What Follows A Linking Or Action Verb

What Follows a Linking or Action Verb: A Comprehensive Guide

Understanding the structure of a sentence is fundamental to effective writing. A crucial element of sentence structure involves recognizing the relationship between verbs and the words that follow them. This article delves deep into the nuances of linking verbs and action verbs, exploring the diverse grammatical structures that follow each type. We'll examine various examples, clarify common confusions, and equip you with the tools to confidently identify and utilize these structures in your writing.

Linking Verbs: Connecting the Subject to a Description

Linking verbs don't show action; instead, they connect the subject of a sentence to a word or phrase that describes or identifies the subject. This descriptive word or phrase is called a predicate nominative (if it's a noun or pronoun) or a predicate adjective (if it's an adjective).

Common Linking Verbs:

The most frequently used linking verbs are forms of "to be":

• is, am, are, was, were, be, being, been

However, many other verbs can function as linking verbs depending on the context. These include:

• appear, become, feel, grow, look, remain, seem, smell, sound, taste, turn

Examples:

• She is a doctor. ("doctor" is a predicate nominative, a noun describing "She.")
• The soup smells delicious. ("delicious" is a predicate adjective, describing "soup.")
• He became president. ("president" is a predicate nominative, a noun identifying "He.")
• The flowers look wilted. ("wilted" is a predicate adjective, describing "flowers.")

Predicate Nominatives: Noun or Pronoun Following a Linking Verb

A predicate nominative renames or identifies the subject. It's always a noun or pronoun.

• My brother is a talented musician. (Musician renames the subject "brother.")
• The winner of the race was she. (She renames the subject "winner.")
• They are the champions. (Champions renames the subject "they.")

Predicate Adjectives: Adjective Following a Linking Verb

A predicate adjective describes the subject. It's always an adjective.

• The movie was exciting. (Exciting describes the subject "movie.")
• Her voice sounds lovely. (Lovely describes the subject "voice.")
• The cake tastes sweet. (Sweet describes the subject "cake.")

Action Verbs: Showing Action or State of Being

Action verbs express an action performed by the subject. They can be transitive (requiring a direct object) or intransitive (not requiring a direct object).

Transitive Verbs:

Transitive verbs require a direct object—the receiver of the action. The direct object answers the question "what?" or "whom?" after the verb.

• He kicked the ball. (Ball is the direct object; it receives the action of kicking.)
• She wrote a letter. (Letter is the direct object.)
• They built a house. (House is the direct object.)

Intransitive Verbs:

Intransitive verbs don't take a direct object. They express a state of being or an action that doesn't directly affect another element in the sentence.

• The birds sang. (No direct object; the singing doesn't have a receiver.)
• He sleeps soundly. (No direct object.)
• She laughed. (No direct object.)

Direct Objects: The Receiver of the Action

As mentioned above, direct objects are crucial when working with transitive verbs. They receive the action of the verb. To find the direct object, ask "what?" or "whom?" after the verb.

• The chef prepared a delicious meal. (What did the chef prepare? A meal. "Meal" is the direct object.)
• She called her mother. (Whom did she call? Her mother. "Mother" is the direct object.)

Indirect Objects: The Recipient of the Direct Object

Indirect objects indicate to whom or for whom the action is performed. They usually come between the verb and the direct object and can often be rephrased using a prepositional phrase (e.g., "to" or "for").

• He gave her a book. (Indirect object: her; Direct object: book. This can be rephrased as: He gave a book to her.)
• She baked him a cake. (Indirect object: him; Direct object: cake. This can be rephrased as: She baked a cake for him.)

Object Complements: Further Describing the Direct Object

Object complements describe or rename the direct object. They often follow the direct object and can be nouns, pronouns, or adjectives.

• They elected him president. (President is the object complement describing the direct object "him.")
• We painted the house blue. (Blue is the object complement describing the direct object "house.")
• They named their daughter Lily. (Lily is the object complement renaming the direct object "daughter.")

Differentiating Linking and Action Verbs: A Closer Look

The line between linking and action verbs can sometimes be blurry. Context is crucial. Consider these examples:

• He looks tired. (Linking verb: "looks" describes his state of being.)

• He looks at the painting. (Action verb: "looks" shows an action.)

• She feels happy. (Linking verb: "feels" describes her emotional state.)

• She feels the fabric. (Action verb: "feels" denotes a physical action.)

• The food tastes delicious. (Linking verb: "tastes" describes the food.)

• She tastes the soup carefully. (Action verb: "tastes" shows an action.)

To determine if a verb is linking or action, substitute "is," "am," or "are." If the sentence still makes sense, the verb is likely a linking verb.

• He looks tired. (He is tired.) — Makes sense; "looks" is a linking verb.
• He looks at the painting. (He is at the painting.) — Doesn't make sense; "looks" is an action verb.

Sentence Structure and Verb Types: Putting it All Together

Understanding the types of verbs and what can follow them is critical for constructing grammatically correct and clear sentences. Mastering the use of linking verbs, action verbs, direct objects, indirect objects, and object complements allows for nuanced and impactful expression.

Remember to always consider context. The same verb can function differently depending on the sentence's meaning. Practicing identification of these elements within various sentence structures will build proficiency and confidence in your writing.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

One common mistake is misidentifying a linking verb as an action verb, leading to incorrect sentence structure. For example, using a predicate nominative after an action verb is grammatically incorrect.

• Incorrect: He ran a marathon champion.
• Correct: He ran a marathon. OR He was a marathon champion.

Another common error involves the incorrect use of object complements. Ensure that the object complement logically describes or renames the direct object.

• Incorrect: She painted the picture angrily. (Angrily doesn't describe the picture.)
• Correct: She painted the picture brightly. (Brightly describes the picture.)

Practice Exercises: Sharpen Your Skills

To reinforce your understanding, try identifying the verb type and any accompanying complements in the following sentences:

1. The sun shone brightly.
2. She became a successful lawyer.
3. He gave his sister a gift.
4. The music sounds beautiful.
5. They elected him captain.
6. The cake tastes sweet.
7. He felt the rough texture.
8. She appeared nervous.
9. The team played aggressively.
10. The author wrote a compelling novel.

By consistently practicing the identification and application of these grammatical concepts, you'll significantly enhance your writing skills, ensuring clarity, precision, and grammatical correctness. Mastering the art of verb usage is key to crafting compelling and impactful prose.