Linking Verbs Worksheet: Find the Linking Verbs - ALL ESL - Free Printable

Let's solve this step by step.

What is a Linking Verb?

A linking verb connects the subject of a sentence to a noun, pronoun, or adjective that describes or identifies it. It does not show action. Common linking verbs include:
- to be (am, is, are, was, were, be, being, been)
- seem, appear, become, feel, look, sound, taste, smell, turn, grow, remain, stay, prove, seem, etc.

Linking verbs often go with subject complements (adjectives or nouns that describe the subject).

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Now, let’s analyze each sentence and circle the linking verb.

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1. At the hospital, the sick kid's face turned blue.
→ "turned" links the subject ("face") to the adjective "blue".
✔ Linking verb: turned

2. The old potatoes tasted awful.
→ "tasted" links the subject ("potatoes") to the adjective "awful".
✔ Linking verb: tasted

3. The boy was injured during the soccer match.
→ "was" is a form of "to be", and here it links the subject ("boy") to the past participle "injured" (which functions as an adjective describing the boy).
✔ Linking verb: was

4. I looked everywhere for my scarf.
→ "looked" is an action verb (it shows searching), not a linking verb.
✘ Not a linking verb.

5. My parents sounded unhappy at the baseball game.
→ "sounded" links the subject ("parents") to the adjective "unhappy".
✔ Linking verb: sounded

6. At the park, I feel happy.
→ "feel" here is a linking verb because it connects "I" to the adjective "happy".
✔ Linking verb: feel

7. On her birthday, she had a pink birthday cake.
→ "had" is an action verb (possessing), not a linking verb.
✘ Not a linking verb.

8. Dave was the star player on the basketball team.
→ "was" links "Dave" to the noun phrase "the star player" (a description of him).
✔ Linking verb: was

9. At the top of the mountain, they appeared happy.
→ "appeared" links "they" to the adjective "happy".
✔ Linking verb: appeared

10. The flower shop smelled beautiful.
→ "smelled" links the subject ("shop") to the adjective "beautiful".
✔ Linking verb: smelled

11. At the age of 60, he went blind in one eye.
→ "went" here means "became" — it's a linking verb connecting "he" to the adjective "blind".
✔ Linking verb: went

12. The weather turned out fine at the marathon.
→ "turned out" is a phrasal verb meaning "proved to be". "Turned" is part of a linking construction.
✔ Linking verb: turned (note: "out" is part of the phrasal verb, but "turned" is the main verb)

13. We were the champions of the baseball tournament.
→ "were" links "we" to the noun "champions".
✔ Linking verb: were

14. She felt surprised because of the size of the fish.
→ "felt" here is a linking verb connecting "she" to the adjective "surprised".
✔ Linking verb: felt

15. The idea sounds great.
→ "sounds" links the subject ("idea") to the adjective "great".
✔ Linking verb: sounds

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✔ Final Answer: Circle the following linking verbs:

1. turned
2. tasted
3. was
4. ✘ (no linking verb)
5. sounded
6. feel
7. ✘ (no linking verb)
8. was
9. appeared
10. smelled
11. went
12. turned
13. were
14. felt
15. sounds

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Summary:

- Linking verbs connect the subject to a description (adjective or noun).
- Action verbs show physical or mental activity.
- Words like *be, seem, appear, become, feel, look, sound, taste, smell, turn, grow, remain* are common linking verbs.
- Some verbs can be either linking or action depending on context — here, we’re identifying them as linking when followed by a subject complement.

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