Day 1 Activity: Action Verbs vs Linking Verbs
IELTS with Mujahid | Beginner level | Works on phone, tablet and laptop
Why this matters. Every sentence needs a verb, and the verb you choose decides what can come after it. An action verb shows something a person or thing does, like run, write, think or decide. A linking verb does not show action, it connects the subject to a word that describes it or renames it. You already learned nouns and pronouns, and these are the subjects that start your sentences, so now you learn the verbs that follow them. In Writing Task 1, linking verbs like remain, become and stay help you describe graphs with accurate English. In Speaking, they help you describe people and places naturally, for example “The place felt peaceful”. Many learners make mistakes such as “She looks happily” because they do not know that linking verbs are followed by adjectives, not adverbs. Today you will learn a simple swap test that removes this confusion forever, and you will see quick progress.
Self-learning step: Open Google and search “action verbs vs linking verbs list with examples”. Read one page for five minutes, then come back and try the activities.
Physical: run, write, kick, open
Mental: think, know, decide, believe
They can take an object: She wrote an essay. Describe them with adverbs: He ran quickly.
am, is, are, was, were, be, been, being
My sister is a nurse. They were late.
look, feel, smell, taste, sound
The soup tastes salty. You sound tired.
become, get, grow, turn, seem, appear, remain, stay
The sky turned dark. Prices remained stable.
| Action verb | Linking verb | |
|---|---|---|
| Job | Shows what someone does | Connects the subject to a describing word |
| Swap test | Cannot be replaced by is/am/are | Can be replaced by is/am/are |
| After it | Object or adverb | Adjective or noun |
| Example | He tasted the soup. | The soup tasted salty. |
Activity 1: Action or linking?
Look at the bold verb. Tap Action or Linking.
Activity 2: Double-agent verbs
Some verbs can work both ways. Tap the sentence where the verb is LINKING. Use the swap test.
Activity 3: Choose the right describing word
After a linking verb use an adjective. After an action verb use an adverb.
Activity 4: Linking verb detective
Tap only the LINKING verbs in each sentence. Action verbs are traps, so do not tap them. Then press Check.
Activity 5: Graph description verbs
Choose the best verb to describe a chart in IELTS Writing Task 1.
Activity 6: Write it yourself
Use the lines below. Write in your own words, then tick the checklist.
Excellent work. You can now choose the right verb and the right describing word. Keep practicing at www.goatguruenglish.com
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