VERB NOTES I. Action Verbs II. Linking Verbs - EZWebSite

VERB NOTES
Verbs put language into motion. Every sentence must contain a subject and a verb. We will be
working with action and linking verbs.
I. Action Verbs
Let's get started with action verbs. Here is a simple test frame for determining an action verb:
Can you____________________? (insert the verb in the blank)
Example 1: He hit the ball. Subject: He Verb: hit
Let's run the verb through the action test frame. Can you hit___? (yes)
• If the answer is yes, you are working with an action verb.
• If the answer is no, you may be working with a linking verb.
Example 2: She is the president. Subject: She Verb: is
Let's run the verb through the action test frame. Can you __is__? (no)
• If the answer is yes, you are working with an action verb.
• If the answer is no, you may be working with a linking verb.
This is a simple test frame for working with action verbs. You must memorize and use this test
frame.
**REMEMBER to always remove prepositional phrases first to prevent getting them confused with
other parts of the sentence!!!
II.
Linking Verbs
Now let's see how linking verbs work in our language. Linking verbs link, or connect, the subject of
a sentence with a noun phrase or an adjective in the predicate (after the subject). A linking verb,
unlike the action verb, has no action!!!
Example 1: She is the winner. Subject: She Verb: is
Let's run the verb through the action verb test frame. Can you __is__? (no)
• If no, you are working with a linking verb.
• If yes, you are working with an action verb.
Some verbs may function as either a linking or an action verb but never as both in the same
sentence. Here are some common examples of verbs that may function as both linking and action
verbs: appear, become, feel, grow, look, seem, remain, smell, sound, taste, stay.
You know the action verb test frame.
Now, here is the test frame for linking verbs:
Test Frame: Replace the verb with is or are. (If the sentence makes sense, you may be working
with a linking verb!)
Hipskind Verb Notes, 1 of 4
Grammar Studies
5/05

Linking verbs continued.
Let's take a look at how these verbs can be linking and action.
Example 2: They sounded the alarm. Subject: They Verb: sounded
Let's run the verb through the action verb test frame. Can you __sound__? (yes)
Let's run the verb through the linking verb test frame.
• They are the alarm.
• They are not the alarm.
The linking verb test does not work. Sound is an action verb.
*REMEMBER: Linking verbs will link or equate the subject to a noun phrase or an adjective in the
predicate!
To determine if a verb is either linking or action run the verb through both test frames.
ACTION
Can you______________?
Insert verb in blank. If you can answer yes, the verb is an action verb.
LINKING
Replace the verb with is or are
If the sentence makes sense, you probably have a linking verb.
These test frames are not 100% accurate, but they do increase your chances of determining verb
types greatly! STAY FOCUSED AND THINK!!!
III. DIRECT OBJECTS (more work with action verbs)
Sometimes when a verb "expresses" action, something or someone "receives" that action. The who
or what that receives the action is called a direct object. The verb that "sends" the action to a noun or
a pronoun is called a transitive verb.
Hipskind Verb Notes, 2 of 4
Grammar Studies
5/05

TRANSITIVE VERBS REQUIRE DIRECT OBJECTS!
Example 1: Mary hit the ball. Subject: Mary Transitive Verb: hit
Let's run the verb through the action test frame.
Can you __hit__? (yes)
An action verb is either transitive or intransitive. Remember transitive verbs require direct objects.
Here is the DIRECT OBJECT test frame:
_____________________
(insert verb here)
what?
whom?
Insert the verb and ask whom or what. If you can answer the verb with a noun or a pronoun, you
have a direct object.
Example 2: Mary hit the ball.
hit what? ball Here, ball is the direct object. The word "hit" is a transitive verb.
Remember always mark off prepositional phrases first so they will not be used as any other part of a
sentence.
Example 3: Mary swims in the pool. Prepositional phrase: in the pool Subject: Mary
Verb: swims Can you __swim__? (yes)
Now test to see if you have a direct object.
swim what? swim whom?
There is no noun or pronoun to answer the questions.
Here, "swims" is intransitive. The verb does not "send" action to a noun or pronoun!
We now know how to test verbs for action, and we know that transitive verbs require direct objects!
We also know how to test for linking verbs. Now we will learn about linking verb complements.
IV.
Linking Verb Complements
Linking verb complements are either noun phrases or adjectives that name or describe the subject of
a sentence.
REMEMBER:
1. A Linking Verb is like an equal (=) sign!
2. The subject will equal the linking verb complement!
3. Linking verbs have no action
Hipskind Verb Notes, 3 of 4
Grammar Studies
5/05

Example 1: He is the winner. Subject: He Verb: is
He = winner "winner" is a noun
Example 2: He is hungry. Subject: He Verb: is
He = hungry "hungry" is an adjective
"winner" and "hungry" are linking verb complements!
To determine if a verb is linking or action run the verb through the test frames.
V. SUMMARY:
1. Mark off prepositional phrases
2. Find the subject and the verb
3. Determine verb type: linking or action
4. If action, check for direct object
5. If there is a direct object, verb is transitive
6. If linking, check if complement is a noun phrase or adjective
YOU CAN DO THIS. STAY FOCUSED AND THINK!
Hipskind Verb Notes, 4 of 4
Grammar Studies
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