Linking Verb Sentence Pattern

Front 1

For each of the following sentences, identify whether the verb in parentheses is a linking, action, or helping verb.

Back 1

LINKING VERBS describe a state of being or existence. The most common linking verbs are “be” verbs (be, am, is, are, was, were, been, being).

Be verbs can also function as helping verbs only if they come before another verb in the sentence.

Action verbs describe an action that you can most times picture occurring in your head.

Front 2

The French fries (are) greasy.

Back 2

linking

Front 3

She (washed) the car.

Back 3

action

Front 4

The car (was) shiny.

Back 4

linking

Front 5

The man (is) happy.

Back 5

linking

Front 6

She will soon (be) a mother.

Back 6

linking

Front 7

We have (been) patient with you.

Back 7

linking

Front 8

You have (been) testing my patience.

Back 8

helping

Front 9

(Will) you help me with this?

Back 9

helping

Front 10

My mother must (be) a strong woman.

Back 10

linking

Front 11

My mother (developed) a strong character.

Back 11

action

Front 12

She (is) an example to all students.

Back 12

linking

Front 13

She will (be) running late today.

Back 13

helping

Front 14

The tree was (trembling) in the wind.

Back 14

action

Front 15

The tree (is) sturdy in the wind.

Back 15

linking

Front 16

For each of the following linking verb sentences, identify the SC. (flip for definition)

Back 16

The adjective or noun (disregarding any other modifiers) that serves to describe or rename the subject after the linking verb is called the SUBJECT COMPLEMENT, abbreviated SC; it goes back to complement the subject.

That's why linking verbs are called linking verbs: they link the subject with its SC.

Front 17

We were somewhat rude at the party.

Back 17

rude

Front 18

We will be tired after the game.

Back 18

tired

Front 19

I am responsible in every situation.

Back 19

responsible

Front 20

You are the best cook at this table.

Back 20

cook

Front 21

You must be Sarah's first roommate.

Back 21

roommate

Front 22

What is the correct answer to the question?

Back 22

answer

Front 23

Have you always been so stubborn about things like this?

Back 23

stubborn

Front 24

I will be a famous athlete.

Back 24

athlete

Front 25

Were you ready for the party at 7?

Back 25

ready

Front 26

We are sick of hearing about sad news on the radio.

Back 26

sick

Front 27

For each of the following sentences, identify whether the "non-be verb" is functioning as an action or a linking verb. (flip)

Back 27

Not all linking verbs are be verbs.

Sensory verbs, like appear, seem, look, sound, taste, feel, and smell, can be linking verbs. So can verbs that indicate change or existence in other ways, like Got, grow, become, remain, stay, turn into.

To determine if a non-be verb is functioning like a linking verb, see if you can replace the verb with a form of "be" or "equals" because that's what linking verbs essentially mean. Also, see if there is an SC or a DO after the verb.

Front 28

He grew angrier with her day by day.

Back 28

linking

Front 29

He grew a lovely vegetable garden.

Back 29

action

Front 30

I got so tired after eating lunch.

Back 30

linking

Front 31

I got a big plate of spaghetti for lunch.

Back 31

action

Front 32

She appeared content with her job.

Back 32

linking

Front 33

The storm appeared out of nowhere.

Back 33

action

Front 34

She called her best friend on the phone.

Back 34

action

Front 35

She will always remain my best friend.

Back 35

linking

Front 36

He seemed shy at the meeting.

Back 36

linking

Front 37

Little girls look at colorful magazines.

Back 37

action

Front 38

The groom looked a mess before the wedding.

Back 38

linking

Front 39

Jerry should not get a haircut.

Back 39

action

Front 40

You appear trustworthy to me.

Back 40

linking

Front 41

For each of the following linking verb sentences, identify the skeleton. (flip)

Back 41

Linking verb sentences will always have the following skeleton:

Subject-Verb-SC

Front 42

Julie had been the club’s president for a while.

Back 42

julie had been president

Front 43

Jerry should grow more mature.

Back 43

Jerry should grow

Front 44

In one year, you will be a graduate.

Back 44

you will be graduate

Front 45

That trouble-making little girl is certainly a piece of work.

Back 45

girl is piece

*Work is not the SC because work is in a prep phrase, so it is just an extra modifier, not an essential part of the sentence.

Front 46

Mrs. Carey is one of my academic advisers.

Back 46

Mrs. Carey is one

Front 47

The old man got cranky after the meal.

Back 47

man got cranky

Front 48

His grandfather seemed content after the meal.

Back 48

grandfather seemed content

Front 49

Little boys will become problems without discipline.

Back 49

boys will become problems

Front 50

Did you feel fat after that big piece of cake?

Back 50

you did feel fat

Front 51

The teacher of English looks pretty.

Back 51

teacher looks pretty

Front 52

The best answer to that is yes.

Back 52

answer is yes

Front 53

The kittens felt so fuzzy.

Back 53

kittens felt fuzzy

Front 54

I became weary of the journey.

Back 54

I became weary

Front 55

The old woman seemed nice at first.

Back 55

woman seemed nice

Front 56

Will you appear nervous next time too?

Back 56

you will appear nervous