Action and Linking verb activity - Free Printable

Let's solve this grammar exercise step by step. The task is to identify whether the underlined verb in each sentence is an action verb or a linking verb.

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🔹 Key Definitions:

- Action Verb: Describes a physical or mental action (e.g., *run, think, write*).
- Linking Verb: Connects the subject to a noun or adjective that describes it. Common linking verbs include *be*, *become*, *seem*, *appear*, *look*, *feel*, *taste*, *sound*, *smell*, *is*, *was*, *were*, etc. They do not show action.

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Now, let’s analyze each sentence:

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1. Each person presented a report at every meeting.

- "Presented" means "gave" or "delivered" — this is a physical action.
- ✔ Action Verb

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2. Everyone’s description was different.

- "Was" is a form of *to be*. It links the subject ("description") to the adjective "different."
- ✘ Not showing action; it's describing a state.
- ✔ Linking Verb

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3. Luke defined three main cloud shapes.

- "Defined" means "explained or described" — this is a mental action.
- ✔ Action Verb

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4. Altogether he labeled seven types of clouds.

- "Labeled" means "named or marked" — a clear physical action.
- ✔ Action Verb

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5. He gave each shape a Latin name.

- "Gave" is a physical action: transferring something (a name).
- ✔ Action Verb

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6. Each cloud’s name tells something about its shape and its height.

- "Tells" means "communicates information" — this is a mental action.
- ✔ Action Verb

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7. Cirrus is a Latin word for “a curl of hair.”

- "Is" is a form of *to be*. It links the subject ("Cirrus") to what it is (a Latin word).
- ✔ Linking Verb

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8. Stratus clouds and cumulus clouds appear low in the sky.

- "Appear" can be tricky! Here, it means "look like" or "seem to be" — it's describing how the clouds look.
- This is not a physical action but a sensory perception.
- ✔ Linking Verb

> Note: "Appear" is often a linking verb when it's followed by an adjective or phrase describing state (like "low in the sky").

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9. Today there are ten basic names for clouds.

- "Are" is a form of *to be*. It links the subject ("there") to the noun phrase "ten basic names."
- This is a common construction with "there is/are" — used to indicate existence.
- ✔ Linking Verb

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10. Five of the names come from Luke’s classification.

- "Come" here means "originated from" — this is a physical origin, not an action.
- But wait: "come" is not a linking verb here because it shows movement or origin — it's a transitive action verb.
- Example: "They come from Spain." → "come" = action (originating).
- ✔ Action Verb

> However, note: "come" can sometimes be a linking verb if it's followed by an adjective (e.g., "She comes alive when she sings"). But here, it's followed by a prepositional phrase ("from Luke’s classification"), so it's an action verb.

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✔ Final Answers:

| Sentence | Underlined Verb | Type |
|--------|------------------|------|
| 1 | presented | Action Verb |
| 2 | was | Linking Verb |
| 3 | defined | Action Verb |
| 4 | labeled | Action Verb |
| 5 | gave | Action Verb |
| 6 | tells | Action Verb |
| 7 | is | Linking Verb |
| 8 | appear | Linking Verb |
| 9 | are | Linking Verb |
| 10 | come | Action Verb |

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🟩 Summary:

- Action Verbs: 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 10
- Linking Verbs: 2, 7, 8, 9

✔ All answers on the worksheet are correct as shown (pink for Action, blue for Linking).

Let me know if you'd like a printable version or explanation for students!