EXERCISE 1. IF THE ITALICIZED VERB EXPRESSES PHYSICAL ACTION, WRITE P...

2. In addition, each of the following verbs can be either an action verb or a linking

verb, depending on the way it is used.

VERB

USED AS ACTION VERB

USED AS LINKING VERB

miiiiij

_x

appear The principal appeared at 10 a.m. Fred appeared tired.

miiiiiij

x

become The haircut becomes (suits) her. My room becomes messy.

miiij

_x

feel Did you feel the cloth? I feel nervous.

miiiij

x

grow Farmers grow crops. The days grow longer.

look We looked the place over. He looked unhappy.

smell I smelled smoke. The air smelled salty.

miiiiiij

_x

taste I tasted the soup. The soup tasted delicious.

turn She turned the page. The weather turned cold.

How Can a Linking Verb Be Recognized?

If a verb can be replaced with some form of the verb be, it is a linking verb.

Question 1:

Is feels a linking verb in the following sentence?

Jordan feels angry.

Answer:

We can replace feels with is (a form of the verb be).

Jordan is angry.

Therefore, feels, in the above sentence, is a linking verb.

Question 2:

Is feels a linking verb in the following sentence?

The patient feels pain.

Answer:

In this sentence, we cannot replace feels with is.

Therefore, feels here is not a linking verb. It is an action verb.

Summary:

An action verb expresses action, either physical or mental.

A linking verb connects the subject with a word in the predicate that

describes or identifies the subject.