Educational worksheet for identifying action and linking verbs in sentences.
Worksheet titled "Action & Linking Verbs" with 20 sentences for students to identify and circle verbs, determining if they are action or linking verbs.
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Show Answer Key & Explanations
Step-by-step solution for: A Action & Linking Verbs
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Show Answer Key & Explanations
Step-by-step solution for: A Action & Linking Verbs
Let's solve this worksheet step by step. The task is to circle the verb in each sentence and then determine whether it is an action verb or a linking verb.
---
- These verbs show physical or mental actions.
- Examples: *run, eat, think, write*
- These verbs connect the subject to a subject complement (often describing the subject).
- Common linking verbs: *be, become, seem, look, feel, taste, sound, smell, appear, remain*
- They do not show action.
---
Now, let’s go through each sentence:
---
(1) *The problems became more difficult later in the test.*
- Verb: became
- Type: Linking (became links "problems" to "more difficult")
✔ Linking
---
(2) *Light objects float easily in the pool.*
- Verb: float
- Type: Action (objects are moving)
✔ Action
---
(3) *The workmen carried the boxes into the warehouse.*
- Verb: carried
- Type: Action (physical movement)
✔ Action
---
(4) *These jeans are too small for me now.*
- Verb: are
- Type: Linking (connects "jeans" to "too small")
✔ Linking
---
(5) *There are twelve eggs in a carton.*
- Verb: are
- Type: Linking ("there are" is a form of "to be", linking subject "eggs" to quantity)
✔ Linking
---
(6) *She attaches labels to the boxes.*
- Verb: attaches
- Type: Action (she is doing something)
✔ Action
---
(7) *There is a pair of shoes near the door.*
- Verb: is
- Type: Linking (part of "there is", links existence)
✔ Linking
---
(8) *This door is very creaky.*
- Verb: is
- Type: Linking (links "door" to "creaky")
✔ Linking
---
(9) *This mechanical pencil has no more lead.*
- Verb: has
- Type: Action (has = possessive, but in grammar, "have/has" can be action when showing possession — though some argue it's linking).
However, "has" here shows possession, which is considered an action verb in this context.
✔ Action
> ⚠️ Note: "Have" can be tricky. When it shows possession, it's usually treated as an action verb in basic grammar.
---
(10) *Andrew wants a new backpack.*
- Verb: wants
- Type: Action (desire is a mental action)
✔ Action
---
(11) *Please hand me the red screwdriver.*
- Verb: hand
- Type: Action (physical act of giving)
✔ Action
---
(12) *The brown suitcase looks heavy.*
- Verb: looks
- Type: Linking (looks connects "suitcase" to "heavy")
✔ Linking
---
(13) *The big computer is very fast.*
- Verb: is
- Type: Linking (connects "computer" to "fast")
✔ Linking
---
(14) *Those dresses are very pretty.*
- Verb: are
- Type: Linking (connects "dresses" to "pretty")
✔ Linking
---
(15) *There are three children in the park.*
- Verb: are
- Type: Linking (same as #5)
✔ Linking
---
(16) *There were a big car and a small car in the garage.*
- Verb: were
- Type: Linking (existence statement, "there were" uses "be" verb)
✔ Linking
---
(17) *He felt happy after the test.*
- Verb: felt
- Type: Linking (feels/felt is often linking when followed by emotion/state)
✔ Linking
> 📌 "Felt" here describes a state of being — happiness — so it's linking.
---
(18) *The copier is out of paper.*
- Verb: is
- Type: Linking (links "copier" to "out of paper")
✔ Linking
---
(19) *The computer starts with a chime.*
- Verb: starts
- Type: Action (the computer begins to operate)
✔ Action
---
(20) *The cat’s fur feels very soft.*
- Verb: feels
- Type: Linking (describes sensation — "soft" is a complement)
✔ Linking
---
| # | Verb | Type |
|---|------------|-----------|
| 1 | became | Linking |
| 2 | float | Action |
| 3 | carried | Action |
| 4 | are | Linking |
| 5 | are | Linking |
| 6 | attaches | Action |
| 7 | is | Linking |
| 8 | is | Linking |
| 9 | has | Action |
|10 | wants | Action |
|11 | hand | Action |
|12 | looks | Linking |
|13 | is | Linking |
|14 | are | Linking |
|15 | are | Linking |
|16 | were | Linking |
|17 | felt | Linking |
|18 | is | Linking |
|19 | starts | Action |
|20 | feels | Linking |
---
- Action Verbs: Show what someone or something does.
- Linking Verbs: Connect the subject to a description (usually adjectives or nouns).
