Grade 3 Grammar Topic 14: Helping Verbs Worksheets - Lets Share ... - Free Printable

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Understanding Linking Verbs

Linking verbs are not action verbs. They connect the subject to a noun, pronoun, or adjective that describes it. Common linking verbs include:
- Forms of be: is, are, was, were, am, be
- Modal auxiliary verbs: can, could, may, might, must, shall, should, will, would
- Other helping verbs: has, have, had, do, does, did

However, in this context, the instructions say:
> "Remember, linking verbs are words that help the action verb."
This seems to be a misstatement. Actually, linking verbs do not help action verbs — they replace them by connecting the subject to a complement (like a description or state).

But looking at the box of words provided:

```
is are has will
was were had may
can be do might
am have shall
```

These are modal auxiliary verbs and forms of "be", which are often used as helping verbs (auxiliary verbs) before main verbs, but some of them (is, are, was, were, be) are also linking verbs.

So, based on the sentences, we need to pick the correct helping verb (often modal or form of *be*) from the box to complete each sentence logically and grammatically.

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Let’s go through each sentence one by one.

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1. Olaf ________ go to the store alone.

We need a modal verb or helping verb that makes sense with “go”.

Possible choices: can, may, might, will, shall

- “Olaf can go” – possible.
- “Olaf may go” – possible.
- “Olaf might go” – possible.
- “Olaf will go” – possible.
- “Olaf shall go” – formal, possible.

But “has” or “had” don’t work here — they’re not modals.

Best fit: can (most natural)

✔ Answer: can

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2. Jennifer ________ running across the field.

We need a verb that goes with “running” — this is an ongoing action.

Use present continuous tense: is/are + verb-ing

Jennifer is singular → use is

✔ Answer: is

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3. Marsha ________ laughing at his joke.

Same structure: present continuous

Marsha is singular → is

✔ Answer: is

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4. Jeanine ________ like the new present.

“Like” is a main verb. We need a helping verb.

Possibilities: can, may, might, will, shall, has, had, do

But “Jeanine does like…” is possible, but “do” is not in the list? Wait — “do” is in the box!

But let’s check: the box includes do, does, did?

No — only do is listed, not does or did.

So we can't use does.

Can we use can, may, might, will?

“Jeanine can like” – possible, but awkward.

“Jeanine might like” – okay.

“Jeanine will like” – possible.

But “Jeanine does like” is best, but does isn’t in the box.

Wait — the box says: do, not does.

So maybe do is intended for plural subjects.

But Jeanine is singular.

So perhaps the intended answer is does, but it's not in the box.

Wait — look again:

Box has:
do — so we can use do only with plural subjects.

But Jeanine is singular.

So maybe the intended verb is may or might?

“Jeanine might like the new present.” — yes, that works.

Alternatively, can?

“Jeanine can like” — less common.

But “Jeanine does like” is most natural — but does is not in the box.

Wait — is have or has possible?

“No.”

Perhaps the intended answer is may.

But let's consider: maybe do is acceptable if we think of it as a helping verb in a general way.

But no — “Jeanine do like” is grammatically incorrect.

So likely, the intended answer is may or might.

Let’s assume the sentence is expressing possibility.

✔ Answer: may (or might) — both acceptable.

But since may is in the box and more positive, let's go with may.

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5. The mailman ________ jump over the dog.

We need a modal verb.

“jump” is an action verb.

The mailman can jump? Maybe.

Or might jump? Possible.

But must? Not in the box.

Will? “The mailman will jump” — possible, but unlikely.

“Has jump”? No — doesn’t make sense.

Only modals: can, may, might, will, shall

Best choice: can — implies ability.

“The mailman can jump over the dog.” — meaning he has the ability.

✔ Answer: can

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6. The girl ________ skinned her knee last night.

This is past tense.

We need a past helping verb.

Past forms: was, were, had, had, did

But “skinned” is already past.

So we need a helping verb to form past perfect or simple past.

But “had skinned” is past perfect — possible.

