Linking Verbs and Linking Verbs and Action VerbsAction Verbs

VerbsVerbs

A A verbverb is a word used to express action or a is a word used to express action or a state of being.state of being.

Categories:Categories:

1)1) Helping or main verbsHelping or main verbs

2)2) Main verbs are either Main verbs are either actionaction or or linking linking verbsverbs

3)3) Action verbs are either transitive or Action verbs are either transitive or intransitiveintransitive

Helping VerbsHelping Verbs

Helping verbs exist ONLY in a verb Helping verbs exist ONLY in a verb phrase and are ANY and ALL of the phrase and are ANY and ALL of the verbs that come BEFORE the main verb verbs that come BEFORE the main verb and “help” the main verb to make sense.and “help” the main verb to make sense.

Transitive and Transitive and Intransitive VerbsIntransitive Verbs

Only an Only an actionaction verb can be labeled verb can be labeled transitive or intransitive.transitive or intransitive.

An An action action verb is transitive only if it has a verb is transitive only if it has a direct object after it: Tim direct object after it: Tim sangsang a song. a song.

An An actionaction verb is intransitive if it has no verb is intransitive if it has no direct object after it: Tim direct object after it: Tim sangsang loudly. loudly.

Linking VerbsLinking Verbs

A A linking verblinking verb connects the connects the subject to a word subject to a word or word group that or word group that renames or renames or describes the describes the subject.subject.

ExamplesExamples The apple The apple lookslooks rotten. rotten.

““Looks” links the subject (apple) to the adjective Looks” links the subject (apple) to the adjective (rotten): rotten = apple(rotten): rotten = apple

John John is is one of the great scientists in our area. one of the great scientists in our area. ““Is” links the subject (John) to the adjective (one): Is” links the subject (John) to the adjective (one):

John = oneJohn = one

The flowers The flowers smellsmell good. good. ““Smell” links the subject (flowers) to the adjective Smell” links the subject (flowers) to the adjective

(good): flowers = good (good): flowers = good

Linking VerbsLinking Verbs To find out if a verb is an action or linking verb To find out if a verb is an action or linking verb

substitute a form of be in for the verb. If the sentence substitute a form of be in for the verb. If the sentence still makes sense, it is usually a linking verb. If the still makes sense, it is usually a linking verb. If the sentence doesn’t make sense, it is usually an action sentence doesn’t make sense, it is usually an action verb.verb.

Example: The ice cream Example: The ice cream tastestastes delicious. delicious. Substitute a form of Substitute a form of bebe: The ice cream : The ice cream isis delicious. delicious.

Example: She Example: She tasted tasted the ice cream.the ice cream. Substitute a form of Substitute a form of bebe: She : She isis the ice cream. the ice cream.

* {Forms of be and seem are always linking verbs.}{Forms of be and seem are always linking verbs.}

Commonly Used Linking Commonly Used Linking VerbsVerbs

Forms of Be:Forms of Be:

Other Linking Verbs:Other Linking Verbs:

amam bebe beingbeing waswas

areare beenbeen is is werewere

appearappear growgrow seemseem staystay

become become looklook smellsmell tastetaste

feelfeel remainremain soundsound turnturn

Action vs. Linking VerbsAction vs. Linking Verbs

An An action verbaction verb is a verb that is a verb that expresses either physical or mental expresses either physical or mental activity.activity.

Action vs. Linking Verb Action vs. Linking Verb ExamplesExamples

Joe Joe playsplays baseball. baseball.Joe Joe isis baseball. (the sentence does not make baseball. (the sentence does not make sense …plays is an sense …plays is an actionaction verb ) verb )

The roses The roses looklook pretty. pretty. The roses The roses areare pretty. (the sentence makes pretty. (the sentence makes

sense, so it is a linking verb)sense, so it is a linking verb) When a verb is a linking verb, you can tell When a verb is a linking verb, you can tell

because the predicate noun or predicate because the predicate noun or predicate adjective that follows it renames or describes adjective that follows it renames or describes the subject. the subject.

PracticePracticeWhat are the linking verbs in the following What are the linking verbs in the following

sentences and what do they connect?sentences and what do they connect? The spectacular ocean appears calm The spectacular ocean appears calm

today.today.

The Wright Brothers are famous for The Wright Brothers are famous for inventing the plane.inventing the plane.

More PracticeMore Practice

The music sounds catchy.The music sounds catchy. The The musicmusic soundssounds catchycatchy..

The park seems crowded.The park seems crowded. The The parkpark seemsseems crowdedcrowded..

Even More PracticeEven More Practice Jerry Jerry tastedtasted the banana split. the banana split. Action verbAction verb

The banana split The banana split isis tasty. tasty. Linking verbLinking verb

Jerry then Jerry then traveledtraveled to the park. to the park. Action verbAction verb

The park The park lookslooks pretty. pretty. Linking verbLinking verb