Download Linking Verbs

VERBS
Verb = words that name an action or
describe a state or being
Action verb = tells what action someone or
something is performing (some actions may
be seen, while others can not be seen)
Verb practice
Examples:
1. Father packed our suitcases.
2. The ship chugged into the harbor.
3. Both boys believe they won the race.
4. At the dance, the students mingled with
each other.
(practice pg. 316 ex. 1)
Linking Verbs
**Some verbs do not show action. Instead, they link
two parts of a sentence together.**
Linking Verbs = connects a noun or pronoun with a
word that identifies or describes it; shows a
relationship between words in a sentence.
Most Common Linking Verbs
am
are
is
was
were
am being
are being
is being
was being
were being
can be
could be
may be
might be
must be
shall be
should be
will be
would be
have been
has been
had been
could have been
may have been
might have been
must have been
shall have been
should have been
will have been
would have been
Examples: (What is the linking verb and
what is it connecting?)
1. New York is a big city.
2. The best swimmers were Margie and
Pete.
3. Lucy seems unhappy.
4. The winner could have been Larry.
(practice pg. 320 ex. 10, pg. 321 ex. 11)
Other Linking Verbs
appear
look
sound
become
remain
stay
feel
seem
taste
grow
smell
turn
Examples:
1. She later became a citizen.
2. The cream tastes sour.
3. The food stayed fresh and crisp.
4. The roses smell wonderful.
(practice pg. 323 ex. 12)
Action Verb or Linking Verb
Many of the “other” linking verbs can be used
as either an action verb or a linking verb.
To see whether it is an action or linking
verb, substitute am, are, or is for the verb.
If the sentence with the new verb (am, is,
are) makes sense, then the original verb is
a linking verb.
If it does not make sense, then the original
verb is an action verb.
Linking Verb
Tina felt weak.
(Tina is weak.)
Action Verb
Tina felt the cloth.
(Tina is the cloth.)
The girls appear tired.
(The girls are tired.)
The girls appeared.
(The girls are.)
Examples: (are they action or linking verbs?)
1.
2.
3.
4.
The bread tasted stale.
Anne grows tulips.
Charles smelled the air.
The tulips grow tall.
(practice pg. 324 ex. 13)
Verb phrase: a verb and all of its helpers; often
several words make up the verb phrase. A verb
phrase can have one, two, or three helpers before the
main verb.
Main verb: the verb without the helping verb
Some of the forms of “be” used as linking verbs can
also be used as helping verbs. Look back at your
previous notes to see these verbs.
Helping Verb
am
has been
was being
could have been
will have been
do
does
did
have
has
had
Main Verb
growing
warned
told
reminded
waiting
Other helping verbs
would
will
can
shall
might could
should
must may
Helping verb: added before another verb
to make a verb phrase
**helping verbs change the meaning of the
verb:
Put
Had put
Will have put
Might have put
Should have been put
Verb phrases
do remember
has written
may attempt
would hope
can believe
must have thought
Examples:
Identify the helping verb, main verb, and verb
phrase.
1.
2.
3.
4.
Sometimes they must read for homework.
The teachers were called to a meeting.
Several students were tested for placement.
Some of them should have been warned before.
(practice pg. 327 ex. 20 &21)
Sometimes the helping verb(s) and the main verb may
be separated in the verb phrase. Often, the words not,
certainly, and seldom come between the helping verb
and the main verb. Be sure NOT to include them as
part of the verb phrase!
Examples:
(together) They must have been taken by
taxi to the airport.
(separate) They must have not been taken
by taxi to the airport.
(together) Marie has contacted us.
(separate) Marie has certainly contacted us.
Also, in questions the verbs are often separated. Be
sure to look for the entire verb phrase.
One thing that might help is to reword the
sentence as a statement instead of a question.
This way the verb is usually together and not
separated.
Examples:
1. Have you done your homework yet?
(You have done your homework.)
2. Did you talk to Tom today?
(You did talk to Tom today.)
3. Can they rebuild their home after the tornado?
(They can rebuild their home after the
tornado.)
(practice pg. 328 ex. 22)
Subject Complements: Predicate
Nouns, Pronouns & Adjectives
A predicate noun or predicate pronoun
follows a linking verb and renames or
identifies the subject.
*they are NOT in prepositional phrases*
Ex: A lizard is a reptile.
Predicate Noun = reptile because it tells what
the subject (lizard) is.
Predicate Nouns
Ex: The large lizard is the Komodo dragon.
Predicate noun = dragon because it tells what
the lizard is.
Practice:
1. Komodo dragons are huge monsters.
2. The dragon’s home is the Indonesian Island
of Komodo.
3. The Komodo dragon is really one type of
lizard, the monitor.
Predicate Adjectives
A predicate adjective follows a linking verb
and describes the subject of the sentence.
*They are NOT found in prepositional
phrases
Ex: Her story seems strange to us.
Predicate adjective = strange because it
describes the story.
Predicate Adjectives
Practice:
1. This snake’s bite can be lethal.
2. It is extremely poisonous.
3. Cobras are useful to a snake charmer.
4. The music of the snake charmer is
enchanting.
5. However, snakes are deaf.
Transitive vs. Intransitive
Transitive verb = an action verb that
directs the action from the performer of the
action toward the receiver of the action (the
“receiver” of the action is a person, place, or
thing = noun or pronoun)
Intransitive verb = expresses action or tells
something about the subject of the sentence
but does not direct action toward another
noun or pronoun
Examples:
Transitive = The captain rang the bell.
Intransitive = The bell rang for dinner.
Transitive = The captain sailed the
ship.
Intrasitive = The ship sailed out to sea.
(practice pg. 317 ex. 2)
Practice:
1. They explored the new territory.
2. Some colonists sailed back to their
homelands.
3. The other immigrants stayed in the U.S.
4. These people shared a dream of a better
life.
5. They settled in the new land.
6. All built new lives.