Linking Verbs and Action Verbs

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Linking Verbs and Action Verbs
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Verbs

• A verb is a word used to express action or a
  state of being.
• Main verbs are either action or linking verbs

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Linking Verbs

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

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Examples

• The apple looks rotten.
• Looks links the subject (apple) to the
  adjective (rotten) rotten apple
• John is one of the great scientists in our area.
• Is links the subject (John) to the adjective
  (one) John one
• The flowers smell good.
• Smell links the subject (flowers) to the
  adjective (good) flowers good

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Linking Verbs

• To find out if a verb is an action or linking
  verb substitute a form of be in for the verb. If
  the sentence still makes sense, it is usually a
  linking verb. If the sentence doesnt make sense,
  it is usually an action verb.
• Example The ice cream tastes delicious.
• Substitute a form of be The ice cream is
  delicious.
• Example She tasted the ice cream.
• Substitute a form of be She is the ice cream.
• Forms of be and seem are always linking verbs.

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Commonly Used Linking Verbs

• Forms of Be
• Other Linking Verbs

am be being was
are been is were
appear grow seem stay
become look smell taste
feel remain sound turn
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Action vs. Linking Verbs

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

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Action vs. Linking Verb Examples

• Joe plays baseball.
• Joe is baseball. (the sentence does not make
  sense plays is an action verb )
• The roses look pretty.
• The roses are pretty. (the sentence makes sense,
  so it is a linking verb)
• When a verb is a linking verb, you can tell
  because the predicate noun or predicate adjective
  that follows it renames or describes the subject.

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Practice

• What are the linking verbs in the following
  sentences and what do they connect?
• The spectacular ocean appears calm today.
• The Wright Brothers are famous for inventing the
  plane.

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More Practice

• The music sounds catchy.
• The music sounds catchy.
• The park seems crowded.
• The park seems crowded.

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Even More Practice

• Jerry tasted the banana split.
• Action verb
• The banana split is tasty.
• Linking verb
• Jerry then traveled to the park.
• Action verb
• The park looks pretty.
• Linking verb