Linking VerbsLinking Verbs

By: Amanda Young and Alanah HallBy: Amanda Young and Alanah Hall

VerbsVerbs

A A verbverb is a word used to express action is a word used to express action or a state of being. (371, HRW)or a state of being. (371, HRW)

There are THREE kinds of verbs:There are THREE kinds of verbs:

1)1) Action VerbsAction Verbs

2)2) Linking VerbsLinking Verbs

3)3) Helping VerbsHelping Verbs

Linking VerbsLinking Verbs

A A linking verblinking verb connects the subject connects the subject to a word or word to a word or word group that identifies group that identifies or describes the or describes the subject.(374, HRW)subject.(374, HRW)

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): good flowers(good): good flowers

Commonly Used Linking Commonly Used Linking VerbsVerbs

Forms of Be:Forms of Be:

Other Verbs:Other Verbs:

amam bebe beingbeing waswas

areare beenbeen is is wherewhere

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 expresses is a verb that expresses either physical or mental activity.either physical or mental activity.

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

* forms of be and seem are always linking verbsforms of be and seem are always linking verbs

Action vs. Linking Verb Action vs. Linking Verb ExamplesExamples

Joe Joe playsplays baseball. baseball.Joe Joe isis baseball. (the sentence does not baseball. (the sentence does not make sense, so it is an action verb)make sense, so it is an action verb)

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

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

because it describes the subject. because it describes the subject.

PracticePractice

What 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 today.The spectacular ocean appears calm today. The spectacular The spectacular oceanocean appearsappears calmcalm today. today.

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

The The Wright BrothersWright Brothers areare famousfamous for inventing for inventing the plane.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..

Are the following underlined verbs linking Are the following underlined verbs linking verbs or action verbs?verbs or action verbs?

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