Educational worksheet for identifying action and linking verbs in sentences.
Worksheet titled "Action & Linking Verbs" with 20 sentences for students to identify verbs and determine 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, think, write, eat*
- These verbs connect the subject to a subject complement (often describing the subject).
- Common linking verbs: *be, become, seem, look, feel, taste, smell, sound, 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 verb
→ "became" connects "problems" to "more difficult" (describing them).
✔ Linking
---
(2) *Light objects float easily in the pool.*
- Verb: float
- Type: Action verb
→ "float" shows movement/action.
✔ Action
---
(3) *The workmen carried the boxes into the warehouse.*
- Verb: carried
- Type: Action verb
→ Physical movement.
✔ Action
---
(4) *These jeans are too small for me now.*
- Verb: are
- Type: Linking verb
→ "are" links "jeans" to "too small" (a description).
✔ Linking
---
(5) *There are twelve eggs in a carton.*
- Verb: are
- Type: Linking verb
→ "There are" is a form of "to be", linking "twelve eggs" to the location.
✔ Linking
---
(6) *She attaches labels to the boxes.*
- Verb: attaches
- Type: Action verb
→ Shows the act of attaching.
✔ Action
---
(7) *There is a pair of shoes near the door.*
- Verb: is
- Type: Linking verb
→ "is" links "a pair of shoes" to its location.
✔ Linking
---
(8) *This door is very creaky.*
- Verb: is
- Type: Linking verb
→ Links "door" to "creaky" (description).
✔ Linking
---
(9) *This mechanical pencil has no more lead.*
- Verb: has
- Type: Action verb
→ "has" indicates possession — it's a transitive action verb.
✔ Action
> ⚠️ Note: Although "has" can sometimes be tricky, here it shows possession, so it's action, not linking.
---
(10) *Andrew wants a new backpack.*
- Verb: wants
- Type: Action verb
→ Describes desire (mental action).
✔ Action
---
(11) *Please hand me the red screwdriver.*
- Verb: hand
- Type: Action verb
→ Physical act of handing.
✔ Action
---
(12) *The brown suitcase looks heavy.*
- Verb: looks
- Type: Linking verb
→ "looks" describes how the suitcase appears; it's connecting the subject to a state.
✔ Linking
---
(13) *The big computer is very fast.*
- Verb: is
- Type: Linking verb
→ Links "computer" to "very fast".
✔ Linking
---
(14) *Those dresses are very pretty.*
- Verb: are
- Type: Linking verb
→ Connects "dresses" to "pretty".
✔ Linking
---
(15) *There are three children in the park.*
- Verb: are
- Type: Linking verb
→ "There are" introduces existence, but still functions as a linking verb.
✔ Linking
---
(16) *There were a big car and a small car in the garage.*
- Verb: were
- Type: Linking verb
→ "were" links the subject ("a big car and a small car") to the location.
✔ Linking
---
(17) *He felt happy after the test.*
- Verb: felt
- Type: Linking verb
→ "felt" describes emotion/state. "Happy" is a subject complement.
✔ Linking
> 💡 Tip: Even though "feel" can be an action verb (e.g., "I feel the cloth"), here it describes emotional state.
---
(18) *The copier is out of paper.*
- Verb: is
- Type: Linking verb
→ Links "copier" to its condition ("out of paper").
✔ Linking
---
(19) *The computer starts with a chime.*
- Verb: starts
- Type: Action verb
→ "starts" shows the beginning of an action.
✔ Action
---
(20) *The cat’s fur feels very soft.*
- Verb: feels
- Type: Linking verb
→ "feels" describes sensation; "soft" is a description of the fur.
✔ 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 |
---
- Look for "to be" verbs (am, is, are, was, were) → usually linking.
- Verbs like become, seem, appear, feel, look, taste, smell, sound → often linking when followed by adjectives.
- If the verb shows physical or mental action, it’s likely action.
- Use context: if the verb connects the subject to a description, it’s linking.
