3. Rocks: Action Processes

Processes represent meaning about what is happening in a clause.
Processes are expressed through verbs.

3.1. Material Processes β€” doing, happening

Material processes express actions or events in the physical world.

Examples:

Lava cools
Rocks erode
Water deposits sediments

3.2. Action Verbs

Action verbs describe processes that involve doing, changing, or acting in the physical world.
They are not used to define or classify (those are relational processes).
A material action verb shows an action, change, or physical process.
To identify an action verb, ask: β€œWhat is happening?”

Examples:

Weathering breaks rocks into small pieces.
Erosion carries the sediments to rivers, lakes, and oceans.
Water deposits the sediments in layers.
Note: Material processes may also appear in passive form, e.g. β€œare trapped”, β€œis formed”.

3.3. Igneous rocks: Action processes

Short Answer Questions

Identify the action (material) Process in each sentence.

Magma rises through cracks in the crust.

Pressure forces magma toward the surface.

Lava erupts from a volcano during an eruption.

Lava flows down the sides of the volcano.

Lava cools rapidly when exposed to air or water.

Magma cools slowly underground.

Crystals grow as magma cools and solidifies.

Minerals form ordered structures during cooling.

Gases escape from molten rock as pressure decreases.

Magma solidifies into intrusive or extrusive igneous rock.

Reveal Answer Key

Magma rises through cracks in the crust.

Pressure forces magma toward the surface.

Lava erupts from a volcano during an eruption.

Lava flows down the sides of the volcano.

Lava cools rapidly when exposed to air or water.

Magma cools slowly underground.

Crystals grow as magma cools and solidifies.

Minerals form ordered structures during cooling.

Gases escape from molten rock as pressure decreases.

Magma solidifies into intrusive or extrusive igneous rock.