1

Name:_________________________

Verbs
(linking and action)

Introduction

When writing sentences it is expected that you

know how to correctly order subjects and verbs. To
form a complete sentence you must have both a
subject and verb.

Objectives

The goal of this unit is to provide students with the

skills to be able to identify and classify verbs in a
sentence as either linking or action. In doing so,
students will be applying the following skills:
Locate nouns/subjects in the sentence
Determine what the subjects in the sentence
are doing to identify verbs
Distinguish between linking verbs and action
verbs.
Each of the skills listed above will be covered in
this unit. This unit is designed for the success of
each student.

Prerequisite Skills

To be successful with this unit it is assumed that you

already are confident in reading and reading
comprehension. It is also assumed that you are familiar
with identifying nouns and subjects in a sentence. Knows
these things will assist you in being able to complete this
unit.
For example, given the sentence: Sally went to the
store. you would be able to identify Sally and store
as nouns and Sally as the subject of the sentence.

Warm Up

Directions: The sentence below is missing all the Verbs.

Read the sentence. Does it make much sense? At the
end of this unit your challenge will be able to complete
the paragraph using the appropriate verbs. Who will be
the first to finish?
One upon a time there a group of students who didnt grammar
very much. They it very difficult and every other Wednesday. Until
one day, they it a lot of fun. In fact, they that they grammar every
day. Eventually the students learned to grammar and actually to
Wednesday. Now if they could ever vocab day.

Definitions

Before you can begin to locate verbs in a sentence, you

must first know what they are and how the two types of
verbs differ.
Action Verb- a verb that shows what the
subject is doing
Linking Verb- a verb that shows what the
subject is being

Examples:
Action: Run, Jump, Dash, Stroll, Dribble, Stand, Write,
Erase
Linking: Is, Was, Am, Are, Smells, Tastes, Feels

Practice:
Come up with 3 more action verbs and 3 more linking
verbs.
Action
1. _______________

Linking
1. _________________

2. _______________
3. _______________

2. _________________
3. _________________

Feedback is located on the next page.

Feedback Definitions

Action
(answers may vary)
Dance
Smile
Hit
Drive
Eat
Help
Clean
Cook
Sing
Ski
Skate
Swim
Dress
Love
Carry
Administer
Remind
Work

Linking
Be
Shall be
Will be
Has been
Had been
May be
Should be
Become
Appear
Were
Will have been
Seem
Look
Sound
Grow
Remain
Stay
Prove

Identifying Verbs

In real life you will not be asked to create a list of verbs,

but you will be expected to have correct subject verb
agreement in your writing. The first step to doing this is
recognizing the verbs in your sentence. The rest of this
packet will walk you through how to identify and classify
the verbs in a sentence using the sample problem below.
Directions: Identify the verb in the sentences below and
classify as either linking or action.
Sentence 1: Jim bought a new computer.
Sentence 2: Jill is taller than Jim.

Step 1

Information- Locate the nouns in each sentence and

circle.

Examples:
Jim bought a new computer.
Jill is taller than Jim.

Practice:
Susan ran 6 miles.
The cookies are delicious.

Feedback is located on the next page.

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Feedback Step 1

Susan ran 6 miles.

The cookies are delicious.

After you have compared your

answers, go on to step 2.

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Step 2

Information- Now ask yourself if the nouns are doing

anything. If the answer is yes, underline what the noun is
doing and label as an action verb.

Examples:

Actio
n
Jim bought
a new computer.

Jill is taller than Jim.

Practice:
Susan ran 6 miles.
The cookies are delicious.

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Feedback Step 2

Feedback is located on the next page.

Actio
Susannran 6 miles.

The cookies are delicious.

After you have compared your

answers, go on to step 3.

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Step 3

Information- If there is not an action verb, look to see if

there is a common linking verb or if the noun is being
something. If so, underline and label as linking.

Example:

Actio
n
Jim bought
a new computer.

Linkin
g taller than Jim.
Jill is

Practice:
Susan ran 6 miles.
The cookies are delicious.

Feedback is located on the next page.

