Quick rules:
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Transitive verbs are action verbs that require a direct object. The verb's action is
transferred directly to the object, which can be a noun, pronoun, phrase, or clause.
Find the direct object by asking Subject + Verb + What/Whom? My dad is driving
Fred to his friend's house. My dad is driving whom? Fred. That's the direct object.
Therefore, drive is a transitive verb.
Intransitive verbs don't require a direct object. My dad goes to work every morning.
My dad goes what or whom? That doesn't make sense, so there is no direct object.
Therefore, go is an intransitive verb. [In this sentence, the natural question is: My
dad goes where? Where questions are answered by prepositional phrases, such as 'to
work.']
The tricky part: Many verbs can be either transitive or intransitive, depending on context.
1. After we eat at my house, we can go outside. (intransitive)
After we eat our sandwiches, we can go outside. (transitive)
2. The truck runs on diesel gasoline. (intransitive)
My uncle runs a restaurant. (transitive)
3. I'm reading. (intransitive)
I'm reading an article in TIME magazine about sharks. (transitive)
Linking verbs
What are linking verbs?
Linking verbs (also referred to as copulas or copular verbs) don't show action like ordinary
verbs. They rather link or connect the subject to a subject complement, the part of the
sentence that follows the verb. This complement which contains additional information
describes and identifies the subject.
Examples:
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Larry looks happy. (looks is a linking verb; happy is a complement that
describes and identifies Larry, the subject)
The play was good. (was is a linking verb; good is a complement that describes
and identifies the play, the subject
List of linking verbs
This is a list of common linking verbs:
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appear
be
become
feel
get
grow
look
prove
remain
seem
smell
stay
sound
taste
Linking verbs do not show action. Instead, they connect nouns and pronouns
to other information in the sentence. Here are some examples:
My sister is smart.
The picture appeared blurry.
Your supper smells delicious.
The most common linking verbs are listed here:
am
are
are
being
appear
be
become
feel
get
grow
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have/has been
is
lie
look
might be
might have been
prove
remain
seem
sit
smell
sound
stay
taste
turn
were
turn
Linking verb?
Some of the verbs listed above can function as linking verbs and as ordinary verbs. One trick
that you can use to identify whether a verb is a linking verb or an ordinary verb is to see the
relation between the subject and complement. If the relation is indicative of an equal sign
(=), then it is a linking verb. Consider the following examples:
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He looks angry. (He = angry | linking verb)
He looked at the man. (He = at the man | action verb)
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Nadia looked happy. (linking verb)
Nadia looked at the window. (ordinary verb)
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The food tastes delicious. (linking verb)
They tasted the food. (ordinary verb)
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She appeared quiet. (linking verb)
She appeared in the room. (ordinary verb)
Examples:
look:
taste
appear
More than one helping verb can be used in a sentence. For example, in the sentence Shyla has been
walking to school, the helping verbs are has and been.
Sometimes a word (such as not) separates the helping verb from the main verb. For example, in the
sentence Shyla does not want a new bicycle, the helping verb is does and the main verb is want.
Helping verbs
Definition:
A verb that comes before the main verb in a sentence. Together the helping verb and the main verb
form a verb phrase.
A helping verb always stands in front of a main verb. For example, in the sentence Shyla can ride her
sister's bicycle, the helping verb is can and the main verb is ride.
Helping Verbs in English:
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is, am, are, was, were
be, being, been
has, have, had
do, does, did
will, shall, should, would
can, could
may, might, must
Examples sentences using helping verbs
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I shall go now.
He had won the election.
They did write that novel together.
I am going now.
He was winning the election.
They have been writing that novel for a long time.
Example sentences:
"We have eaten." (HAVE is the helping verb, and EATEN is the main verb. They
are used together to express the action.)
"They are working." (ARE is the helping verb, and WORKING is the main verb.
They are used together to express the action.)
"She has been studying all morning." (HAS and BEEN are the helping verbs,
and STUDYING is the main verb. They are used together to express the action.)
"You will win." (WILL is the helping verb, and WIN is the main verb. They are
used together to express the action.)
Verb Phrase = helping verb(s) and main verb (also the simple predicate of the sentence)
In conclusion, the difference between a helping verb and a linking verb is the
following:
- The linking verb is used to CONNECT the subject with something that describes it:
"I am tall."
-The helping verb is used together with an additional main verb to express the action:
"I am running."
(The above examples also show you that the same word can be used as a linking verb, as
well as a helping verb!)