Question

a circle the linking verbs in each sentence. the number in parentheses tells you how many you must find. remember that a linking verb links the subject to the rest of the sentence.

1. a geologist is a rock scientist. (1)
2. some school jobs are teacher, teacher’s aid, and principal. (1)
3. a zookeeper is responsible for the animals at a zoo. (1)
4. john glenn was a famous astronaut and senator. (1)
5. space is the specialty of an astronaut. (1)
6. twelve were on the moon, but many more are in the nasa program. (2)
7. the next big space project will be a trip to mars. (1)

b one sentence in each pair uses a linking (l) verb, and the other uses an action (a) verb. mark the sentences with linking verbs l and the sentences with action verbs a. most of the time, an action verb makes your sentence stronger. see if you agree when you read the sentences below.

1. ____ mammoth cave is the longest cave system in the world.

____ explorers have discovered over 400 miles of passageway in the cave system.

1. ____ many spelunkers discovered portions of the cave over time.

____ a spelunker is a cave explorer.

1. ____ floyd collins was responsible for the discovery of floyd collins’ crystal cave.

____ cave explorer floyd collins starved to death when a rock fell on his leg and trapped him in sand cave. (there are 3 verbs in this sentence!)

1. ____ mammoth cave is in central kentucky.

____ two million tourists visit mammoth cave each year.

1. ____ mammoth cave is about 10 million years old.

____ explorers still find new passages on a regular basis.

1. ____ bats fly, foxes and coyotes walk, and beavers swim in the area. (3 verbs!)

____ there are forty - five species of mammals at mammoth cave national park.

Explanation:

Linking verbs connect the subject to a word that describes or identifies it. Action verbs show an action. In part A, we circle such connecting - words. In part B, we identify whether the verb in the sentence is linking (connecting subject to description/identification) or action (showing an action).

Answer:

Part A

1. is
2. are
3. is
4. was
5. is
6. were, are
7. will be

Part B

1. L, A
2. A, L
3. L, A
4. L, A
5. L, A
6. A, L