14

Feedback Step 3

Actio
Susannran 6 miles.

Linkin
The cookiesgare delicious.

After you have compared your

answers, go on to step 3.

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Review

Now that you have leaned each individual step, it is

time to put it all together. On the next page is a
practice activity where you will need to identify the
verb in the sentence and then classify it as either
linking or action. Remember the steps below:

1.Locate the subject in the sentence

2.Ask: What is the subject doing?
3.If you have an answer, circle it and label it as
Action
Or
4.If you do not have an answer, ask is there a
common linking verb or is the subject being
something?
5.If your answer is yes, circle it and label it as
Linking
6.

Continue on to Extra Practice

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Extra Practice

Directions: Identify the verb in the sentences

below and classify as either linking or action.
1. Sally swam in the pool. _____________ (Action/ Linking)
2. The girl in the blue sweater is very tall. _____________ (Action/ Linking)
3. My water bottle was full yesterday, but now it is empty. _____________ (Action/
Linking)
4. My water bottle was full yesterday, but now it is empty. (2 nd verb)
_____________ (Action/ Linking)
5. Jill decided to go for a walk before she went home. _____________ (Action/
Linking)
6. Jill decided to go for a walk before she went home. (2 nd verb) _____________
(Action/ Linking)
7. The ghost appeared in the doorway. _____________ (Action/ Linking)
8. The child appeared tired. _____________ (Action/ Linking)
9. Bill became the president of the student council. _____________ (Action/
Linking)
10.The cloth on the table felt soft and fuzzy. _____________ (Action/ Linking)
11.Jeannie grows taller every day. _____________ (Action/ Linking)
12.John felt sick after lunch. _____________ (Action/ Linking)
13.The leftover food from the picnic smelled rotten. _____________ (Action/
Linking)
14.Steve smelled the flowers. _____________ (Action/ Linking)
15.Please stay inside the house. _____________ (Action/ Linking)
16.Mom tasted the soup. _____________ (Action/ Linking)
17.The soup tasted salty. _____________ (Action/ Linking)
18.Jenny looks at the pictures in the book. _____________ (Action/ Linking)
19.Jenny looks beautiful in that dress. _____________ (Action/ Linking)
20.The radio sounded the emergency alarm. _____________ (Action/ Linking)

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Feedback Extra Practice

Feedback is located on the next page.

Directions: Identify the verb in the sentences

below and classify as either linking or action.

1. Sally swam in the pool. _swam____ (Action/ Linking)

2. The girl in the blue sweater is very tall. ___is____ (Action/ Linking)
3. My water bottle was full yesterday, but now it is empty. ____was____ (Action/
Linking)
4. My water bottle was full yesterday, but now it is empty. (2 nd verb) ___is____
(Action/ Linking)
5. Jill decided to go for a walk before she went home. __decided___ (Action/
Linking)
6. Jill decided to go for a walk before she went home. (2 nd verb) ____went____
(Action/ Linking)
7. The ghost appeared in the doorway. __appeared___ (Action/ Linking)
8. The child appeared tired. __appeared____ (Action/ Linking)
9. Bill became the president of the student council. ___became___ (Action/
Linking)
10.The cloth on the table felt soft and fuzzy. ___felt____ (Action/ Linking)
11.Jeannie grows taller every day. __grows____ (Action/ Linking)
12.John felt sick after lunch. ___felt____ (Action/ Linking)
13.The leftover food from the picnic smelled rotten. __smelled____ (Action/
Linking)
14.Steve smelled the flowers. ___smelled___ (Action/ Linking)
15.Please stay inside the house. __stay___ (Action/ Linking)
16.Mom tasted the soup. _tasted____ (Action/ Linking)
17.The soup tasted salty. __tasted____ (Action/ Linking)
18.Jenny looks at the pictures in the book. __looks____ (Action/ Linking)
19.Jenny looks beautiful in that dress. __looks___ (Action/ Linking)
20.The radio sounded the emergency alarm. ___sounded____ (Action/ Linking)

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Pretest
Do Not Complete Until You Are Told
To Do So

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Name: _________________________________

Verbs: Linking and Action Pretest

Directions: Identify the verb in the sentences

below and classify as either linking or action.
1.

