A sentence cannot exist without them. Verbs Like the sun, verbs are the energy of the sentence. They are often, but not always found at the center of the sentence. A sentence cannot exist without them.

Here are three kinds of verbs you should know: Action Verbs Linking Verbs Helping verbs

Action Verbs vs. Linking Verbs An action verb expresses either physical or mental action: The audience cheered the lead actors. The children hoped for sunshine. A linking verb connects the subject to a word or word group that identifies or describes the subject. The answer is correct. The winners are happy.

The rest of the sentence a day at the beach together. Sentence structures Subject Verb The rest of the sentence We spent a day at the beach together. They haven’t + discussed the problem. He can + be a quarterback. AV HV+ Adv. AV HV LV

Linking Verbs: The most commonly used linking verbs are forms of the verb to be: be shall be should be being will be would be am has been can be is have been could be are had been should have been was shall have been would have been were will have been could have been

Information about the subject about using the Internet. Linking verb Information about the subject That sounds wonderful. The Internet remains a positive tool. The article is about using the Internet.

Other frequently used linking verbs: appear grow seem stay get run become look smell taste go come feel remain sound turn (out) fall prove make keep continue stand sit lie Linking or action? The wet dog smelled horrible. The dog smelled the baked bread. The chef tasted the casserole. The casserole tasted strange.

Three kinds of linking verbs. A E state quality with sense of feeling in sense of becoming in sense of remaining be, seem, appear feel, look, sound, taste, smell become, grow, get, turn, come, make, prove, turn out, go, run remain, keep, continue, stay, rest, stand, sit, lie

adj. / n. / past participle Linking verbs adj. / n. / past participle go come turn turn out prove make fall run bad, wrong, blind, mad, dead, sour, red, green true, easy, (all) right, natural, cheap, alive, open, loose, undone cold, green, sour fine, clear true, interesting, a success a good actor, a fine soldier ill /sick, asleep, dark, silent low, wild, high, short

adj. Linking verbs remain keep stay continue stand sit lie calm, silent, young, single, unfinished keep calm, silent, still, cool, fit, fresh stay calm, young, warm, single continue calm, stubborn stand still, high, firm sit straight, cross-legged lie still, open, quiet, thick

Practice Replace the underlined words with other linking verbs. 1. Both speakers were very calm throughout the debate. 2. The snow was thick on the ground. 3. He was still against the wall, not knowing what to say. 4. In his forties, he was still single. 5. Whatever I said to him, he was stubborn.

How to identify linking verbs? Grapes grow well in warm and dry climates. She has grown some grapes in the garden. She has grown rich by selling grapes.

Read the following sentences and determine if the verb is action or linking Our world is becoming smaller and smaller. The old man is getting weaker. The child is growing thinner. China will become a major power in the future. The teacher grew unhappy when the students told her lies.

Completing the following passage, using linking verbs. Last Sunday our class went to the park for a picnic. It ____ a fine day. The air _______ fresh. The trees _______ green and the grass ______ thick on the ground. We talked and played. All of us applauded for Li Ming’s English song “ I have never had a dream ______ true.” How relaxed we all _______ after a week’s hard work! We cooked our lunch on the open fire. Soon the food ______ great! The meat _______ delicious. The vegetables and fruit _______ inviting. While eating someone suggested another picnic on May Day. It ________ a good idea. Everyone agreed.

more practice… Even be is not always a linking verb. Sometimes be expresses a state of being and is followed only by an adverb. I was there. To be a linking verb, the verb must be followed by a subject complement—a noun or a pronoun that names the subject or an adjective that describes the subject.

Subject Complements… (wouldn’t exist without linking verbs) She is my cousin. This chocolate smells wonderful. This tadpole will become a frog. The captain could be she. Is she talented? The players looked tired and dirty. Alvin has grown very tall.