Action and linking verbs do two different jobs in a sentence. An action verb shows something happening, like run, jump, or eat. A linking verb connects the subject to a word that describes it, like is, are, or feels. The quick test for kids: ask "Is the person doing something?" If yes, it is an action verb. If the word just joins two ideas, it is a linking verb.
"The fastest way we help a child tell these two apart is the swap test. Replace the word with is or are. If the sentence still makes sense, it was a linking verb all along," says a LearnLink tutor. 👉 You can gently support your child's progress with a guided start. Book a free trial lesson with LearnLink.
Why action and linking verbs matter for kids
Every full English sentence needs a verb, so knowing the two main jobs a verb can do helps a child build clear sentences from the start. These two types cover almost everything a young learner writes, from "The dog barks" to "The dog is happy," a split also laid out in the Cambridge English Grammar reference. Across LearnLink lessons with 3,500+ families in 70+ countries, this is one of the first grammar points our tutors teach, because it opens up writing, speaking, and reading at the same time.
When a child mixes the two up, sentences sound off. A common slip is "She happy" instead of "She is happy." The missing word is what holds the idea together. Learning to pair action and linking verbs early also makes later topics easier, including the future tense for kids and the helper words covered in modal verbs for kids.
Action and linking verbs explained
Action and linking verbs sit at the center of a sentence, but they point in different directions. One shows movement or thought. The other paints a picture of the subject. Telling them apart takes only a moment once a child knows the question to ask.
These verb cards give kids a quick visual reference. The green cards show action verbs in action, and the purple cards show linking verbs joining a subject to a describing word.
action verb
The frog jumps high.
action verb
We run to the park.
action verb
Mia paints a star.
action verb
The kids sing together.
linking verb
The soup is hot.
linking verb
They are my friends.
linking verb
She feels happy.
linking verb
The pie tastes sweet.
What is an action verb?
An action verb tells you what someone or something does. The action can be big and visible, like kick or dance, or quiet and mental, like think or dream. If a person, animal, or thing is busy doing it, the word belongs to this group.
Most words a child already uses every day fit here. They power short, lively sentences: "Birds fly." "We read." "He builds." Because these change with tense, they connect naturally to topics like teaching irregular verbs, where forms such as go and went need practice.
What is a linking verb?
A linking verb does not show action. It links the subject to a word that renames or describes it. In "The soup is hot," the word is joins "soup" to "hot." Nobody is doing anything, so it simply connects two ideas.
The most common ones are forms of "to be": am, is, are, was, and were. A few sense words can link too, such as feel, look, seem, and taste. Because so many come from one root, a short guide to the verb to be in English gives a child a strong base for spotting them.
The swap test
To check a tricky case, swap the word with is or are. Take "The pie smells sweet." Change it to "The pie is sweet." The meaning still holds, so smells is linking here. Now try "The dog smells the food." Swap to "The dog is the food," which makes no sense, so smells shows action instead. The same word can do both jobs depending on the sentence, which is why this quick check is so handy.
Practice and common mistakes
Most errors come from leaving out the linking word or treating everything as an action. Spotting these patterns also helps with related grammar, such as comparatives and superlatives that often follow a describing word.
Common mistakes to fix
The table below shows the corrections our tutors make most often with young writers learning action and linking verbs.
✍️ Practice: Read each sentence. Write A for action or L for linking.
1. The rabbit hops across the grass. ______
2. My brother is tall. ______
3. We sing in the car. ______
4. The lemon tastes sour. ______
💬 Practice: Look at the picture above and describe it.
1. Write one sentence about what a child is doing.
2. Write one sentence about how a child looks or feels.
3. Read both aloud and underline the key word in each.
✏️ Practice: Create your own sentences about your day.
1. Write two sentences that show an action.
2. Write two sentences that describe how something is.
3. Trade with a friend and check each other's work.
How to teach it step by step
A clear order makes the action and linking verbs lesson stick. Our tutors follow a short, repeatable path, and the same steps work well at home. This progression also pairs nicely with early grammar building blocks like question types in English and possessive adjectives and pronouns.
1. Show the difference: Act out a doing word, then describe yourself with a being word. Children remember "I jump" versus "I am tired" when they see both.
2. Sort words together: Make two piles, one for doing words and one for being words. Sorting builds the habit of asking what each one does.
3. Use the swap test: Practice replacing tricky cases with is or are to check the type.
4. Write short sentences: Ask for one doing sentence and one describing sentence about the same picture.
5. Review with a game: Call out a word and have the child shout "action" or "linking." A quick warm-up is enough, and a lesson of 25 or 50 minutes leaves plenty of room for it.
For young learners, keep steps short and playful. Our guide on how to teach English to a 5 year old shows how to turn each step into a game, while adverbs of frequency for kids adds natural words like always and never once the basics feel solid.
Frequently asked questions
How can a child quickly tell the two apart?
Ask whether the subject is doing something. If yes, it shows action. If the word only joins the subject to a describing word, it is linking. The swap test with is or are confirms tricky cases.
Can the same word be both a doing verb and a linking verb?
Yes. Sense words like look, feel, smell, and taste can do both jobs. "The chef tastes the soup" shows action, while "The soup tastes great" is linking. The sentence decides the role.
Which linking verbs should kids learn first?
Start with forms of "to be": am, is, are, was, and were. These appear in everyday sentences and give children a reliable base before adding sense words. A short review of nouns, such as countable and uncountable nouns, helps the describing words make sense too.
Action and linking verbs are the foundation of clear English sentences, and a little daily practice goes a long way. Start with the swap test, sort a few words each day, and write one doing sentence and one describing sentence about something your child enjoys. With steady practice, kids stop guessing and start writing with confidence, and LearnLink tutors are here to guide each step.
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