Linking Verbs
* Linking verbs connect the subject of a sentence to a noun, pronoun, or adjective that describes or renames the subject.
* They do not show action.
What Follows Linking Verbs:
* Subject Complements: These are words or phrases that complete the meaning of the linking verb by providing more information about the subject.
* Predicate Nominative: A noun or pronoun that renames the subject.
* Example: "The winner is she." (She renames the winner)
* Predicate Adjective: An adjective that describes the subject.
* Example: "The flowers are beautiful." (Beautiful describes the flowers)
Action Verbs
* Action verbs express actions that the subject performs.
* They show what the subject is doing.
What Follows Action Verbs:
* Direct Objects: A noun or pronoun that receives the action of the verb.
* Example: "She kicked the ball." (Ball receives the action of kicking)
* Indirect Objects: A noun or pronoun that receives the direct object.
* Example: "He gave her a gift." (Her receives the gift)
* Prepositional Phrases: These can modify the verb (often telling where, when, or how the action happened).
* Example: "They walked through the park." (Through the park tells where they walked)
* Adverbials: Words or phrases that modify the verb by telling how, when, where, or to what extent the action happened.
* Example: "He spoke loudly." (Loudly tells how he spoke)
Examples:
* Linking verb: "The sky is blue." (Blue is a predicate adjective describing the sky)
* Action verb: "The dog chased the squirrel." (Squirrel is the direct object receiving the action)
Key Points to Remember
* Linking verbs do not express action; they connect the subject to a description.
* Action verbs show what the subject is doing.
* The words that follow a verb depend on the verb's type and meaning.