which the word is not true of action verbs

Show a relationship between the subject and the sentence complement, the part of the sentence following the verbConnect or link the subject with more information – words that further identify or describe the subjectIdentify a relationship or existing condition

These types of verbs are sometimes described as performing the function of an equal sign because they provide the connection between a subject and a certain state.

Words That Are True Linking Verbs

Some words are always linking verbs. These are considered "true." They do not describe the action, but always connect the subject to additional information. The most common true linking verbs are forms of "to be," "to become" and "to seem."

Forms of "to be"

AmIsIs beingAreAre beingWasWas beingWereHasHas beenHave beenWill have beenHad beenAre beingMight have been

Forms of "to become"

BecomeBecomesBecameHas becomeHave becomeHad becomeWill becomeWill have become

Forms of "to seem"

SeemedSeemingSeemsHas seemedHave seemedHad seemedWill seem

Any time you see these words in a sentence, you know they are performing a linking or connective function in showing a relationship or describing a state.

For example:

"I am glad it is Friday." Here the linking verb "am" connects the subject (I) to the state of being glad."Laura is excited about her new bike." Here "is" links the subject Laura to the emotional state of excitement."My birds are hungry." The word "are" identifies that the birds currently exist in a physical state of hunger.

Determining Other Linking Verbs

In addition to true linking verbs, there are verbs that can exist either as action verbs or linking verbs. Verbs related to the five senses often function in this way.

Common verbs that can exist as either action verbs or linking verbs include:

GrowLookProveRemainSmellSoundTasteTurnStayGetAppearFeel

Testing for Linking Verbs

Since some linking verbs can function as either action verbs or copular verbs, how do you make the distinction? A quick and easy test is to replace the verb you suspect in the sentence with an appropriate form of a true linking verb.

If the sentence still makes sense, it is a linking verb. If it isn't logical with the substitution, it's an action verb.

Take these examples:

"The flowers looked wilted.""She looked for wildflowers"

Substitute the copular verb "are" for the word "looked" in both sentences. In the first sentence, it makes sense: "The flowers arewilted." In the second sentence, however, it doesn't make sense: "She are for wildflowers."

"The spaghetti sauce tasted delicious.""She tasted the delicious spaghetti sauce."

The first sentence, "The spaghetti sauce isdelicious", works, but "She is the delicious spaghetti sauce" is illogical. The verb in the first sentence is copular, and in the second sentence it is not.