Ways to Find a Verb in a Sentence

There are many easy rules to help you decide which word is a verb in a sentence. Use more than one of these rules, because using only one of them at a time may mislead you.

Rule 1. Put the sentence in a different tense. The word that changes is the verb.

Rule 2. Can you add -ed or -ing to the word and have it make sense?

Rule 3. Make the sentence negative. Use "didn't" or "did not." Near the "not" will be the verb or verb phrase.

Rule 4. Find the subject of the verb and ask "what?"

Examples of each rule are below:

Rule 1 (Put the sentence in a different tense.) example: I was running along the track. (past). I am running along the track (present) "am running" is the verb phrase in this sentence.

Rule 2 (add -ed or -ing to the word) example: I attack the dragon with my spear. I attacked the dragon with my spear. I am attacking the dragon with my spear. However, it doesn't make sense to say "I attack the dragoning with my spear." "Attack" is the verb.

Rule 3 (Make the sentence negative) example: Jared read an interesting magazine article. Jared did not read an interesting magazine article. "read" is the verb.

Rule 4 (Find the subject of the verb and ask "what?") example: In past years, the coach often selected promising athletes for an award. The subject is "the coach." The coach what? The coach selected. "Selected" is the verb.