1. Ms. Gott 7th Grade Language Arts
LINKING VERBS
Ms. Gott
7th Grade Language Arts

2. DEFINITION
It connects the subject of a sentence with a predicate noun or predicate adjective.
“Predicate” means a noun/ adjective that comes after a verb.
It tells what the subject IS or IS LIKE.
It DOES NOT express action.
Example- Jamie is a young gymnast.
Whales are his favorite animals.

3. MORE DETAILS… Linking Verb vs. Action Verb.
It’s an action verb when the subject of the sentence is performing an action.
EXAMPLE- “Jamie feels the water”.
Jamie is the subject, and Jamie is doing the action (feeling). → ACTION VERB

4. MORE DETAILS…
It’s a linking verb when the subject is not performing the action.
EXAMPLE- “The water feels cold”.
The subject is water, but it is not performing the action (feels). → LINKING VERB

5. Ways to Tell The Difference
Ask yourself this question:
“Is the subject performing the verb????”
IF YES Then, ACTION VERB
IF NO Then, LINKING VERB

6. The Never Fail 8 Linking Verbs
IS , AM, WAS, WERE, ARE, BE, BEING, BEEN.
Forms of “Be”
am being, are being, is being, was being, were being, can be, could be, may be, might be, must be, shall be, should be, will be, would be, have been, has been, had been, could have taken, may have taken, might have been, must have been, shall have been, should have been, will have been, would have been.

7. OVERHEAD PRACTICE Directions: Label the Subject
OVERHEAD PRACTICE Directions: Label the Subject. Then, locate the verb and label it Action or linking.
The father looked at his family.
He felt sad about leaving them.
His family looked so tiny from the ship.
The rain smelled fresh, like his new shirt.
The crowds on the ship appeared happy.
Suddenly, the Statue of Liberty appeared through the fog.
Farmers grew vegetables to sell in the city.