Linking Verbs By: Amanda Young and Alanah Hall
Verbs A verb is a word used to express action or a state of being. (371, HRW) There are three kinds of verbs: 1)Helping or main verbs 2)Action or linking verbs 3)Transitive or intransitive verbs
Linking Verbs A linking verb connects the subject to a word or word group that identifies or describes the subject.(374, HRW)
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): good flowers
Commonly Used Linking Verbs Forms of Be: Other Verbs: ambebeingwas arebeeniswhere appeargrowseemstaybecomelooksmelltaste feelremainsoundturn
Action vs. Linking Verbs An action verb is a verb that expresses either physical or mental activity. 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. *forms of be and seem are always linking verbs
Action vs. Linking Verb Examples Joe plays baseball. Joe is baseball. (the sentence does not make sense, so it is an action verb) The roses look pretty. The roses are pretty. (the sentence makes sense, so it is a linking verb) When verb is a linking verb, you can tell because it 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 park seems crowded. Are the following underlined verbs linking verbs or action verbs?
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