Linking Verbs Worksheet: Find the Linking Verbs - ALL ESL - Free Printable
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Step-by-step solution for: Linking Verbs Worksheet: Find the Linking Verbs - ALL ESL
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Show Answer Key & Explanations
Step-by-step solution for: Linking Verbs Worksheet: Find the Linking Verbs - ALL ESL
Let's solve this step by step.
A linking verb connects the subject of a sentence to a noun, pronoun, or adjective that describes or renames it. It does not show action. Common linking verbs include:
- To be verbs: *am, is, are, was, were, be, being, been*
- Sensory verbs: *look, sound, smell, taste, feel* (when they describe a state, not an action)
- Verbs like *become, seem, appear, grow, turn, stay, remain, prove*
We need to circle the linking verb in each sentence.
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Now, let’s go through each sentence:
1. At the hospital, the sick kid's face turned blue.
→ "turned" links the subject ("face") to the description "blue".
✔ Linking verb: turned
2. The old potatoes tasted awful.
→ "tasted" describes how the potatoes were (awful), not an action.
✔ Linking verb: tasted
3. The boy was injured during the soccer match.
→ "was" is a form of "to be", and it links "boy" to the condition "injured".
✔ Linking verb: was
4. I looked everywhere for my scarf.
→ "looked" is an action verb (searching). Not a linking verb.
✘ No linking verb here.
5. My parents sounded unhappy at the baseball game.
→ "sounded" describes their emotional state.
✔ Linking verb: sounded
6. At the park, I feel happy.
→ "feel" describes the emotional state.
✔ Linking verb: feel
7. On her birthday, she had a pink birthday cake.
→ "had" is an action verb (possessing). Not a linking verb.
✘ No linking verb here.
8. Dave was the star player on the basketball team.
→ "was" links Dave to his role ("the star player").
✔ Linking verb: was
9. At the top of the mountain, they appeared happy.
→ "appeared" shows their state (happy), not an action.
✔ Linking verb: appeared
10. The flower shop smelled beautiful.
→ "smelled" describes the quality of the shop (beautiful).
✔ Linking verb: smelled
11. At the age of 60, he went blind in one eye.
→ "went" here means "became" – it links to the state "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 the linking phrase.
✔ Linking verb: turned
13. We were the champions of the baseball tournament.
→ "were" links the subject "we" to the identity "champions".
✔ Linking verb: were
14. She felt surprised because of the size of the fish.
→ "felt" describes her emotional state ("surprised").
✔ Linking verb: felt
15. The idea sounds great.
→ "sounds" describes how the idea is perceived.
✔ Linking verb: sounds
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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
---
- Linking verbs describe a state of being or sensation.
- They often come before adjectives (e.g., "blue", "awful", "happy") or nouns that rename the subject.
- Action verbs show physical or mental activity (like "looked", "had").
- Some verbs can be both action and linking depending on context — here, we're using them as linking when they connect to a subject complement.
✔ Correct answers: All sentences except #4 and #7 have linking verbs.
What is a Linking Verb?
A linking verb connects the subject of a sentence to a noun, pronoun, or adjective that describes or renames it. It does not show action. Common linking verbs include:
- To be verbs: *am, is, are, was, were, be, being, been*
- Sensory verbs: *look, sound, smell, taste, feel* (when they describe a state, not an action)
- Verbs like *become, seem, appear, grow, turn, stay, remain, prove*
We need to circle the linking verb in each sentence.
---
Now, let’s go through each sentence:
1. At the hospital, the sick kid's face turned blue.
→ "turned" links the subject ("face") to the description "blue".
✔ Linking verb: turned
2. The old potatoes tasted awful.
→ "tasted" describes how the potatoes were (awful), not an action.
✔ Linking verb: tasted
3. The boy was injured during the soccer match.
→ "was" is a form of "to be", and it links "boy" to the condition "injured".
✔ Linking verb: was
4. I looked everywhere for my scarf.
→ "looked" is an action verb (searching). Not a linking verb.
✘ No linking verb here.
5. My parents sounded unhappy at the baseball game.
→ "sounded" describes their emotional state.
✔ Linking verb: sounded
6. At the park, I feel happy.
→ "feel" describes the emotional state.
✔ Linking verb: feel
7. On her birthday, she had a pink birthday cake.
→ "had" is an action verb (possessing). Not a linking verb.
✘ No linking verb here.
8. Dave was the star player on the basketball team.
→ "was" links Dave to his role ("the star player").
✔ Linking verb: was
9. At the top of the mountain, they appeared happy.
→ "appeared" shows their state (happy), not an action.
✔ Linking verb: appeared
10. The flower shop smelled beautiful.
→ "smelled" describes the quality of the shop (beautiful).
✔ Linking verb: smelled
11. At the age of 60, he went blind in one eye.
→ "went" here means "became" – it links to the state "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 the linking phrase.
✔ Linking verb: turned
13. We were the champions of the baseball tournament.
→ "were" links the subject "we" to the identity "champions".
✔ Linking verb: were
14. She felt surprised because of the size of the fish.
→ "felt" describes her emotional state ("surprised").
✔ Linking verb: felt
15. The idea sounds great.
→ "sounds" describes how the idea is perceived.
✔ Linking verb: sounds
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✔ Final Answers (Linking Verbs Circled):
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
---
📝 Explanation Summary:
- Linking verbs describe a state of being or sensation.
- They often come before adjectives (e.g., "blue", "awful", "happy") or nouns that rename the subject.
- Action verbs show physical or mental activity (like "looked", "had").
- Some verbs can be both action and linking depending on context — here, we're using them as linking when they connect to a subject complement.
✔ Correct answers: All sentences except #4 and #7 have linking verbs.
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of linking and helping verbs worksheet.
