Review of Action, Linking, and Helping Verbs
TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE
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True
True
True
True
False
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False
5. True False
6. True False
7. True False
8. True False
There are 23 helping verbs.
8 of the 23 helping verbs are forms of ‘to be’.
All clauses must have verbs… except Santa 
Forms of the verb ‘to be’ are like double agents- they can work alone as linking verbs, or
they can help out other verbs.
Action verbs are always physical actions.
A verb is a required part of all sentence types.
A verb phrase is like a team- there are multiple verbs all working together to achieve a
goal.
To find the verb, I should ask the question, “Did what?” after finding the subject.
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ACTION VERBS (AV):_______________________________________________
LINKING VERBS (LV): _____________________________________________________
HINT:
Forms of ‘to be’
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8 more examples of linking verbs (=)
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HELPING VERBS (HV): ______________________________________________
(Helping verbs, helping verbs, there are 23...)
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VERB PHRASE: _____________________________________________________
HV + AV
HV + LV
Am running
Had seemed
Will run
Will seem
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Directions: Underline the Action Verb (AV). Label the subject (S).
1. The squirrel stuffed its cheeks with acorns.
2. The hurricane stirred the ocean into a frenzy.
3. The alarm clock buzzed like an angry bumblebee.
4. The coffee maker gurgled on the kitchen counter.
5. In the library, Cassie giggled inappropriately.
6. The bulldozer demolished the old building.
7. Patrick grew a mustache of the handlebar variety.
Directions: Underline the Linking Verb (LV). Label the subject (S)
1. Val seems confused.
2. Will is an odd person.
3. Chasing Lincoln’s Killer appeared to be an interesting book.
4. His answer proved to be correct.
5. Matt became enraged by the misplaced comma.
6. Julia grew interested in the school’s theater productions.
7. Everyone believed Noah’s wild stories.
Directions: Underline the verb phrase (remember to include the HV!). Label subject (S).
1. Stef had been skating every day after school.
2. The community was building a new skate park.
3. Tristan will be skating in the new park.
4. Many more skaters had wanted to go.
5. The jumps were designed by professional skaters.
6. Advertising will be displayed at the park.
7. Gatorade will support the skate park financially.
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LINKING VERB OR ACTION VERB?
CIRCLE THE VERB.
Test: DOES THE FORMULA WORK?
So, is it an action or linking verb?
1.
Nicky is loud.
__________________= ______________
Action
Linking
2.
Nicky’s tantrums grew legendary
__________________= ______________
Action
Linking
3.
Nicky grew a mustache.
__________________= ______________
Action
Linking
4.
His behavior has been outrageous.
__________________= ______________
Action
Linking
5.
That garbage on the street smells bad.
__________________= ______________
Action
Linking
6.
I smelled fish in the garbage.
__________________= ______________
Action
Linking
7.
I looked at the glacier.
__________________= ______________
Action
Linking
8.
The glacier seemed massive and melty.
__________________= ______________
Action
Linking
9.
Steven grew a beard.
__________________= ______________
Action
Linking
__________________= ______________
Action
Linking
11. Kelly grows tired after hours of gardening. __________________= ______________
Action
Linking
12. Georgia is a state just above Florida.
__________________= ______________
Action
Linking
13. The ghost appeared in the doorway.
__________________= ______________
Action
Linking
14. The child appeared tired.
__________________= ______________
Action
Linking
15. Bill became the president.
__________________= ______________
Action
Linking
16. The cloth on the table felt soft and fuzzy. __________________= ______________
Action
Linking
17. Jeannie grows taller every day.
__________________= ______________
Action
Linking
18. The tree grows every day.
__________________= ______________
Action
Linking
19. John felt sick after lunch.
__________________= ______________
Action
Linking
20. Jenny looks at the pictures in the book.
__________________= ______________
Action
Linking
21. Jenny looks beautiful in that dress.
__________________= ______________
Action
Linking
10. Kelly grows sunflowers in her yard.
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