Practice identifying linking verbs in sentences with this educational worksheet.
Worksheet titled "Linking Verbs" with 15 sentences for identifying linking verbs in each sentence.
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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
Sure! Let’s go through each sentence and identify the linking verb.
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A linking verb connects the subject of a sentence to a word or phrase that describes or identifies it (like an adjective, noun, or pronoun). Common linking verbs include:
- be (am, is, are, was, were, etc.)
- seem, appear, feel, look, sound, taste, smell, grow, become, remain, etc.
These verbs do not show action — they link the subject to its state or condition.
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Now, let’s go sentence by sentence:
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1. At the hospital, the sick kid’s face turned blue.
✔ Linking verb: turned
→ “Turned” here describes a change in state (face became blue), not an action. It links “face” to “blue.”
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2. The old potatoes tasted awful.
✔ Linking verb: tasted
→ “Tasted” describes how the potatoes *were* (awful) — not the act of tasting them. It links “potatoes” to “awful.”
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3. The boy was injured during the soccer match.
✔ Linking verb: was
→ “Was” links “boy” to “injured” (a state/condition).
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4. I looked everywhere for my scarf.
✘ NOT a linking verb: looked
→ Here, “looked” is an action verb — he performed the action of searching. Not describing his state.
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5. My parents sounded unhappy at the baseball game.
✔ Linking verb: sounded
→ “Sounded” links “parents” to “unhappy” — describing their perceived emotional state.
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6. At the park, I feel happy.
✔ Linking verb: feel
→ “Feel” links “I” to “happy” — describing emotion/state.
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7. On her birthday, she had a pink birthday cake.
✘ NOT a linking verb: had
→ “Had” is an action verb — she possessed or ate the cake. Not describing a state.
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8. Dave was the star player on the basketball team.
✔ Linking verb: was
→ “Was” links “Dave” to “the star player” — identifying him.
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9. At the top of the mountain, they appeared happy.
✔ Linking verb: appeared
→ “Appeared” links “they” to “happy” — describing how they seemed.
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10. The flower shop smelled beautiful.
✔ Linking verb: smelled
→ “Smelled” links “flower shop” to “beautiful” — describing its scent/quality.
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11. At the age of 60, he went blind in one eye.
✔ Linking verb: went
→ “Went” here means “became” — it links “he” to “blind.” It’s a linking verb indicating change of state.
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12. The weather turned out fine at the marathon.
✔ Linking verb: turned
→ “Turned out” = became. Links “weather” to “fine.” (Note: “turned out” is a phrasal linking verb.)
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13. We were the champions of the baseball tournament.
✔ Linking verb: were
→ “Were” links “we” to “champions” — identifying the subject.
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14. We felt surprised because of the size of the fish.
✔ Linking verb: felt
→ “Felt” links “we” to “surprised” — describing our emotional state.
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15. The idea sounds great.
✔ Linking verb: sounds
→ “Sounds” links “idea” to “great” — describing how it seems.
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1. turned
2. tasted
3. was
5. sounded
6. feel
8. was
9. appeared
10. smelled
11. went
12. turned
13. were
14. felt
15. sounds
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4. looked → action verb
7. had → action verb
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Linking verbs describe states, conditions, or identities — they don’t show physical action. When you see a verb followed by an adjective or noun that describes the subject, it’s likely a linking verb!
Let me know if you’d like a printable version or flashcards for practice 😊
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🔍 What is a linking verb?
A linking verb connects the subject of a sentence to a word or phrase that describes or identifies it (like an adjective, noun, or pronoun). Common linking verbs include:
- be (am, is, are, was, were, etc.)
- seem, appear, feel, look, sound, taste, smell, grow, become, remain, etc.
These verbs do not show action — they link the subject to its state or condition.
---
Now, let’s go sentence by sentence:
---
1. At the hospital, the sick kid’s face turned blue.
✔ Linking verb: turned
→ “Turned” here describes a change in state (face became blue), not an action. It links “face” to “blue.”
---
2. The old potatoes tasted awful.
✔ Linking verb: tasted
→ “Tasted” describes how the potatoes *were* (awful) — not the act of tasting them. It links “potatoes” to “awful.”
---
3. The boy was injured during the soccer match.
✔ Linking verb: was
→ “Was” links “boy” to “injured” (a state/condition).
---
4. I looked everywhere for my scarf.
✘ NOT a linking verb: looked
→ Here, “looked” is an action verb — he performed the action of searching. Not describing his state.
---
5. My parents sounded unhappy at the baseball game.
✔ Linking verb: sounded
→ “Sounded” links “parents” to “unhappy” — describing their perceived emotional state.
---
6. At the park, I feel happy.
✔ Linking verb: feel
→ “Feel” links “I” to “happy” — describing emotion/state.
---
7. On her birthday, she had a pink birthday cake.
✘ NOT a linking verb: had
→ “Had” is an action verb — she possessed or ate the cake. Not describing a state.
---
8. Dave was the star player on the basketball team.
✔ Linking verb: was
→ “Was” links “Dave” to “the star player” — identifying him.
---
9. At the top of the mountain, they appeared happy.
✔ Linking verb: appeared
→ “Appeared” links “they” to “happy” — describing how they seemed.
---
10. The flower shop smelled beautiful.
✔ Linking verb: smelled
→ “Smelled” links “flower shop” to “beautiful” — describing its scent/quality.
---
11. At the age of 60, he went blind in one eye.
✔ Linking verb: went
→ “Went” here means “became” — it links “he” to “blind.” It’s a linking verb indicating change of state.
---
12. The weather turned out fine at the marathon.
✔ Linking verb: turned
→ “Turned out” = became. Links “weather” to “fine.” (Note: “turned out” is a phrasal linking verb.)
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13. We were the champions of the baseball tournament.
✔ Linking verb: were
→ “Were” links “we” to “champions” — identifying the subject.
---
14. We felt surprised because of the size of the fish.
✔ Linking verb: felt
→ “Felt” links “we” to “surprised” — describing our emotional state.
---
15. The idea sounds great.
✔ Linking verb: sounds
→ “Sounds” links “idea” to “great” — describing how it seems.
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✔ Final Answer — Circle these linking verbs:
1. turned
2. tasted
3. was
5. sounded
6. feel
8. was
9. appeared
10. smelled
11. went
12. turned
13. were
14. felt
15. sounds
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✘ Skip these (not linking verbs):
4. looked → action verb
7. had → action verb
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📝 Summary:
Linking verbs describe states, conditions, or identities — they don’t show physical action. When you see a verb followed by an adjective or noun that describes the subject, it’s likely a linking verb!
Let me know if you’d like a printable version or flashcards for practice 😊
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of linking verbs worksheet 6th grade.
