Difference Between Linking And Action Verbs

The Crucial Difference Between Linking and Action Verbs: A Comprehensive Guide

Understanding the difference between linking and action verbs is fundamental to strong, clear writing. While both types of verbs connect the subject of a sentence to something else, they do so in vastly different ways. This distinction impacts sentence structure, meaning, and overall clarity. Mastering this difference will significantly improve your writing's precision and impact. This comprehensive guide will delve deep into the nuances of linking and action verbs, providing examples and exercises to solidify your understanding.

What are Action Verbs?

Action verbs, as the name suggests, describe actions. These actions can be physical, mental, or emotional. They show what the subject of the sentence does.

Examples of Action Verbs:

• Physical Actions: run, jump, eat, sleep, write, build, sing, dance
• Mental Actions: think, consider, remember, forget, understand, believe, know, imagine
• Emotional Actions: love, hate, fear, worry, hope, desire, enjoy, appreciate

Identifying Action Verbs: The Simple Test

A simple way to identify an action verb is to ask yourself: "What is the subject doing?" If you can answer that question with a clear action, you've found an action verb.

Example:

• Sentence: The dog barked loudly.
• Question: What did the dog do?
• Answer: The dog barked. (Therefore, "barked" is the action verb.)

Transitive and Intransitive Action Verbs

Action verbs are further categorized into transitive and intransitive verbs.

• Transitive Verbs: These verbs require a direct object—a noun or pronoun that receives the action of the verb. Think of it as the verb "acting upon" something.

  • Example: The chef prepared (verb) a delicious meal (direct object).

• Intransitive Verbs: These verbs do not take a direct object. The action is complete within the verb itself.

  • Example: The baby slept soundly. (There's no direct object receiving the action of sleeping.)

What are Linking Verbs?

Linking verbs connect the subject of a sentence to a subject complement—a word or phrase that provides more information about the subject. They don't describe an action; instead, they describe a state of being or make a statement of equality.

Common Linking Verbs:

The most common linking verb is "to be" in all its forms: am, is, are, was, were, be, being, been. However, many other verbs can function as linking verbs depending on the context. These often describe senses or states of being:

• Forms of "to be": am, is, are, was, were, be, being, been
• Sensory Verbs: seem, appear, look, sound, smell, taste, feel
• Other Linking Verbs: become, remain, stay, grow, turn

Identifying Linking Verbs: The Subject Complement Test

To identify a linking verb, ask yourself: "What is the subject?" and "What is being said about the subject?" If the answer to the second question describes the subject (rather than an action), you likely have a linking verb.

Example:

• Sentence: The flowers smell sweet.
• Subject: The flowers
• What is being said about the subject? The flowers are sweet (a description).
• Therefore: "Smell" is a linking verb in this context.

The Crucial Distinction: Linking vs. Action

The key difference lies in whether the verb describes an action or a state of being. Consider this:

• Action Verb: The cat scratched the furniture. (The cat performed an action.)
• Linking Verb: The cat became angry. (The verb doesn't describe an action; it links "cat" to the description "angry".)

The same verb can function as both an action and a linking verb, depending on the context:

• Action Verb: She tasted the soup carefully. (She performed the action of tasting.)
• Linking Verb: The soup tasted delicious. (The verb links "soup" to the description "delicious".)

Advanced Considerations and Nuances

The distinction between linking and action verbs isn't always black and white. Certain verbs can function ambiguously, depending on context. Consider the verb "feel":

• Action Verb: I feel the rough texture of the wood. (I'm performing the action of feeling.)
• Linking Verb: I feel tired. (I'm describing my state of being.)

Context is key. You need to analyze the entire sentence and the role of the verb within the sentence structure to determine its classification.

Helping Verbs and Linking Verbs

Helping (or auxiliary) verbs like can, could, should, would, may, might, must work in conjunction with main verbs. They don't change the classification of the main verb. A helping verb combined with a linking verb remains a linking verb. Similarly, a helping verb combined with an action verb remains an action verb.

• Example: The cake was (helping verb + linking verb) delicious.
• Example: The team had (helping verb) played (action verb) exceptionally well.

Avoiding Common Mistakes

A common mistake is misidentifying verbs that might appear to be linking verbs but are actually part of an idiomatic expression that functions as an action. For instance:

• Incorrect: He looked happy. (This might seem like a linking verb, but…)
• Correct: He looked at the painting happily. (Here "looked" is clearly an action verb.)

Practical Exercises to Master the Difference

Here are some exercises to help you solidify your understanding:

Exercise 1: Identify the Verbs and Classify Them

Identify the verbs in the following sentences and classify them as either action or linking verbs:

1. The sun shines brightly.
2. The music sounds beautiful.
3. She became a doctor.
4. He ran a marathon.
5. The soup tastes salty.
6. The flowers smell fragrant.
7. The child slept soundly.
8. The artist painted a masterpiece.
9. He remained calm under pressure.
10. The cake appears delicious.

Exercise 2: Rewrite Sentences Using Different Verb Types

Rewrite the following sentences, changing the verb to either an action verb or a linking verb, as appropriate:

1. The food was cold. (Rewrite with an action verb.)
2. The dog barked loudly. (Rewrite with a linking verb.)
3. She felt the fabric's texture. (Rewrite with a linking verb describing a feeling.)
4. The sky turned dark. (Rewrite using a different linking verb.)
5. The athlete ran quickly. (Rewrite using a different action verb that doesn't involve running.)

Conclusion: Precision in Writing

Understanding the difference between linking and action verbs is crucial for precise and effective writing. It allows you to construct sentences that accurately convey your intended meaning, avoiding ambiguity and improving clarity. By mastering this distinction and practicing the exercises provided, you can significantly elevate the quality and impact of your written work. Remember that context is crucial, and careful analysis of each sentence is essential to accurate classification. Practice makes perfect, so keep working with these concepts, and your writing will become stronger and more precise.