“Did skin” — simple past, but do is in the box, but did is not.

So had is in the box.

“Had skinned” — yes, that works.

But “The girl had skinned her knee” — means she completed the action before another past event.

But there’s no other time reference.

Alternatively, was? “The girl was skinned” — doesn’t make sense.

“Was skinned” — passive voice — but “her knee” is the object, so it would be “her knee was skinned” — but subject is “the girl”.

So “The girl was skinned” — wrong meaning.

So had is better.

But “had skinned” implies earlier than another past event — but no such context.

Alternatively, maybe did — but did is not in the box.

Wait — do is in the box, but not did.

So only option: had

But “had skinned” is not commonly used unless specifying sequence.

Wait — maybe the sentence is meant to be “The girl did skin her knee” — emphasizing the action.

But did is not in the box.

Hmm.

Alternative: was?

“No.”

Wait — perhaps the verb is be?

“No.”

Another idea: maybe has?

“No — past tense needed.”

Wait — what about were?

“The girl were skinned” — no.

So perhaps the only logical choice is had.

But let’s reconsider: maybe the sentence is missing something.

Actually, “had” can be used in past perfect.

But without context, it’s odd.

Alternatively, maybe did is expected, but it’s not in the box.

Wait — the box has do, but not did.

So perhaps the intended answer is had.

But “The girl had skinned her knee” — implies it happened before something else.

Maybe the sentence is meant to be “The girl did skin her knee” — emphasis.

But since did is not in the box, and do is, maybe it’s a mistake.

Wait — perhaps was?

“The girl was skinned” — doesn’t make sense.

Unless “skinned” is passive — but “her knee” is the object.

So “Her knee was skinned” — but subject is “the girl”.

So not good.

Wait — maybe had is acceptable.

But let’s look at similar examples.

Alternatively, maybe the verb is be?

“No.”

Another thought: perhaps the sentence is “The girl was skinned” — but that would mean someone skinned her, not her knee.

So incorrect.

So perhaps the intended answer is had — past perfect.

✔ Answer: had

(Though awkward without context, it’s the only logical choice from the box.)

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7. The boys ________ go to the movie tomorrow.

Future tense.

Options: will, shall, may, might, can

“Will” is most common.

“Shall” is formal.

“May” or “might” — uncertain.

But “The boys will go” — best.

✔ Answer: will

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8. We ________ swimming with the fish!

“Swimming” — present participle.

Need a helping verb.

“We are swimming” — present continuous.

But are is in the box.

Yes!

✔ Answer: are

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9. I ________ going snorkeling tomorrow.

“I ________ going” — present continuous future.

“I am going” — correct.

am is in the box.

✔ Answer: am

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10. He ________ ask her tomorrow.

Future tense.

“He will ask” — most common.

“May” or “might” — possible, but less certain.

“Can” — ability, not certainty.

“Shall” — formal.

But “will” is standard.

✔ Answer: will

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Now, let’s compile all answers:

1. can
2. is
3. is
4. may (or might, but may is better)
5. can
6. had
7. will
8. are
9. am
10. will

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✔ Final Answers:

1. can
2. is
3. is
4. may
5. can
6. had
7. will
8. are
9. am
10. will

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🔍 Explanation Summary:

- Linking verbs like is, are, was, were, be, am are used when describing states or conditions.
- Modal verbs like can, may, might, will, shall are helping verbs that express ability, permission, possibility, or future actions.
- In these sentences, we're filling in helping verbs (modals or forms of *be*) to complete the verb phrase.

For example:
- “Olaf can go” — expresses ability.
- “Jennifer is running” — present continuous tense.
- “I am going” — future plans using present continuous.
- “He will ask” — future action.

Even though the worksheet says “linking verbs,” many of these are actually helping verbs (especially modals), which is why the box includes can, may, will, etc.

So the key is choosing the correct helping verb from the list to match the sentence’s meaning and grammar.

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✔ Final Answer Key:

1. can
2. is
3. is
4. may
5. can
6. had
7. will
8. are
9. am
10. will