Action Verbs

Action Verbs and Linking Verbs
What are ACTION verbs?
An action verb is a verb that describes an action, like run, jump, kick,
eat, break, cry, smile, or think.
When using action verbs, the sentence structure will be:

SUBJECT ACTION VERB THE REST OF THE
---> ---> SENTENCE
(adjective, adverb, noun,
(noun) (verb)
complement, or nothing)
Here are some examples of action verbs in sentences.
Greg is kicking the ball The action verb is kicking. It
now. describes what Greg is doing.
The wind blows constantly The action verb is blows. It

in Chicago. describes what the wind does.
The action verb is accepted. It
He accepted my apology. describes what 'he' did.
What are LINKING verbs?
A linking verb is a verb that links (connects) the subject of the sentence
to information about that subject. Linking verbs do not describe action.
When using linking verbs, the sentence structure will be:
SUBJECT LINKING VERB INFORMATION ABOUT
---> ---> THE SUBJECT
(adjective, noun, or
(noun) (verb)
complement)
Some verbs are ALWAYS linking verbs because they never describe an
action. Other verbs can be linking verbs in some sentences and action
verbs in other sentences.
The following three verbs are ALWAYS linking verbs:

to be (is, am, are, was, were, has been, have
been, had been, is being, are being, was being,
will have been, etc.)
to become (become, becomes, became, has
become, have become, had become, will
become, will have become, etc.)
to seem (seemed, seeming, seems, has
seemed, have seemed, had seemed, is
seeming, are seeming, was seeming, were
seeming, will seem)
Here are some examples of linking verbs that are ALWAYS linking verbs in
sentences:
'Is' is a linking verb that connects the
“The ball is red.” subject, ball, to information about
that subject (that it is red).
'Are' is a linking verb that connects
the subject, children, to information
“The children are smart.” about that subject (that they are
smart).
“The child will be tall five 'Will be' is the linking verb
connecting 'child' to the fact that he
years from now.” will be 'tall five years from now.'
'Seems' links the subject, cat, with
“The cat seems fine.” information about the cat (that it is
fine).
'Became' links the subject, the dog,
“The dog became thin with information about him (that he
after his surgery.” became thin).
Verbs that can be both ACTION and LINKING verbs

There are verbs that can be linking verbs in SOME sentences, but are
action verbs in other sentences. One way to determine if the verb is
functioning as an action verb or a linking verb is to substitute the word
“is” for the verb in question.If the sentence still makes sense, then it is
probably a linking verb. If the sentence would not make sense with the
word “is,” then it is probably an action verb in the sentence.
The following are examples of verbs that can be linking verbs in some
sentences and action verbs in other sentences:
look smell appear
prove sound feel
remain taste grow
Here are some sample sentences of verbs used as linking verbs and
actions verbs.
Used as Linking Verbs Explanation
You could substitute the word 'is,'
for the word 'appears,' and the
sentence would still make sense:
Jane appeared uninjured after the
"Jane is uninjured after the
accident.
accident." This lets you know that
appeared is a linking verb in this
sentence.
The cake smells good! This sentence describes the cake.
“Smells” is a linking verb in this
sentence. It connects the subject,
cake, with information about that
subject—it smells good.
This sentence may seem
confusing. Remember that the
word “grow” has more than one
The woman grew silent.
meaning! In this sentence,
“grew” means BECAME. The
woman became silent.
Used as Action Verbs Explanation
In this sentence, appeared is not
linking anything. It is telling the
Before I could leave, Jane appeared.
action that Jane did. She
appeared, or showed up.
The word, smells is not linking
anything. If you replaced smells
with 'is' the sentence would not
Ellen smells the cake. make sense. That means smells
must be an action verb in this
sentence. Ellen performed the
action of smelling the cake.
The word, grew, is not linking two
things together here. If you tried
to replace grew with 'is' the
sentence would not make sense.
The gardener grew some flowers.
This means that grew must be an
action verb. The gardener
performed the action of growing
some flowers.
STATIVE VERBS
In general, English verb types are divided into stative verbs and action verbs. Stative
verbs are verbs used to express a state or condition.There are some verbs which can be
either a stative verb or action verb depending on the context.
Example:
She is having dinner.(shows the action of "eating dinner")
She is having two brothers. (in this context, the verb shows the state of
ownership/possession. You cannot use the progressive form).
She has two brothers.(When used in this sense, these verbs do not have a
progressive form.)
Stative verbs can be categorised into:
a) verbs expressing emotion

