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Linking Verbs and
Action Verbs
Verbs

A verb is a word used to express action or a
state of being.
1) Main verbs are either action or linking verbs
Linking Verbs
 A linking verb
connects the
subject to a word
or word group that
renames or
describes the
subject.
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
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 doesn’t 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.}
Commonly Used Linking
Verbs
 Forms of Be:
am
be
being
was
are
been
is
were
 Other Linking Verbs:
appear
grow
seem
stay
become look
smell
taste
feel
sound
turn
remain
Action vs. Linking Verbs
 An action verb is a verb that
expresses either physical or mental
activity.
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.
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.
More Practice
 The music sounds catchy.
 The music sounds catchy.
 The park seems crowded.
 The park seems crowded.
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