Linking and Be Verbs

Action Verbs vs. Linking Verbs

Grammar

Action Verbs vs linking verbs

Key idea

Action Verbs—express action

Hillary skipped and jumped down the street.

Linking Verbs—link the subject to a word in the predicate.

Geraldo is very happy today.

Forms of the verb “to be” - am, are, is, was, were, be, been

Grammar

Action Verbs vs linking verbs

Key idea

Action Verbs can only have the following:

Direct Object and Indirect Objects

In the morning, Billy reads.

Billy opened the book.

Sara passed Rashid the envelop.

Grammar

Action Verbs vs linking verbs

Key idea

Linking Verbs can only have the following:

Predicate Nouns, Predicate Adjectives, Predicate Pronouns

Roberto was the captain of the team.

Sasha was very sleepy in class.

The winner of the medal was she.

Grammar

Action Verbs vs linking verbs

Key idea

Impossible:

• An action verb with a predicate noun, predicate adjective, or predicate pronoun.

• A linking verb with a direct object or an indirect object.

Grammar

Multiple Choice

Directions: Determine whether the underlined word is an action verb or a linking verb.

Georgia is a state just above Florida.

• Action Verb

• Linking Verb

Multiple Choice

Directions: Determine whether the underlined word is an action verb or a linking verb.

Before school, Andrea helped her mother with the chores.

• Action Verb

• Linking Verb

Multiple Choice

Directions: Determine whether the underlined word is an action verb or a linking verb.

Those cars are the most expensive ones on the lot.

• Action Verb

• Linking Verb

Multiple Choice

Directions: Determine whether the underlined word is an action verb or a linking verb.

His father won the medal for first place in the competition.

• Action Verb

• Linking Verb

Multiple Choice

Directions: Determine whether the underlined word is an action verb or a linking verb.

The crowd honored the veterans by standing up.

• Action Verb

• Linking Verb

Multiple Choice

Directions: Determine whether the underlined word is an action verb or a linking verb.

The two families were happy throughout their vacation.

• Action Verb

• Linking Verb

Multiple Choice

Directions: Determine whether the underlined word is an action verb or a linking verb.

During the pep rally, Albert danced across the gym floor.

• Action Verb

• Linking Verb

Multiple Choice

Directions: Determine whether the underlined word is an action verb or a linking verb.

I am the first student to graduate from my family.

• Action Verb

• Linking Verb

Multiple Choice

Directions: Determine whether the underlined word is an action verb or a linking verb.

Tasha was the only student with score above a 95% on the quiz.

• Action Verb

• Linking Verb

Multiple Choice

Directions: Determine whether the underlined word is an action verb or a linking verb.

Roberto placed the ball into the corner of the goal.

• Action Verb

• Linking Verb