Example: abhor, appreciate, dislike, envy, fear, hate, like, mind, need, prefer, loathe,
concern, despise, detest, wish, amaze, astonish, care, love, please, surprise,
want,worry, satisfy
The isolated hermit has been truly detesting anyone's
company.
The isolated hermit has truly detested anyone's
company.
Everyone would soon be envying the farmer if he reaped the

fat of the land successfully.
Everyone would soon envy the farmer if he reaped the fat of
the land successfully.
The student's wacky performance was astonishing.

(Note: Be careful! This is actually an adjective and not a verb
form)
The student's wacky performance was astonishing all the
guests yesterday.
The student's wacky performance astonished all the guests
yesterday.
Whatever the reasons, her lack of enthusiasm towards life is

worrying.
(Note: Be careful! This is actually an adjective and not a verb
form)
Whatever the reasons, her lack of enthusiasm towards life is
worrying her family.
Whatever the reasons, her lack of enthusiasm towards life
worries her family.
b) verbs expressing possession
Example: own, possess, require,belong

That bumbling greenhorn is owning more money and assets
than all his relatives .
That bumbling greenhorn owns more money and assets than
all his relatives .
This antique bracelet wrought by an immortal smith is

unfortunately belonging to a certain lady of dubious
honour.
This antique bracelet wrought by an immortal smith
unfortunately belongs to a certain lady of dubious
honour.
c) verbs expressing cognition and mental processes

Example: believe, desire, forget, imagine, know, mean, realize, recognize, remember,
suppose, think, guess, presuppose, recall, regard, suspect, doubt, understand, impress
I have been knowing her deceitful plans all along.
I have known her deceitful plans all along.
All the densely populated areas are desiring more space to

live and breathe.
All the densely populated areas desire more space to live and
breathe.
Using his dextrous skills, the wily old fox was thinking that
he could escape unharmed.
Using his dextrous skills, the wily old fox thought that he
could escape unharmed.
Were you understanding what I have just said?

Did you understand what I have just said?
How can you be suspecting me of something which is

profoundly illogical and impossible?
How can you suspect me of something which is profoundly
illogical and impossible?
d) verbs expressing existence

Example: consist (of), contain, cost, exist, include, matter, owe, resemble, seem,
sound, weigh, equal, matter, appear, deserve, last, fit
That potion brewed to its deadly potency is seeming not more
than honeyed milk.
That potion brewed to its deadly potency seems not more than
honeyed milk.
People's lives couldn't have been mattering much to him when

planning the outrageous and almost suicidal offense.
People's lives couldn't have mattered much to him when
planning the outrageous and almost suicidal offense.
Are we existing in another subconscious level other than what

we can conceive using our bodily senses?
Do we exist in another subconscious level other than what we
can conceive using our bodily senses?

Action Verbs

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Action Verbs

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Action Verbs

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Action Verbs and Linking Verbs

What are ACTION verbs?

When using action verbs, the sentence structure will be:

The wind blows constantly The action verb is blows. It

What are LINKING verbs?

The following three verbs are ALWAYS linking verbs:

Verbs that can be both ACTION and LINKING verbs

Stative verbs can be categorised into:

a) verbs expressing emotion

Everyone would soon be envying the farmer if he reaped the

The student's wacky performance was astonishing.

Whatever the reasons, her lack of enthusiasm towards life is

b) verbs expressing possession

Example: own, possess, require,belong

This antique bracelet wrought by an immortal smith is

c) verbs expressing cognition and mental processes

All the densely populated areas are desiring more space to

Were you understanding what I have just said?

How can you be suspecting me of something which is

d) verbs expressing existence

People's lives couldn't have been mattering much to him when

Are we existing in another subconscious level other than what

You might also like