Here's a breakdown of the types of words you're looking for, along with examples:
Verbs that can be BOTH linking and action verbs:
* Appear:
* Linking: "She *appears* happy." (She is happy)
* Action: "The ghost *appeared* in the doorway." (The ghost came into view)
* Become:
* Linking: "He *became* a doctor." (He transformed into a doctor)
* Action: "The caterpillar will *become* a butterfly." (It will undergo a transformation)
* Feel:
* Linking: "I *feel* tired." (I am tired)
* Action: "He *felt* the cold stone." (He had a physical sensation)
* Look:
* Linking: "She *looks* beautiful." (She has the appearance of beauty)
* Action: "He *looked* around the room." (He used his sight)
* Remain:
* Linking: "The soldier *remained* calm." (He stayed calm)
* Action: "The dog *remained* in the yard." (It stayed in one place)
* Seem:
* Linking: "The answer *seems* obvious." (It gives the impression of being obvious)
* Action: "The magician *seemed* to disappear." (He gave the appearance of disappearing)
* Sound:
* Linking: "The music *sounds* beautiful." (It has the quality of beauty)
* Action: "The bell *sounded* throughout the town." (It made a noise)
* Smell:
* Linking: "The flowers *smell* sweet." (They have a sweet aroma)
* Action: "The dog *smelled* the food." (He used his sense of smell)
* Taste:
* Linking: "The cake *tastes* delicious." (It has a delicious flavor)
* Action: "She *tasted* the wine." (She experienced the flavor)
Key Points to Remember:
* Linking Verbs: Connect the subject to a noun, pronoun, or adjective that renames or describes the subject.
* Action Verbs: Express a physical or mental action.
How to Determine the Verb Type:
* Ask "What does the subject do?" If the answer describes an action, it's likely an action verb.
* Ask "What is the subject like?" If the answer describes a quality or state of being, it's likely a linking verb.
Let me know if you'd like more examples or have any other questions about these versatile verbs!