What Follows A Linking Verb Or Action Verb

Alright, let's dive into the grammatical landscape of linking and action verbs, unraveling what elements typically follow them to construct meaningful sentences. This exploration will cover definitions, examples, and nuanced cases that often trip up even seasoned writers.

Introduction

Verbs are the engines of sentences, driving the action or describing states of being. Understanding the difference between linking and action verbs is crucial for constructing grammatically sound and stylistically effective prose. While both types of verbs play essential roles, the elements that follow them differ significantly, impacting the overall meaning and structure of the sentence. This article will serve as a comprehensive guide to navigating the intricacies of linking and action verbs, providing clear explanations and practical examples.

Delving into Action Verbs

Action verbs, as their name suggests, express actions performed by the subject. These actions can be physical, mental, or even emotional. The beauty of action verbs lies in their ability to propel the narrative forward, creating dynamic and engaging prose.

• Transitive Action Verbs: These verbs require a direct object to complete their meaning. The direct object receives the action of the verb.

  Example: "The chef prepared the meal." (Meal is the direct object)

• Intransitive Action Verbs: These verbs do not require a direct object. The action is complete within the verb itself.

  Example: "The baby slept soundly."

What Follows Action Verbs?

The elements that follow action verbs are varied and depend on whether the verb is transitive or intransitive.

1. Direct Objects (for Transitive Verbs): As mentioned earlier, transitive verbs demand a direct object. This noun or pronoun receives the action.

   Examples:

   • "She read the book."
   • "The dog chased the ball."
   • "He kicked it."

2. Indirect Objects (for Transitive Verbs): Some transitive verbs can also take an indirect object, which precedes the direct object. The indirect object identifies to whom or for whom the action is done.

   Examples:

   • "She gave him the book." (Him is the indirect object, book is the direct object)
   • "The company sent employees a memo." (Employees is the indirect object, memo is the direct object)
   • "He bought her flowers." (Her is the indirect object, flowers is the direct object)

3. Adverbs and Adverbial Phrases: These modifiers describe how, when, where, or to what extent the action is performed. They can follow both transitive and intransitive verbs.

   Examples:

   • "The bird sang beautifully."
   • "He ran quickly down the street."
   • "She worked diligently all day."

4. Prepositional Phrases: These phrases, consisting of a preposition and its object, can function as adverbs, providing additional information about the action.

   Examples:

   • "They walked to the store."
   • "The cat jumped on the table."
   • "He spoke with confidence."

5. Object Complements (Less Common): These words or phrases follow the direct object and describe or rename it. They provide additional information about the object.

   Examples:

   • "They elected him president." (President renames "him")
   • "The paint made the room bright." (Bright describes "room")
   • "She considered the task difficult." (Difficult describes "task")

Understanding Linking Verbs

Linking verbs, on the other hand, connect the subject to a word or phrase that describes or identifies it. They don't express action; instead, they link the subject to additional information about the subject. The most common linking verb is "to be" in all its forms (is, are, was, were, am, been, being). Other common linking verbs include: seem, become, appear, look, feel, taste, smell, sound, grow, remain.

What Follows Linking Verbs?

The elements that follow linking verbs are quite different from those that follow action verbs. They typically include:

1. Predicate Nominatives (also called Subject Complements): These are nouns or pronouns that rename or identify the subject. They follow a linking verb and provide further information about what the subject is.

   Examples:

   • "She is a doctor." (Doctor renames "She")
   • "The winner was he." (He renames "winner")
   • "My favorite color is blue." (Blue renames "color")

2. Predicate Adjectives: These are adjectives that describe the subject. They follow a linking verb and provide information about what the subject is like.

   Examples:

   • "The soup tastes salty." (Salty describes "soup")
   • "He seems happy." (Happy describes "He")
   • "The music sounds beautiful." (Beautiful describes "music")

Key Differences Summarized

To solidify the distinction, consider this table:

Navigating Tricky Cases and Verb Ambiguity

The English language is rarely straightforward, and the line between action and linking verbs can sometimes blur. Certain verbs can function as either action or linking verbs, depending on the context. These verbs typically involve senses (look, feel, taste, smell, sound) or states of being (grow, remain, appear, become).