You can circle the verbs in the sentences and write “action” or “linking” beside each one as per the table above.
Let me know if you'd like a printable version or explanation of any specific sentence!
---
🔹 What are Action Verbs?
- These verbs show physical or mental actions.
- Examples: *run, eat, think, write*
🔹 What are Linking Verbs?
- These verbs connect the subject to a subject complement (often describing the subject).
- Common linking verbs: *be, become, seem, look, feel, taste, sound, smell, appear, remain*
- They do not show action.
---
Now, let’s go through each sentence:
---
(1) *The problems became more difficult later in the test.*
- Verb: became
- Type: Linking (became links "problems" to "more difficult")
✔ Linking
---
(2) *Light objects float easily in the pool.*
- Verb: float
- Type: Action (objects are moving)
✔ Action
---
(3) *The workmen carried the boxes into the warehouse.*
- Verb: carried
- Type: Action (physical movement)
✔ Action
---
(4) *These jeans are too small for me now.*
- Verb: are
- Type: Linking (connects "jeans" to "too small")
✔ Linking
---
(5) *There are twelve eggs in a carton.*
- Verb: are
- Type: Linking ("there are" is a form of "to be", linking subject "eggs" to quantity)
✔ Linking
---
(6) *She attaches labels to the boxes.*
- Verb: attaches
- Type: Action (she is doing something)
✔ Action
---
(7) *There is a pair of shoes near the door.*
- Verb: is
- Type: Linking (part of "there is", links existence)
✔ Linking
---
(8) *This door is very creaky.*
- Verb: is
- Type: Linking (links "door" to "creaky")
✔ Linking
---
(9) *This mechanical pencil has no more lead.*
- Verb: has
- Type: Action (has = possessive, but in grammar, "have/has" can be action when showing possession — though some argue it's linking).
However, "has" here shows possession, which is considered an action verb in this context.
✔ Action
> ⚠️ Note: "Have" can be tricky. When it shows possession, it's usually treated as an action verb in basic grammar.
---
(10) *Andrew wants a new backpack.*
- Verb: wants
- Type: Action (desire is a mental action)
✔ Action
---
(11) *Please hand me the red screwdriver.*
- Verb: hand
- Type: Action (physical act of giving)
✔ Action
---
(12) *The brown suitcase looks heavy.*
- Verb: looks
- Type: Linking (looks connects "suitcase" to "heavy")
✔ Linking
---
(13) *The big computer is very fast.*
- Verb: is
- Type: Linking (connects "computer" to "fast")
✔ Linking
---
(14) *Those dresses are very pretty.*
- Verb: are
- Type: Linking (connects "dresses" to "pretty")
✔ Linking
---
(15) *There are three children in the park.*
- Verb: are
- Type: Linking (same as #5)
✔ Linking
---
(16) *There were a big car and a small car in the garage.*
- Verb: were
- Type: Linking (existence statement, "there were" uses "be" verb)
✔ Linking
---
(17) *He felt happy after the test.*
- Verb: felt
- Type: Linking (feels/felt is often linking when followed by emotion/state)
✔ Linking
> 📌 "Felt" here describes a state of being — happiness — so it's linking.
---
(18) *The copier is out of paper.*
- Verb: is
- Type: Linking (links "copier" to "out of paper")
✔ Linking
---
(19) *The computer starts with a chime.*
- Verb: starts
- Type: Action (the computer begins to operate)
✔ Action
---
(20) *The cat’s fur feels very soft.*
- Verb: feels
- Type: Linking (describes sensation — "soft" is a complement)
✔ Linking
---
✔ Final Answers:
| # | Verb | Type |
|---|------------|-----------|
| 1 | became | Linking |
| 2 | float | Action |
| 3 | carried | Action |
| 4 | are | Linking |
| 5 | are | Linking |
| 6 | attaches | Action |
| 7 | is | Linking |
| 8 | is | Linking |
| 9 | has | Action |
|10 | wants | Action |
|11 | hand | Action |
|12 | looks | Linking |
|13 | is | Linking |
|14 | are | Linking |
|15 | are | Linking |
|16 | were | Linking |
|17 | felt | Linking |
|18 | is | Linking |
|19 | starts | Action |
|20 | feels | Linking |
---
🎯 Summary:
- Action Verbs: Show what someone or something does.
- Linking Verbs: Connect the subject to a description (usually adjectives or nouns).
You can circle the verbs in the sentences and write “action” or “linking” beside each one as per the table above.
Let me know if you'd like a printable version or explanation of any specific sentence!
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of action linking and helping verbs worksheet with answers.
