VerbsVerbs

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 Here are three kindskinds of of verbs you should know:verbs you should know:

Act

ion

Ver

bsLinking Verbs

Helping verbs

Action Verbs vs. Linking VerbsAction Verbs vs. Linking VerbsAn 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.

Subject VerbThe rest of

the sentence

We spent a day at the

beach together.

They haven’t +

discussedthe

problem.

He can + be a quarterb

ack.

AV

HV+ Adv. AV

HV LV

Sentence structures

Linking Verbs:Linking Verbs:

• The most commonly used linking verbs are forms of the verb to be:

be shall be should bebeing will be would beam has been can beis have been could beare had been should have

beenwas shall have been would have beenwere will have been could have been

Subject Linking verb

Information about the subject

That soundswonderf

ul.The

Internet remainsa

positive tool.

The article

isabout

using the Internet.

Other frequently used linking Other frequently used linking verbs:verbs:

appear grow seem stay get runbecome look smell taste go comefeel remain sound turn (out) fall prove

make keep continue stand sit lie

LinkingLinking or or actionaction??• The wet dog smelled horrible.• The dog smelled the baked bread.• The chef tasted the casserole.• The casserole tasted strange.

S

T

A

T

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

Three kinds of linking verbs.

Linking verbs

adj. / n. / past participle

go

come

turn

turn out

prove

make

fall

run

true, easy, (all) right, natural, cheap, alive, open, loose, undone

bad, wrong, blind, mad, dead, sour, red, green

cold, green, sour

fine, clear

true, interesting, a success

a good actor, a fine soldier

ill /sick, asleep, dark, silent

low, wild, high, short

Linking verbs

adj.

remain 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

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.

Replace the underlined words with other linking verbs.

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…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 nounnoun or a pronounpronoun that names the subject or an adjectiveadjective that describes the subject.

Subject Complements…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.