The key to distinguishing them lies in determining what follows the verb and whether the verb describes an action or a state of being.

• "Look" as an Action Verb: "He looked at the painting." (He performed the action of looking) - followed by a prepositional phrase acting as an adverb.

• "Look" as a Linking Verb: "He looks tired." (Tired describes him; it's his state of being) - followed by a predicate adjective.

• "Feel" as an Action Verb: "She felt the fabric." (She performed the action of feeling) - followed by a direct object.

• "Feel" as a Linking Verb: "She feels happy." (Happy describes her state of being) - followed by a predicate adjective.

• "Taste" as an Action Verb: "He tasted the soup." (He performed the action of tasting) - followed by a direct object.

• "Taste" as a Linking Verb: "The soup tastes delicious." (Delicious describes the soup's quality) - followed by a predicate adjective.

Let's break down "grow"

• "Grow" as an Action Verb: "She grows tomatoes in her garden." (She performs the action of growing) - followed by a direct object.
• "Grow" as a Linking Verb: "He grew tired of waiting." (Tired describes his state of being as a result of the growing process) - followed by a predicate adjective.

Expanding on "Become"

• "Become" as an Action Verb: While less common, "become" can be used as a transitive action verb in archaic or very formal contexts, meaning to befit or suit. Example: "Her success became her." (Her success suited her.) In this rare case, it's followed by a direct object.
• "Become" as a Linking Verb: Much more commonly, "become" links the subject to a new identity or state. "He became a doctor." (Doctor renames him.) - followed by a predicate nominative. "She became frustrated." (Frustrated describes her state.) - followed by a predicate adjective.

A Practical Exercise: Identifying Verbs and Their Complements

Let's test your understanding with a few examples:

1. "The artist painted a beautiful landscape."

   • Verb: Painted (action verb - transitive)
   • Followed by: a beautiful landscape (direct object)

2. "The music sounded loud."

   • Verb: Sounded (linking verb)
   • Followed by: loud (predicate adjective)

3. "She gave her friend a gift."

   • Verb: Gave (action verb - transitive)
   • Followed by: her friend (indirect object), a gift (direct object)

4. "The cookies smelled burnt."

   • Verb: Smelled (linking verb)
   • Followed by: burnt (predicate adjective)

5. "He ran quickly to the store."

   • Verb: Ran (action verb - intransitive)
   • Followed by: quickly (adverb), to the store (prepositional phrase acting as an adverb)

The Importance of Accurate Identification

Correctly identifying linking and action verbs is essential for several reasons:

• Grammatical Correctness: It ensures that your sentences are grammatically sound and adhere to the rules of English syntax.
• Clarity and Precision: It helps you convey your intended meaning accurately and avoid ambiguity.
• Effective Writing: It allows you to create more sophisticated and nuanced sentences, enhancing the overall quality of your writing.
• Style and Tone: It influences the tone and style of your writing, allowing you to choose the most appropriate verbs and complements for your desired effect.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Confusing Adverbs and Adjectives After Sense Verbs: Remember, if you're describing how someone performs an action, use an adverb. If you're describing the state of the subject, use an adjective. Incorrect: "He felt badly." Correct: "He felt bad." (Bad describes his state of being.) Incorrect: "She looked angrily at him." Correct: "She looked angry." (If you want to show HOW she looked at him, you'd need a different verb: "She glared angrily at him.")

• Misidentifying Linking Verbs: Be particularly careful with verbs that can be both action and linking. Ask yourself: Is the verb describing an action, or is it linking the subject to a description?

• Incorrectly Using Predicate Nominatives/Adjectives: Ensure that the predicate nominative renames the subject and that the predicate adjective describes the subject.

Advanced Considerations: Complex Sentence Structures

The principles outlined above extend to more complex sentence structures, including those with clauses and participial phrases. Even in these intricate constructions, the core relationship between the verb and its complements remains the same.

