LESSON VI.

VERBS.

Select the words in the following sentences that tell or assert something of the thing spoken of:—

1.Boys play.
2.The sun shines.
3.The snow melts.
4.Mountains are high.

A word that is used to make an assertion is called a verb.

Note.—The word verb is derived from the Latin word verbum, meaning a word, and this part of speech is so called because it is the word, the most important word in every sentence. There can be no sentence without a verb.

EXERCISE I.

Name the verbs in the following sentences, and state what each tells or asserts:—

1.The girls gathered some water-lilies.
2.That house was built last century.
3.He slept for three hours.
4.The gardener fell from a high tree.
5.The coachman struck the horse, and it kicked him.
6.King Edward I. nearly conquered Scotland.
7.She must weep or she will die.
8.And still they rowed amidst the roar
Of waters fast prevailing:
Lord Ullin reached that fatal shore,
His wrath was changed to wailing.

EXERCISE II.

Write sentences containing each of the following words used as subjects, and underline the verbs:—

Plants, rivers, paper, gold, pen, fish, birds, stars, flowers, money.