Linking Verbs join nouns or pronouns with words that identify or describe them. A linking verb connects a noun or pronoun to a word that identifies or describes the noun or pronoun. Most common linking verbs are all forms of the word be: am, are, is, was, and were.
Other Linking Verbs
appear, become, feel, grow, look, remain, seem, smell, sound, stay, taste, turn
Exercise 1: Copy the sentences below onto a piece of paper. Underline each linking verb. Then, draw a double headed arrow to connect the words that are linked by the verb.
Exercise 2: For each pair of words below, write a sentence in which you use a linking verb to connect them.
1. Greek myths/ entertaining
2. ruins/old
3. Greek myths/ entertaining
4. music/beautiful
5. weather/ outstanding
6. sculptures/ exquisite
Helping Verbs - verbs such as jump, talk, and wait are called main verbs. Sometimes, however, verbs are made up of several words, such as had jumped, might have talked, would have understood, and could have been waiting. In this case, the verbs that come before the main verb are called helping verbs. They help express the meaning of the main verb.
The various forms of be and have are the most common helping verbs. The following words include some of the forms of be and have, as well as other helping verbs.
am may , have are has might is had must was can shall were could should be do will being does would been did
Exercise 3: Underline the verb phrase
1. Rome had conquered many territories.
2. The emperors could ignore Greece.
3. Greek states might have worked together.
4. Next year, we will study more about Greece.
5. I have learned about Greece in several classes.
Exercise 4: Identifying Helping Verbs and Main Verbs. Copy the verb phrase in each sentence below. Then, underline the helping verbs and circle the main verbs.
Other Linking Verbs
appear, become, feel, grow, look, remain, seem, smell, sound, stay, taste, turn
Exercise 1: Copy the sentences below onto a piece of paper. Underline each linking verb. Then, draw a double headed arrow to connect the words that are linked by the verb.
- The Greek language was understandable throughout the country.
- All the dialects sounded familiar.
- Within each city-state, customs and religious practices were the same.
- Four national festivals became traditional.
- The Olympic Games were the most important.
- The Greek city-states were very independent.
- However, some unification seemed possible.
- States and their weaker neighbors became leagues.
- Athens and Sparta became the leading city-states.
- Athens remained the best example of democracy in ancient Greece.
- Sparta grew more powerful than any other state.
- Sparta's rules appeared the strictest.
- Its army was strong.
- The Greek city-states became united during the Persian Wars.
- Afterward, Athens was the center of culture in the Greek World.
Exercise 2: For each pair of words below, write a sentence in which you use a linking verb to connect them.
1. Greek myths/ entertaining
2. ruins/old
3. Greek myths/ entertaining
4. music/beautiful
5. weather/ outstanding
6. sculptures/ exquisite
Helping Verbs - verbs such as jump, talk, and wait are called main verbs. Sometimes, however, verbs are made up of several words, such as had jumped, might have talked, would have understood, and could have been waiting. In this case, the verbs that come before the main verb are called helping verbs. They help express the meaning of the main verb.
The various forms of be and have are the most common helping verbs. The following words include some of the forms of be and have, as well as other helping verbs.
am may , have are has might is had must was can shall were could should be do will being does would been did
Exercise 3: Underline the verb phrase
1. Rome had conquered many territories.
2. The emperors could ignore Greece.
3. Greek states might have worked together.
4. Next year, we will study more about Greece.
5. I have learned about Greece in several classes.
Exercise 4: Identifying Helping Verbs and Main Verbs. Copy the verb phrase in each sentence below. Then, underline the helping verbs and circle the main verbs.
- Macedonia had allied itself with Carthage.
- The Romans were attaining a strong position in the Mediterranean area.
- Rome had defeated the city-states.
- All Greek territories would be placed under Roman rule.
- Athens and Sparta could remain free states.
- The political role of the city-state had declined