For example, in the sentence, "Having become a successful entrepreneur, she felt incredibly proud," the participial phrase "Having become a successful entrepreneur" contains the linking verb "become" followed by the predicate nominative "entrepreneur." The main clause, "she felt incredibly proud," features the linking verb "felt" followed by the predicate adjective "proud."

Tren & Perkembangan Terbaru

Recently, there's been a renewed focus on grammar and writing skills in educational settings, driven by the increasing importance of clear and effective communication in the digital age. Online grammar checkers and writing tools are becoming more sophisticated, offering real-time feedback on verb usage and sentence structure. However, these tools are not a substitute for a solid understanding of grammatical principles. They can assist with identifying errors, but they cannot replace the critical thinking and nuanced judgment required to make informed writing choices. Grammarly and ProWritingAid are two examples of software that are constantly being updated to assist with these aspects of writing. Forums dedicated to language and grammar are also buzzing with discussions about the subtleties of linking and action verbs, highlighting the ongoing interest in mastering these fundamental concepts.

Tips & Expert Advice

1. Practice, Practice, Practice: The best way to master the distinction between linking and action verbs is through consistent practice. Analyze sentences, identify the verbs, and determine their complements.

   Start by reading articles or books and actively identifying the verbs in each sentence. Ask yourself: Is this verb expressing an action, or is it linking the subject to a description? Then, identify what follows the verb and determine whether it's a direct object, indirect object, predicate nominative, or predicate adjective.

2. Consult Grammar Resources: Keep a good grammar handbook or online resource handy for reference. When in doubt, consult the resource to clarify the function of a particular verb.

   Websites like the Purdue OWL (Online Writing Lab) and Grammarly offer comprehensive explanations and examples of verb usage. These resources can be invaluable for resolving grammatical uncertainties.

3. Seek Feedback: Ask a trusted friend or colleague to review your writing and provide feedback on your verb usage. A fresh pair of eyes can often catch errors that you might have missed.

   Constructive criticism is essential for improving your writing skills. Be open to feedback and use it to refine your understanding of linking and action verbs.

4. Focus on Context: Remember that the context of a sentence is crucial for determining whether a verb is acting as a linking verb or an action verb. Pay attention to the surrounding words and phrases to understand the intended meaning.

   Consider the example of the verb "look." In the sentence "She looks at the painting," "look" is an action verb. However, in the sentence "She looks tired," "look" is a linking verb. The context of each sentence clarifies the function of the verb.

5. Keep a Grammar Journal: Create a journal dedicated to grammar concepts. Write down examples of linking and action verbs that you encounter in your reading. This will help you internalize the concepts and improve your ability to identify them in your own writing.

   Regularly reviewing your grammar journal will reinforce your understanding of verb usage and help you avoid common errors.

FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

• Q: Can a verb be both linking and action in the same sentence?

  • A: No, a verb functions as either linking or action in a given sentence, depending on its context and the elements that follow it.

• Q: How do I identify a predicate nominative?

  • A: A predicate nominative renames or identifies the subject of the sentence and follows a linking verb.

• Q: What is the difference between a direct object and an indirect object?

  • A: A direct object receives the action of the verb, while an indirect object identifies to whom or for whom the action is done.

• Q: Are there exceptions to these rules?

  • A: While these are general guidelines, the English language is complex and there may be nuanced cases that require further analysis. Consulting a grammar resource can be helpful in such situations.

• Q: Why is it important to understand the difference?

  • A: Understanding the difference leads to clearer, more grammatically correct writing, enhancing your communication skills.

Conclusion

Mastering the nuances of linking and action verbs is a fundamental step towards becoming a more proficient and effective writer. By understanding the distinct roles these verbs play and the elements that follow them, you can construct sentences that are not only grammatically sound but also clear, concise, and engaging. Remember to pay close attention to context, practice identifying verbs and their complements, and consult grammar resources when needed. The journey to grammatical mastery is an ongoing process, but the rewards are well worth the effort. Now that you're armed with this comprehensive knowledge, how will you apply it to your writing? Are you ready to put these principles into practice and elevate your communication skills?