I made an airplane out of stone.

2.

I put a piece of cantaloupe underneath the microscope.

3.

Oaties stay oaty, and Wheat Chex stay floaty.

4.

While fishing in the blue lagoon, I caught a lovely silver fish.

5.

They say if you step on a crack, you will break your mother's back.

6.

7.

They just had a contest for scariest mask, and I was the wild and daring
one who wonthe contest for scariest mask--and (sob) I'm not
even wearing one.
My voice was raspy, rough, and cracked.

8.

I opened my eyes and looked up at the rain, and it dripped in my head

and flowed into my brain.

9.

They say that once in Zanzibar a boy stuck out his tongue so far that it
reached the heavens and touched a star, which burned him rather badly.

10. I'm going to Camp Wonderful beside Lake Paradise across from Blissful
Mountain in the Valley of the Nice.
Part 2: Next to each verb, write L for linking and A for action.
11. crawl
17. writing
12. snarled
13.
14. are

18. broke off and fell

15. is

19. grew tired

20.
21. were

16. name

22. turn

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23.

24.
25.
26.
27. Posttest
28. Do Not Complete Until You Are
Told To Do So
29.

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30. Verbs: Linking and Action Posttest

31.
Directions: Identify the verb in the
sentences below and classify as either linking
or action.
1. Irish Americans are one of this countrys largest immigrant groups.
32.
2. About 40 million Americans claim Irish ancestry.
33.
3. This total is almost ten times the number of people in the country of
Ireland today.
34.
4. Among the states with the largest number of Irish Americans are
Massachusetts, Delaware, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island.
35.
36.
5. Irish immigrants came to this country very early in its history.
37.
6. Ireland was a country with a large population.
38.
7. The large number of people caused a rise in the poverty level.
39.
8. Many Irish felt hopeful about the endless job opportunities in America.
9. In 1845 a terrible potato famine struck Ireland.
40.
10.
The first big
wave of Irish immigrants started in 1840.
41. Part 2: Next to each verb, write L for linking and A for action.
42.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.

settled.
were
speak
suffered
made
was

21.
won
22.
23.
reigned
24.
are
25.
26.

27.

28.
ATTITUDE QUESTIONNAIRE
29.
Directions: Please rate the quality of the instruction. For each of
the questions below, circle the number that most closely approximates
your feelings. Then respond to the questions on the next page.
30.
31.
1. How interesting was this lesson?
32.
(Not at all)
(Very)
33.
1
2
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4
5
34.
35.
2Was the skill taught in this lesson useful to you?
36.
(Not at all)
(Very)
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1
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4
5
38.
39.
3. Were you previously familiar with the skill taught in this
lesson?
40.
(Not at all)
(Very)
41.
1
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4
5
42.
43.
4. Can you perform this skill on your own?
44.
(Not at all)
(Very)
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47.
5. Was it clear what you were required to do?
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(Very)
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6. How clear were the explanations?
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(Very)
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7. How clear were the examples?
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(Not at all)
(Very)

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1
5

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8. Did the practice problems prepare you for the test?
60.
(Not at all)
(Very)
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9. Did the solutions to the practice help?
64.
(Not at all)
(Very)
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10. Was the breakdown of skills easy to follow?
68.
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(Very)
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11. Was the format (typeface, spacing, physical features, etc.)
attractive?
72.
(Not at all)
(Very)
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75.
12. How satisfied were you with the overall lesson?
76.
(Not at all)
(Very)
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13. What did you like about the instruction?
80.
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__________________________________________________________________
_______
82.
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__________________________________________________________________
________
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__________________________________________________________________
________
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14. What did you dislike about the instruction?
90.
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__________________________________________________________________
________
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__________________________________________________________________
_______
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__________________________________________________________________
________
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15. How should the instruction be changed to make it better?
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__________________________________________________________________
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16. Any final comments or suggestions?
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Thank You!