Linking+Verb+or+Action+Verb

**Linking Verb or Action Verb?**

**How can you tell if a linking verb is acting like a linking verb or if it is an action verb?** **1st test:** Does if form a link between the subject and a word after the verb? Example: The sweaty athlete smells gross. Does "gross" describe the athlete? Yes, so it is linking. The sweaty athlete smells the cut grass. Does "grass" describe the athlete? No, so it is action.

**2nd test:** Is there an action being performed? Example: The flower smells beautiful. Is the flower using a nose to actively smell? No, so it is linking. The girl smells the flower. Is the girl using her nose to actively smell? Yes, so it is an action.

Back to Sentence Patterns