronouns you need for sentences with linking verbs.  Linking Verbs: The Giant Equal Sign Linking verbs are also called being verbs because they express states of being — what is, will be, or was. Here’s where math intersects with English. Linking verbs are like giant equal signs plopped into the middle of your sentence. For example, you can think of the sentence Ralph’s uncle is a cannibal with a taste for finger food. as Ralph’s uncle = a cannibal with a taste for finger food. Or, in shortened form, Ralph’s uncle = a cannibal Just as in an algebra equation, the word is links two ideas and says that t

Declarative sentences in English consist of a subject and predicate. The verb in the predicate is conjugated appropriately for the subject and in a specific tense: subject +  predicate Mary  speaks English. Let’s look at some examples that illustrate this. Declarative sentences can have a singular or plural noun as their subject and can be followed by a verb in any tense and by the complement of the sentence. John repairs the car. The boys ran into the forest. Other declarative sentences use a pronoun as their subject, and again the tense of the sentence can vary.  She has never been to England.   singular-pronoun subject, present-perfect-tense verb We shall visit them soon. plural-pronoun subject, future-tense verb Since English verbs can show an incomplete action or one in progress (he is going) or a completed or habitual action (he goes), when changing tenses, you have to conform to the type of action of the verb. For example: he is going,