4. Let’s Review
• Action verbs tell us what the
subject is doing
• Action verbs sometimes have
objects that receive the action of
the subject
5. Let’s Review
• Action verbs tell us what the
subject is doing
• Action verbs sometimes have
objects that receive the action of
the subject
• Action verbs can be found by
asking the question, “Can I…?”
7. What Are Linking Verbs?
• Linking verbs act as an equals (=)
sign in the sentence.
8. What Are Linking Verbs?
• Linking verbs act as an equals (=)
sign in the sentence.
• The subject is not doing anything.
Instead, it is or is like something
else in the sentence
9. What Are Linking Verbs?
• Linking verbs act as an equals (=)
sign in the sentence.
• The subject is not doing anything.
Instead, it is or is like something
else in the sentence
• Linking verbs tell us that the
subject has a word in the
predicate that renames it (a noun)
or describes it (an adjective)
10. What Are Linking Verbs?
• Linking verbs act as an equals (=)
sign in the sentence.
• The subject is not doing anything.
Instead, it is or is like something
else in the sentence
• Linking verbs tell us that the
subject has a word in the
predicate that renames it (a noun)
or describes it (an adjective)
• In other words, they are equal
12. Examples of Linking Verbs
• Linking verbs include the forms
of the verb to be
13. Examples of Linking Verbs
• Linking verbs include the forms
of the verb to be
– is, am , was, were, are, be, being,
been
14. Examples of Linking Verbs
• Linking verbs include the forms
of the verb to be
– is, am , was, were, are, be, being,
been
• Linking verbs are also related to
the senses
15. Examples of Linking Verbs
• Linking verbs include the forms
of the verb to be
– is, am , was, were, are, be, being,
been
• Linking verbs are also related to
the senses
– tastes, smells, looks, feels,
sounds, seems, and more
16. Linking Verbs in Action
• Get ready for some sentences
that use linking verbs
• In each, I’ll add arrows that
show which words are linked, or
equal, in the sentence
23. Linking Verbs in Action
Think of the linking verb as
an equals (=) sign
24. Linking Verbs in Action
Mr. Childers is the nicest teacher in the school.
Think of the linking verb as
an equals (=) sign
25. Linking Verbs in Action
Mr. Childers is the nicest teacher in the school.
26. Linking Verbs in Action
Mr. Childers is the nicest teacher in the school.
Mr. Childers equals what?
27. Linking Verbs in Action
Mr. Childers is the nicest teacher in the school.
Mr. Childers equals what?
28. Linking Verbs in Action
Mr. Childers is the nicest teacher in the school.
Mr. Childers equals what?
Teacher is a noun in the predicate
that renames the subject, so we
call it a predicate nominative
29. Important Note!
• A linking verb will always have
a word in the predicate that it
links to the subject
• Always
• Yes, always
• Let’s see how linking verbs work
in some sentences
32. Linking Verbs in Action
The trees are beautiful in the fall.
Linking Verb
33. Linking Verbs in Action
Subject
The trees are beautiful in the fall.
Linking Verb
34. Linking Verbs in Action
Subject
The trees are beautiful in the fall.
Linking Verb
35. Linking Verbs in Action
Predicate
Subject Adjective
The trees are beautiful in the fall.
Linking Verb
36. Linking Verbs in Action
Predicate
Subject Adjective
The trees are beautiful in the fall.
Linking Verb
The verb are links an
adjective in the predicate
with the subject
40. Linking Verbs in Action
Subject
The play was exciting.
Linking Verb
41. Linking Verbs in Action
Subject
The play was exciting.
Linking Verb
42. Linking Verbs in Action
Predicate
Subject Adjective
The play was exciting.
Linking Verb
43. Linking Verbs in Action
Predicate
Subject Adjective
The play was exciting.
Linking Verb
The verb was links an
adjective in the predicate
with the subject
46. Linking Verbs in Action
It seemed like a good idea at the time.
Linking Verb
47. Linking Verbs in Action
Subject
It seemed like a good idea at the time.
Linking Verb
48. Linking Verbs in Action
Subject
It seemed like a good idea at the time.
Linking Verb
49. Linking Verbs in Action
Subject
It seemed like a good idea at the time.
Linking Verb
50. Linking Verbs in Action
Subject
It seemed like a good idea at the time.
Linking Verb
The verb seemed links a
noun in the predicate with
the subject
51. Linking Verbs in Action
Predicate
Subject Adjective
It seemed like a good idea at the time.
Linking Verb
The verb seemed links a
noun in the predicate with
the subject
52. You Try It!
• I’ll give you a sentence and you
find the linking verb
80. Substitution
• If you can substitute is, am, or
are for the word you think is a
linking verb, and the sentence
still makes sense…you are
probably right!
81. Substitution
• If you can substitute is, am, or
are for the word you think is a
linking verb, and the sentence
still makes sense…you are
probably right!
• Let’s try that before we quit
84. Is, Am, Are
• Here is a sentence
The pie smells delicious
85. Is, Am, Are
• Here is a sentence
The pie smells delicious
If we think smells is a
linking verb, let’s
substitute one of our
words and see if it still
makes sense
97. Let’s Re-Cap
• Linking verbs act as equal (=) signs
between a noun in the subject and a
noun or adjective
98. Let’s Re-Cap
• Linking verbs act as equal (=) signs
between a noun in the subject and a
noun or adjective
99. Let’s Re-Cap
• Linking verbs act as equal (=) signs
between a noun in the subject and a
noun or adjective
• Linking verbs do NOT show action
100. Let’s Re-Cap
• Linking verbs act as equal (=) signs
between a noun in the subject and a
noun or adjective
• Linking verbs do NOT show action
• Linking verbs tell us that something
is or is like something else
101. Let’s Re-Cap
• Linking verbs act as equal (=) signs
between a noun in the subject and a
noun or adjective
• Linking verbs do NOT show action
• Linking verbs tell us that something
is or is like something else
• We can substitute is, am, or are to
see if a verb is linking