🦍 Verbs: The Action-Packed Heart of Language with Donkey Kong and Friends
Welcome back to Grammar Through Video Games! Today’s lesson swings us straight into action — because we’re talking all about verbs.
And who better to guide us than Donkey Kong? Whether he’s jumping over barrels, climbing vines, or battling King K. Rool, DK is always on the move. And guess what? That makes him a verb expert.
💥 What Is a Verb?
A verb is an action word. It shows what someone or something is doing. No action = no excitement — and definitely no sentence.
Take this example:
Donkey Kong stomps.
Simple? Yes.
Grammatically correct? Absolutely.
Packed with action? 100%.
🛠️ Types of Verbs
Let’s break it down a bit more — because not all verbs are created equal.
1. Action Verbs
These are the ones that show movement or doing something. Think: run, climb, punch, jump, collect.
Diddy Kong climbs the ropes.
Donkey Kong smashes the barrel.
2. Helping Verbs
These verbs help other verbs. (Yep, they’re team players.) They tell us when something happens or if it’s still happening.
Helping verbs include: is, are, was, were, will, have, has, had, can, could and more.
DK is throwing bananas.
Diddy has found a secret cave.
3. Linking Verbs
These verbs connect the subject to more information. They're not about action, but about identity or condition. The most common one? to be (am, is, are, was, were).
Donkey Kong is tired.
The minecart ride was intense.
⏳ Verb Tense: When Is the Action Happening?
Present tense – happening now
Donkey Kong jumps.
Past tense – already happened
Donkey Kong jumped.
Future tense – will happen
Donkey Kong will jump.
📝 Quick Practice
Part 1: Spot the Verb
Circle the verb in each sentence.
Donkey Kong runs through the jungle.
He smashes the crate.
The Kremlings attack from behind.
Dixie spins through the air.
The minecart rattles down the track.
Part 2: Add a Helping Verb
Rewrite each sentence with a helping verb to show something is happening right now.
DK throw barrels.
Diddy explore the level.
They climb the vines.
Dixie search for bananas.
Cranky yell from his chair.
Part 3: Change the Tense!
Write each sentence in past and future tense.
Example: Donkey Kong jumps.
Past: Donkey Kong jumped.
Future: Donkey Kong will jump.
Diddy collects a balloon.
The boss appears.
They cheer loudly.
DK opens the door.
The level ends.
💬 Why Donkey Kong?
Because verbs are about movement, and no one brings more jungle energy to grammar than DK and crew. These lessons aren’t just about learning what a verb is — they’re about recognizing how much life and action it adds to every sentence.
Thanks for swinging by Grammar Through Video Games!
Next stop: Mastering Descriptions with Adjectives in the Pokémon World. Catch you there.
— Prof. Rock