Let me know if you'd like this formatted for printing!
---
🔹 What are Action Verbs?
- These verbs show physical or mental actions.
- Examples: *run, think, write, eat*
🔹 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, smell, sound, 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 verb
→ "became" connects "problems" to "more difficult" (describing them).
✔ Linking
---
(2) *Light objects float easily in the pool.*
- Verb: float
- Type: Action verb
→ "float" shows movement/action.
✔ Action
---
(3) *The workmen carried the boxes into the warehouse.*
- Verb: carried
- Type: Action verb
→ Physical movement.
✔ Action
---
(4) *These jeans are too small for me now.*
- Verb: are
- Type: Linking verb
→ "are" links "jeans" to "too small" (a description).
✔ Linking
---
(5) *There are twelve eggs in a carton.*
- Verb: are
- Type: Linking verb
→ "There are" is a form of "to be", linking "twelve eggs" to the location.
✔ Linking
---
(6) *She attaches labels to the boxes.*
- Verb: attaches
- Type: Action verb
→ Shows the act of attaching.
✔ Action
---
(7) *There is a pair of shoes near the door.*
- Verb: is
- Type: Linking verb
→ "is" links "a pair of shoes" to its location.
✔ Linking
---
(8) *This door is very creaky.*
- Verb: is
- Type: Linking verb
→ Links "door" to "creaky" (description).
✔ Linking
---
(9) *This mechanical pencil has no more lead.*
- Verb: has
- Type: Action verb
→ "has" indicates possession — it's a transitive action verb.
✔ Action
> ⚠️ Note: Although "has" can sometimes be tricky, here it shows possession, so it's action, not linking.
---
(10) *Andrew wants a new backpack.*
- Verb: wants
- Type: Action verb
→ Describes desire (mental action).
✔ Action
---
(11) *Please hand me the red screwdriver.*
- Verb: hand
- Type: Action verb
→ Physical act of handing.
✔ Action
---
(12) *The brown suitcase looks heavy.*
- Verb: looks
- Type: Linking verb
→ "looks" describes how the suitcase appears; it's connecting the subject to a state.
✔ Linking
---
(13) *The big computer is very fast.*
- Verb: is
- Type: Linking verb
→ Links "computer" to "very fast".
✔ Linking
---
(14) *Those dresses are very pretty.*
- Verb: are
- Type: Linking verb
→ Connects "dresses" to "pretty".
✔ Linking
---
(15) *There are three children in the park.*
- Verb: are
- Type: Linking verb
→ "There are" introduces existence, but still functions as a linking verb.
✔ Linking
---
(16) *There were a big car and a small car in the garage.*
- Verb: were
- Type: Linking verb
→ "were" links the subject ("a big car and a small car") to the location.
✔ Linking
---
(17) *He felt happy after the test.*
- Verb: felt
- Type: Linking verb
→ "felt" describes emotion/state. "Happy" is a subject complement.
✔ Linking
> 💡 Tip: Even though "feel" can be an action verb (e.g., "I feel the cloth"), here it describes emotional state.
---
(18) *The copier is out of paper.*
- Verb: is
- Type: Linking verb
→ Links "copier" to its condition ("out of paper").
✔ Linking
---
(19) *The computer starts with a chime.*
- Verb: starts
- Type: Action verb
→ "starts" shows the beginning of an action.
✔ Action
---
(20) *The cat’s fur feels very soft.*
- Verb: feels
- Type: Linking verb
→ "feels" describes sensation; "soft" is a description of the fur.
✔ 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 Tips:
- Look for "to be" verbs (am, is, are, was, were) → usually linking.
- Verbs like become, seem, appear, feel, look, taste, smell, sound → often linking when followed by adjectives.
- If the verb shows physical or mental action, it’s likely action.
- Use context: if the verb connects the subject to a description, it’s linking.
Let me know if you'd like this formatted for printing!
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of action verbs and linking verbs worksheet.
