Post on 23-Dec-2015
Linking Verbs
The great equal sign of sentences!
The Verb• A verb
expresses action
OR
a state of being
Action Verbs• Expresses either a physical
or mental activity
• Tells what the subject is doing
• Can be found by asking
“Can I ______?”
Linking Verbs• A verb that expresses a “state
of being”
To be:
I am We are
You are You are
He/she is They are
was were
be, being, been
What Are Linking Verbs?
• Linking verbs act as an equals (=) sign in the sentence.
• The subject is not doing anything.
Function of a Linking Verb
• Linking verbs link a word in the subject to a word in the predicate
that renames it or describes it.
(a noun) (an adjective)
• In other words, they are equal!
Examples of Linking Verbs
• Linking verbs include the forms of the verb to be– is, am , was, were, are, be, being, been
• These also express “being”taste sound growsmell seem staylook appear remain
feel become turn
Review A and Exercise 4 on pages 48- 49! Please complete!
Linking Verbs in Action
Mrs. C is a language arts’ teacher.
Here is the linking verb.
Mrs. Cochren is the subject.
Linking Verbs in Action
Mrs. C is a language arts’ teacher.
Think of the linking verb as an equals (=) sign
Linking Verbs in Action
Mrs.C is a language arts’ teacher .
Mrs. C equals what?
Teacher is a noun in the predicate that renames the subject, so we call it a predicate nominative
Important Note!
• A linking verb will always have a word in the predicate that it links to the subject.
• Always!
• Yes, always!
Linking Verbs in Action
The trees turn beautiful in the fall.
Linking Verb
SubjectPredicate Adjective
The trees are beautiful.
Turn is used as a state of being!
Linking Verbs in Action
The play seems exciting.
Linking Verb
SubjectPredicate Adjective
The play is exciting.
Seems is a state of being!
Linking Verbs in Action
She became the president of the club .
Linking Verb
SubjectPredicate
Noun
She was the president!
You Try It!
• Find the linking verbs in the
upcoming sentences
• Use your mouse pointer to click on the word of your choice.
You Try It!
Ice cream is my favorite dessert.
YES!
Oh NO!
You Try It!
This water tastes funny.
YES!
Oh NO!
You Try It!
The report cards were terrible.
YES!
Oh NO!
You Try It!
That couple seems pleasant.
YES!
Oh NO!
You Try It!
We were delirious with joy!
YES!
Oh NO!
Need Another Clue
• There is a way to find out if the word you are looking at is a linking verb or not.
• Are you ready to find out what it is?
Substitution
• If you can substitute is, am, or are for the word you think is a linking verb, and the sentence still makes sense…you are probably right!
• Let’s experiment!
Is, Am, Are
• Here is a sentence
The pie smells delicious
If we think smells is a linking verb, let’s substitute one of our words and see if it still makes sense!
Is, Am, Are
• Here is a sentence
The pie is delicious
The sentence still makes sense, so smells is a linking verb!
Is, Am, Are
• Now let’s try one that doesn’t work
The meatloaf appears overcooked.
We have appears as a verb. Is makes sense!
Let’s substitute again.
Let’s Review!
• Linking verbs act as equal (=) signs between a noun in the subject and a noun or adjective .
• Linking verbs link a word in the subject to a word in the predicate.
• Linking verbs do NOT show action.
• Linking verbs tell us that something is or is like something else.
• We can substitute is, am, or are to see if a verb is linking.