Download 2. LINKING VERBS A linking verb is a verb that expresses a state of

The Verb
Class Notes
A verb is a word that expresses action or a state of being.
Three kinds of verbs:
1. action verbs
2. linking verbs
3. helping verbs
1. ACTION VERBS
An action verb is a verb that expresses either physical or
mental activity. Action verbs may be either transitive or
intransitive.
Examples:
Braden threw the baseball to the third baseman. (physical)
Cassidy plays volleyball. (physical)
I remembered to study for my science test. (mental)
My little cousin still believes in the Easter bunny. (mental)
2. LINKING VERBS
A linking verb is a verb that expresses a state of being. It connects
or links the subject to a word or word group that identifies or
describes the subject.
*** A linking verb NEVER has an object (words that tell who/what
received the action of a verb). Linking verbs are always intransitive.
Following are lists of linking verbs that need to be memorized!
Forms of “BE”
am
is
are
was
were
be
being
been
- the most common verb in the English language
has been
had been
have been
will be
shall be
may be
might be
can be
should be
could have been
might have been
should have been
would have been
Other Common Linking Verbs: (can be action or linking
depending on how they are used in a sentence)
appear
become
feel
grow
look
remain
seem
smell
sound
stay
taste
turn
EXAMPLES:
I am really tired today.
describes I)
(am links I with tired; tired
Jacob is an honor student. (is links Jacob to student;
student identifies what Jacob is)
Cody has been angry with his brother for a week.
(has been links Cody and angry; angry describes Cody)
My friend’s mother was a teacher at a private college.
(was links mother to teacher; teacher tells what the
mother was)
That skunk smells terrible! (smells linking skunk and
terrible; terrible is describing the skunk)
Gina smelled the burning pie!
(smelled is action – Gina is doing something)
I feel happy today! (feel is linking I to happy; happy
describes I._
Derek felt his way through the dark hallway. (felt is an
action verb; Derek is doing something)
Linking Verbs and Predicate Words
A linking verb links the subject to a noun or
adjective in the predicate that identifies or
describes the subject.
These words are called Subject Complements –
which means that they complete the meaning of the
subject/verb.
There are two kinds of subject complements: the
predicate nominative (sometimes called the
predicate noun – which can be either a noun or
pronoun) and the predicate adjective.
S = PN (the subject and predicate nominative are the
same thing)
EX:
My best friend is a top scholar (at her university.)
friend = scholar
scholar = PN
Mr. Carpinello was a track star in high school.
Mr. Carpinello = star
star = PN
Predicate Adjectives – describe the subject in some way
EX:
Conner looks fidgety today. (fidgety is describing Conner)
Faith felt tired after the long weekend of skiing.
(tired describes Faith)
Courtney is tall and blonde. (tall, blonde describe Courtney)
HELPING VERBS
A helping verb helps the main verb express action or a state of
being.
Helping Verbs:
Forms of Be: am, is, are, was, were, be, being, been
Forms of Have: have, has, had
Forms of Do: do, does, did
Forms of May: may, might, must
Others: can, could
shall, should
will, would
***Some verbs can be either helping verbs or main verbs.
EX:
I have three cats. (main verb)
We have seen a coyote near our house. (have is a helping verb)
I did all of the work by myself. (main verb)
Ben did do his project a week early. (did is a helping verb)
A verb phrase contains one main verb and one or more helping
verbs. The entire phrase is considered to be one verb.
EX:
My dog has run away at least three times this month.
Pennsylvania has been nicknamed the Keystone State.
The game must have been won in overtime.
Sometimes a verb phrase is interrupted by another word. Often,
the interrupter is an adverb. In a question, however, the
interrupter is usually the subject of the sentence.
EX:
The boys have not completed their science project yet. (Not is an
adverb. It is never a part of the verb!)
You must always be prepared for class. (always is an adverb.)
Did you go to the community center last night?
(You is the subject of the sentence/did go is the verb.)
Has David ever been to the fair?
(David is the subject, has been is the verb, and ever is an adverb
interrupter.)
I didn’t remember to water my mom’s flowers!
(In this sentence, I is the subject, did remember is the verb, and the
contraction n’t – which stands for not – is the adverb interrupter.)