IDENTIFYING ACTION AND LINKING VERBS
In this module, you will learn to identify
 Single-word verbs
 Verb phrases
 Verbs as action
 Verbs as linking.
Introduction
In order to use adjectives and adverbs properly, you must be able to identify verbs as
action or linking. And before you can identify verbs as action or linking, you must be able
to identify verbs of all kinds, from single-word verbs to long verb phrases.
Verbs
Verbs are words that indicate the action in a sentence. A verb is the action, not the name
of an action. A complete verb indicates the action and the tense. The one word in a singleword verb is the complete verb. In a verb phrase, the phrase is the complete verb. The last
word in a verb phrase must be a participle. Let's investigate what we've read; and, at the
same time, we'll determine whether verbs are action or linking.
Single-word verbs
Sentence:
"The man rushed through the crowd."
After reading this sentence, we realize that the "action" is rushed. We also realize that
"rushed" is not the name of an action such as "to rush" or "rushing," so "rushed" is the
verb.
We see that "rushed" is a single-word verb, so "rushed" is the main verb. Aside from being
the main verb, "rushed" is also the complete verb.
Action or Linking
The action in the sentence is "rushed." If someone "rushed" through the crowd, would an
action, either physical or mental, be the result? YES. So the complete verb is "rushed,"
and "rushed" is an action verb (physical action).
Sentence:
"The lady looked beautiful in her new gown."
Action or Linking
We see that the "action" is looked. "Looked" is a one-word verb that, like all one-word
verbs, is both the main verb and the complete verb. If someone "looked" beautiful, would
an action, either physical or mental, be the result? NO. So the complete verb is "looked,"
and "looked" is a linking verb because "looked" results in neither physical nor mental
action.
Sentence:
"Orlando thought about his future and his career."
We see that the "action" is thought. "Thought" is a one-word verb.
Action or Linking
If someone "thought," would an action, either physical or mental, be the result? YES, there
is a mental action of thinking. So the complete verb is "thought," and "thought" is an action
verb because "thought" results in mental action.
Here's a list of some verbs that can be either action or linking verbs.
List:
To appear, to feel, to get, to grow, to keep, to look, to prove, to sound, to turn.
A few verbs can be nothing but linking verbs. In other words, these few verbs can never be
action verbs. Here's a list of those verbs that can be only linking verbs.
List:
To be, to become, to seem.
Here's a list of some verbs that are always mental action verbs.
List:
To learn, to understand, to think, to like, to forget, to need, to dream, to expect, to believe,
to love, to know, to remember, to appreciate, to study.
Verb Phrases
A verb phrase is a verb consisting of more than one word. You learned about helping
verbs and about modals, and you also learned that a main verb must end a verb phrase.
Look at this sentence.
"We could have been very happy together."
What we need to do is identify the complete verb then identify the verb as an action verb
or a linking verb. Below is a suggested approach.
1. We recognize "been" as a past participle.
2. We know that a participle must have helping verbs if it is to be a verb.
3. We recognize "could" as a modal and as the first verb in a verb phrase (modals are
always the first word in a verb phrase).
4. We recognize "have" as another helping verb.
Thus, we know we have a verb phrase to work with. We continue.
5. We recognize the verb phrase "could have been" as the complete verb.
Further,
6. The main verb in a verb phrase is the last verb.
7. The last verb is "been."
8. "Been," thus, makes the verb phrase a "to be" verb phrase.
So
9. We know that "to be" is always a linking verb.
Solution: In the sentence
"We could have been very happy together,"
the complete verb is "could have been," and the verb is a linking verb.
You may find it helpful to read or to reread "Identifying Verbs and Adverbs" if you have any
doubts about what you have read here.
Exercises
Analyze the sentence and then select the correct statement. The answers appear after the
last question.
1. The ghost appears early in the first act of Hamlet.
A. Appears early is the complete verb, and it is a linking verb.
B. Appears early is the complete verb, and it is an action verb.
C. Appears is the complete verb, and it is a linking verb.
D. Appears is the complete verb, and it is an action verb.
2. The night watchman swung around to face the noise.
A. Swung around is the complete verb, and it is a linking verb.
B. Swung is the complete verb, and it is an action verb.
C. To face is the complete verb, and it is a linking verb.
D. Face is the complete verb, and it is an action verb.
3. Sondra quickly became the favourite to win the contest.
A. Became is the complete verb, and it is a linking verb.
B. To win is the complete verb, and it is an action verb.
C. Win is the complete verb, and it is a linking verb.
D. Became is the complete verb, and it is an action verb.
4. The blue suit looked very good on Nathan.
A. Looked good is the complete verb, and it is a linking verb.
B. Looked is the complete verb, and it is an action verb.
C. Looked very good is the complete verb, and it is a linking verb.
D. Looked is the complete verb, and it is a linking verb.
5. Miguel feels good about his chances of winning the scholarship.
A. Feels good is the complete verb, and it is a linking verb.
B. Feels is the complete verb, and it is a linking verb.
C. Winning is the complete verb, and it is a linking verb.
D. Winning is the complete verb, and it is an action verb.
6. The others should have been here by now.
A. Have is the main verb, and it is a linking verb.
B. Been is the main verb, and it is an action verb.
C. Been is the main verb, and it is a linking verb.
D. Should have been is the main verb, and it is an action verb.
7. Leticia has been feeling optimistic about her new job.
A. Been is the main verb, and it is a linking verb.
B. Been is the main verb, and it is an action verb.
C. Feeling is the main verb, and it is an action verb.
D. Feeling is the main verb, and it is an linking verb.
8. Travis could feel the bump on his head for several days.
A. Feel is the main verb, and it is a linking verb.
B. Feel is the main verb, and it is an action verb.
C. Could is the main verb, and it is a linking verb.
D. Could is the main verb, and it is an action verb.
9. The radio could have warned us of the storm in Winnipeg.
A. Have is the main verb, and it is a linking verb.
B. Have is the main verb, and it is an action verb.
C. Could is the main verb, and it is a linking verb.
D. Warned is the main verb, and it is an action verb.
10. Winnie was thinking of her happy days at Mount Royal College.
A. Thinking is the main verb, and it is a linking verb.
B. Thinking is the main verb, and it is an action verb.
C. Was is the main verb, and it is a linking verb.
D. Was is the main verb, and it is an action verb.
Answers
1, D. 2, B. 3, A. 4, D. 5, B. 6, C. 7, D. 8, B. 9, D. 10, B.