LESSON 23: LINKING VERB OR ACTION VERB?
Relevant Review
•
Linking verbs link the subject of the sentence with a noun that renames it
(predicate noun) or an adjective that describes it (predicate adjective). They act
as equals signs.
•
Linking Verbs: be, am, is, are, was, were, been, being, become, seem, appear,
look, feel, sound, taste, smell, remain, grow, stay, turn
Lesson
Some of the verbs from the linking verb list can also act as action verbs.
If you get stuck wondering which kind of verb it is, give it the “Equals Sign Test” to see if
it is acting as a linking verb or an action verb. Replace the verb with an equals sign.
Ask yourself, “Does the ___subject_____ = ___noun/adjective in predicate__?
If YES, then it’s a linking verb. If NO, then it’s not a linking verb.
The Sentence
The Test
The Verb Type
The soup tasted salty.
soup = salty ?
YES - linking verb
I tasted the soup.
I = soup ?
NO – not a linking verb
(action verb - transitive active)
He looked sad.
He = sad ?
YES - linking verb
He looked around.
He = around ?
NO – not a linking verb
(action verb – intransitive
complete)
Jim turned pale.
Jim = pale ?
YES - linking verb
Jim = wheel ?
NO – not a linking verb
(action verb – transitive active)
Jim turned the wheel.
You’ll find a verb chart on the next page. It covers all four types of main verbs.
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1 THE VERB CHART: DIAGRAMMING MAIN VERBS
There are four types of main verbs.
⇓ TRANSITIVE VERBS ⇓
⇓ INTRANSITIVE VERBS ⇓
(Carry an action to a receiver)
(Do not carry an action to a receiver)
1. Transitive Active
2. Intransitive Complete
Action verb
Action verb
Subject performs the action
Subject performs the action
Direct object receives the action
NO receiver of the action
May have indirect object
My sister smiled.
The boy ran.
I ate the cake.
Joe kicked the ball.
3. Transitive Passive
4. Intransitive Linking
Action verb, always in verb phrase
NOT an action verb
Subject receives action
Verb acts like an equals sign
Doer of action may be shown in a
prepositional phrase
Links the subject with a predicate noun or a
predicate adjective
The vase was broken by Kevin.
My car was stolen.
Mr. Black became a teacher.
George was happy.
List of Linking Verbs: be, am, is, are, was, were, been, being, become, seem, appear,
look, feel, sound, taste, smell, remain, grow, stay, turn
Helping verbs are not main verbs. They are used in verb phrases.
List of Helping Verbs: be, am, is, are, was, were, been, being, have, has, had, could,
should, would, may, might, must, shall, can, will, do, did, does, having
Tip: The same word can perform different jobs in different sentences.
She grew tired. (linking verb) ---> He grew roses. (action verb - transitive active)
I was a dancer. (linking verb) ---> The bird was chirping. (helping verb)
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Lesson 23 Sentence Diagramming Exercises
1. Mary looked sleepy at the concert.
Key
Mary looked sleepy at the concert.
Mary
sentence – statement
subject (noun)
looked
verb (intransitive linking)
sleepy
Mary = sleepy? YES, so it’s a linking verb.
predicate adjective
at the concert
at
concert
the
prepositional phrase (adverb)
preposition
object of the preposition (noun)
adjective
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3 2. Mary looked at the violin.
Key
Mary looked at the violin.
Mary
looked
at the violin
at
violin
the
sentence – statement
subject (noun)
verb (intransitive complete)
Mary = ______ There’s nothing to link it
with, so it can’t be a linking verb!
prepositional phrase (adverb)
preposition
object of the preposition (noun)
adjective
Extra Practice
Write two sentences using the verb grow.
In one sentence, use grow as an action verb. In the other sentence, use grow as a
linking verb. Be sure to label your sentences.
Possible Answers
1. ______My dad grows green beans. (action verb)___________________
THE TEST: Does Dad = green beans? NO, so it’s not a linking verb.
2. ____The baby grows more beautiful each day. (linking verb)__________
THE TEST: Does baby = beautiful? YES, so it is a linking verb. 4 GET SMART (INSTRUCTOR) LESSON 23
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3. Feel the soft fabric of this shirt.
Key
Feel the soft fabric of this shirt.
sentence – command (imperative)
(you)
subject (pronoun)
Feel
verb (transitive active)
fabric
you = fabric? NO, so it’s NOT a linking
verb.
direct object (noun)
the, soft
of this shirt
of
adjectives
prepositional phrase (adjective)
preposition
shirt
object of the preposition (noun)
this
adjective
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5 4. I feel ill.
Key
I feel ill.
I
feel
ill
sentence – statement
subject (pronoun)
verb (intransitive linking)
I = ill? YES, so it’s a linking verb.
predicate adjective
Tiny Quiz
Underline the main verbs in the following sentences. Are the main verbs action verbs
or linking verbs? The answers are on the next page.
1. Sound the alarm! ________________
2. These flowers smell amazing. ________________
3. You must feel this soft blanket and pillow. ________________
4. Remain calm. ________________
5. Yuck! This cheese smells bad. ________________
6. We grew our own tomatoes this year! __________________
7. The team felt disappointed after the game. ________________
8. Margo smelled the fresh bread. ________________
9. My dad became the president of a sports company. ________________
10. The customers seemed quite happy with their purchases. ____________
6 GET SMART (INSTRUCTOR) LESSON 23
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5. Your voice sounds raspy.
Key
Your voice sounds raspy.
sentence – statement
voice
subject (noun)
Your
adjective
sounds
raspy
verb (intransitive linking)
voice = raspy? YES, so it’s a linking verb.
predicate adjective
Tiny Quiz Answers
Underline the main verbs in the following sentences. Are the main verbs action verbs
or linking verbs?
1. ACTION
Sound the alarm!
2. LINKING
These flowers smell amazing.
3. ACTION
You must feel this soft blanket and pillow. (Must is a helping verb.)
4. LINKING
Remain calm.
5. LINKING
Yuck! This cheese smells bad.
6. ACTION
We grew our own tomatoes this year!
7. LINKING
The team felt disappointed after the game.
8. ACTION
Margo smelled the fresh bread.
9. LINKING
My dad became the president of a sports company.
10. LINKING The customers seemed quite happy with their purchases. GET SMART (INSTRUCTOR) LESSON 23 © www.English-Grammar-Revolution.com
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