Verb Squad Review Slides 8th Grade ELA • Quick Review
The Action & Helping Verb Squad
Mastering how verbs team up to tell us what happens and when it happens.
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Action Verbs: Tell what the subject does
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Helping Verbs: Support the action with time & tense
Action Verbs: The Doers
Part 1 of 2
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Physical Actions
Things you can see, hear, or physically do.
The crowd cheers loudly.
Marcus dribbles down the court.
Examples: run, kick, write, shout, build
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Mental Actions
Things that happen inside your mind or heart.
Elena remembers the lyrics.
We decided our science topic.
Examples: think, believe, wonder, imagine, love
💡 Ask yourself: "What is the subject doing?"
Helping Verbs: The Support Crew
Part 2 of 2
The Complete Verb Phrase Formula
Helping Verb (Sets the time)
Action Verb (Main meaning)
=
Verb Phrase
Right Now (Present)
Jayden is practicing today.
Earlier (Past)
They have scored three goals.
Later (Future)
We will win the match.
Key Rule: A helping verb never works alone when making a verb phrase!
The 23 Helping Verbs Family
Cheat Sheet
BE Family 8 total
am is are was were be being been
HAVE Family 3 total
has have had
DO Family 3 total
do does did
Modal Helpers 9 total
may might must can could shall should will would
📢 Choral Chant: "am, is, are, was, were, be, being, been!" (Practice aloud together)
Turn & Talk: Spot the Duo!
Partner Practice
Work with your partner. Identify the helping verb and the action verb in each sentence:
1. Maya is designing her robotics project.
Helper: is • Action: designing
2. The 8th graders have finished their essays.
Helper: have • Action: finished
3. We should listen to the coach.
Helper: should • Action: listen
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Partner Frame: "In sentence #___, the helping verb is ______ because it assists the action ______."
Your Turn: Quick Check
Ready for Practice
Show on your fingers or whiteboard:
"Carlos can solve the hardest algebra problem."
A Helping Verb: can
B Action Verb: solve
Next up: Grab your Verb Squad Practice Sheet !
Verb Squad Mini-Lesson • 8th Grade English Language Arts
Verb Squad Practice Worksheet 8th Grade ELA • Grammar Skills
Verb Squad: Action & Helping Verbs
Name:
Date:
Period:
Helping Verb (HV) + Action Verb (AV) = Verb Phrase
Example: is running
Common Helpers: am • is • are • was • were • has • have • will • can • should • could
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Part 1: Spot the Duo (Identify HV and AV)
In each sentence, underline the Helping Verb (HV) and circle the Action Verb (AV). Then write them on the lines provided.
1. Mateo is recording his science podcast today.
HV: AV:
2. The students have collected all the lab supplies.
HV: AV:
3. Our basketball team will travel to the state championship.
HV: AV:
4. You should review your notes before the quiz.
HV: AV:
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Part 2: Fill in the Helper
Word Bank: is • were • has • can • will
Select the best helping verb from the word bank to complete each sentence smoothly.
1. Layla practicing her clarinet right now.
2. Yesterday, the fans shouting for joy.
3. David already read three chapters.
4. Tomorrow, we present our final slides.
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Part 3: Sentence Builder (Write Your Own)
Build two complete 8th-grade sentences using the formula. Combine a subject, a helping verb, and an action verb.
Subject + Helping Verb (is / are / am) + Action Verb (-ing)
Prompt A: Write about what you or a friend are doing in class right now.
Subject + Helping Verb (will / can / should) + Action Verb (base)
Prompt B: Write about a goal you will achieve or can do this school year.
Self-Check: I underlined the helping verbs. I circled the action verbs.
Verb Squad • Student Sheet
Verb Squad Teacher Guide Teacher Facilitation Guide • 15–20 Min Mini-Lesson
Verb Squad: Quick Review Guide
Target: 8th Grade ELL / Striving
Standard: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.8.1
Learning Target
Students will identify action verbs and helping verbs, combine them into verb phrases, and use them in original sentences.
Pacing Breakdown
Slides 1–4: Direct review (6 min)Slide 5 & Practice: Guided work (8 min)Slide 6: Exit Check (4 min)
Key Language Goal
Produce complete oral and written sentences using the formula: [Helper] + [Action].
High-Impact ELL & Language Scaffolds (WIDA Levels 1–3)
1. Kinesthetic TPR (Physical Cues)
When reciting sentences, have students make a running motion with arms for Action Verbs and place an open palm under their chin ("supporting") for Helping Verbs .
2. Choral Chant (Rhythmic Cadence)
Chant the "BE family" (am, is, are, was, were, be, being, been ) to a simple 4-beat rhythm. Rhythmic repetition builds muscle memory for English verb patterns.
Facilitation Moves (Slide by Slide)
Slide 2 (Action): Emphasize that actions aren't just running; mental verbs (wondered, decided ) are also actions.Slide 3 (Formula): Explicitly model: "is" tells us it's happening right now, but "practicing" tells us what is happening.Slide 5 (Turn & Talk): Require both partners to use the sentence frame aloud before writing on their worksheet.
Misconception Radar & Quick Fixes
Pitfall: Counting "not" or "never" as verbs."not" is an adverb interrupting the pair (e.g., "is [not] going" ).
Pitfall: Confusing Helping with Linking verbs."She is happy" vs. "She is smiling" ).
Tiered Differentiation Options
High Support (Newcomers / Level 1): Allow students to highlight helping verbs in yellow and action verbs in green before writing.
Extension (Approaching Proficient): Challenge students to change the time tense by swapping only the helping verb (e.g., is walking → was walking → will walk ).
Verb Squad Mini-Lesson Bundle • 8th Grade ELA Teacher Facilitation Guide
Verb Squad Answer Key Teacher Reference • Answer Key & Scoring Notes
Verb Squad: Answer Key
100% Complete Key
Matches Student Worksheet v1
Scoring Breakdown: Part 1 (8 pts) • Part 2 (4 pts) • Part 3 (4 pts) = 16 Total Points
Mastery Target: 13/16 (80%+)
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Part 1: Spot the Duo Solutions (2 pts each: 1 pt HV, 1 pt AV)
Underline = HV | Circle = AV
1. Mateo is recording his science podcast today.
HV: is AV: recording
2. The students have collected all the lab supplies.
HV: have AV: collected
3. Our basketball team will travel to the state championship.
HV: will AV: travel
4. You should review your notes before the quiz.
HV: should AV: review
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Part 2: Fill in the Helper Solutions (1 pt each)
1. Layla is practicing her clarinet right now.
Clue: "right now" indicates present singular tense.
2. Yesterday, the fans were shouting for joy.
Clue: "yesterday" + plural "fans" requires past plural "were".
3. David has already read three chapters.
Clue: Singular subject + past participle "read" = present perfect "has".
4. Tomorrow, we will present our final slides.
Clue: "tomorrow" signals future modal "will". (Also accept "can").
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Part 3: Sentence Builder Exemplars & Scoring (2 pts each)
Prompt A Exemplar (Present Action):
"My partner [HV: is] [AV: writing] our notes on the graphic organizer."
Checklist: Subject present (0.5 pt), Helping verb correct (0.5 pt), Action verb present (0.5 pt), Capital/Period (0.5 pt).
Prompt B Exemplar (Future / Ability Goal):
"I [HV: will] [AV: pass] my 8th grade science test with an A."
Acceptable Helpers: will, can, should, must . Ensure the action verb follows immediately or after an adverb.
Rapid Diagnostic: If students circle the helper instead of the action verb, replay Slide 3 formula chant: "The helper comes first to set the time; the action tells what happens every time!"
