What Follows A Linking Verb Or Action Verb

What Follows a Linking Verb or an Action Verb? A Comprehensive Guide

Understanding the difference between linking verbs and action verbs is crucial for constructing grammatically correct and clear sentences. This distinction significantly impacts what can follow the verb – the object or complement – and therefore the overall meaning of your sentence. This comprehensive guide will delve deep into this topic, exploring the nuances of both verb types and providing numerous examples to solidify your understanding.

Understanding Linking Verbs

Linking verbs don't show action; instead, they connect the subject to a word or phrase that renames or describes it. Think of them as bridges connecting the subject to further information about its qualities or state of being. The most common linking verb is "to be" in its various forms (am, is, are, was, were, be, being, been). However, many other verbs can function as linking verbs depending on context.

Common Linking Verbs:

• Forms of "to be": am, is, are, was, were, be, being, been
• Sensory Verbs (when describing, not acting): seem, appear, look, feel, smell, sound, taste
• Verbs of Becoming: become, grow, remain, stay, turn

Crucially, these verbs act as linking verbs only when they don't express an action. For example:

• Linking Verb: The soup tastes delicious. ("Tastes" connects the subject "soup" to the description "delicious.")
• Action Verb: She tastes the soup carefully. ("Tastes" describes an action of tasting.)

What Follows a Linking Verb?

After a linking verb, you'll find a subject complement. This complement can be:

• Predicate Nominative (Noun or Pronoun): This renames the subject.

  • Example: My dog is a golden retriever. ("Golden retriever" renames "dog.")
  • Example: She is the winner. ("Winner" renames "she.")

• Predicate Adjective: This describes the subject.

  • Example: The movie was boring. ("Boring" describes "movie.")
  • Example: He seems happy. ("Happy" describes "he.")

Important Note: You cannot place an adverb after a linking verb to modify it. Adverbs modify actions or verbs, but linking verbs don't describe actions. Incorrect: The cake smells deliciously. Correct: The cake smells delicious.

Understanding Action Verbs

Action verbs, unlike linking verbs, express an action, whether physical or mental. They describe what the subject does.

Types of Action Verbs:

• Transitive Verbs: These verbs take a direct object – a noun or pronoun that receives the action of the verb.

  • Example: She reads books. ("Books" is the direct object receiving the action of "reads.")
  • Example: He kicked the ball. ("The ball" is the direct object.)

• Intransitive Verbs: These verbs do not take a direct object.

  • Example: The bird sings. (No direct object.)
  • Example: They sleep. (No direct object.)

What Follows an Action Verb?

What follows an action verb depends on whether it's transitive or intransitive.

• Transitive Verbs: These are followed by a direct object. The direct object answers the question "what?" or "whom?" after the verb. Consider adding "whom" or "what" to identify a direct object.

  • Example: He wrote a letter (What did he write? A letter).
  • Example: The cat chased the mouse (What did the cat chase? A mouse).
  • Example: She gave him a gift (What did she give? A gift)

• Intransitive Verbs: Intransitive verbs are not followed by a direct object. However, they can be followed by:

  • Adverbial Phrases or Clauses: These modify the verb and provide additional information about the action, time, place, or manner.

    • Example: He slept soundly. ("Soundly" is an adverb modifying "slept.")
    • Example: They traveled to Europe. ("To Europe" is an adverbial phrase modifying "traveled.")
    • Example: She sings because she's happy. ("Because she's happy" is an adverbial clause.)

  • Indirect Objects (with certain verbs): Some intransitive verbs can take an indirect object, which indicates to whom or for whom the action is performed.

    • Example: He gave her a flower. ("Her" is the indirect object; "flower" is the direct object). Note: This is an example of a verb which CAN be both transitive and intransitive. The form "He gave a flower" is also acceptable and makes "gave" an intransitive verb.

Identifying Verbs and Their Complements: A Deeper Dive

Let's explore more complex sentence structures and how to identify the verb type and its complement.

1. Sentences with Multiple Verbs:

When a sentence contains multiple verbs, analyze each verb individually to determine its type and what follows it.

• Example: She baked a cake and decorated it beautifully. "Baked" is a transitive verb with "cake" as the direct object. "Decorated" is a transitive verb with "it" as the direct object and "beautifully" as an adverb modifying "decorated."

2. Sentences with Compound Verbs:

Compound verbs are two or more verbs working together. The analysis remains the same; determine the type of each verb and its complement.

• Example: He will go home and will relax. Both "will go" and "will relax" are intransitive verbs, with "home" and the implied state of rest as modifiers to their respective verbs.

3. Sentences with Passive Voice:

Passive voice constructions can sometimes obscure the identification of the verb and its complement. Remember, the subject in passive voice receives the action.

• Example: The book was written by her. "Was written" is a passive construction with "book" as the subject and "by her" as a prepositional phrase indicating the agent of the action.

4. Distinguishing between Linking and Action Verbs in Complex Contexts:

This often requires close attention to context.

• Example: He became a doctor. ("Became" is a linking verb, "doctor" is a predicate nominative.)
• Example: He became angry. ("Became" is a linking verb, "angry" is a predicate adjective.)
• Example: He became successful through hard work. ("Became" is a linking verb, "successful" is a predicate adjective. "through hard work" is an adverbial prepositional phrase.)

However, consider this nuance:

• Example: The bread became hard during storage. Here, "became hard" is a linking verb phrase, but the adverbial prepositional phrase "during storage" modifies the whole linking verb phrase. This illustrates a critical point: modifiers can describe the linking verb phrase, not just the verb itself.

Practicing Identification: Exercises

To further solidify your understanding, try identifying the verbs and their complements in the following sentences:

1. The flowers smell sweet.
2. She is a talented artist.
3. The sun sets in the west.
4. He reads novels every night.
5. They became friends quickly.
6. The music sounded loud from here.
7. She painted a beautiful landscape.
8. He gave his brother a book for his birthday.
9. The cake tasted delicious after it cooled.
10. The children played quietly in the park.
11. The old house seemed haunted.
12. She ran quickly to catch the bus.
13. The team played exceptionally well.
14. The lecture became boring after an hour.
15. The chef prepared a sophisticated meal for the guests.

Conclusion: Mastering Verb Usage

Understanding the difference between linking verbs and action verbs, and the complements that follow them, is essential for clear and grammatically correct writing. By recognizing the nuances of each verb type and its function within a sentence, you can significantly improve your writing skills and create more impactful and engaging content. Consistent practice and careful attention to sentence structure will solidify your grasp of these critical grammatical concepts. Remember to always consider the context within the sentence and the meaning you aim to convey. Mastering verbs and their complements is a cornerstone of strong written communication.