Question

directions: cross out any prepositional phrase(s). underline the subject once and the verb/verb phrase twice. write a on the line if the verb shows action; write l on the line if the verb is linking.
example: l her friend stayed upset for an hour.
remember: write is, am, are, was, or were above the verb. if the meaning of the sentence is not changed, the verb is usually a linking verb.

1. our cat seems sick.
2. his idea sounded terrific.
3. the floor had become sticky from spilled cola.
4. this velvet feels soft to the touch.
5. i felt my way down the stairs.
6. the cellar smells musty.
7. the family smelled a strange odor in their living room.
8. the child grew three inches last year.
9. jim looks happy about his victory.
10. a toddler looked at me with big blue eyes.

Explanation:

1. In "Our cat seems sick", "seems" links the subject "cat" to the adjective "sick", so it's a linking verb (L).
2. In "His idea sounded terrific", "sounded" connects the subject "idea" to the adjective "terrific", so it's a linking verb (L).
3. In "The floor had become sticky from spilled cola", "had become" links the subject "floor" to the adjective "sticky", so it's a linking verb (L).
4. In "This velvet feels soft to the touch", "feels" links the subject "velvet" to the adjective "soft", so it's a linking verb (L).
5. In "I felt my way down the stairs", "felt" is an action - verb as it describes an action of groping one's way, so it's an action verb (A).
6. In "The cellar smells musty", "smells" links the subject "cellar" to the adjective "musty", so it's a linking verb (L).
7. In "The family smelled a strange odor in their living room", "smelled" is an action - verb as it describes the action of perceiving an odor, so it's an action verb (A).
8. In "The child grew three inches last year", "grew" is an action - verb as it describes the action of increasing in height, so it's an action verb (A).
9. In "Jim looks happy about his victory", "looks" links the subject "Jim" to the adjective "happy", so it's a linking verb (L).
10. In "A toddler looked at me with big blue eyes", "looked at" is an action - verb as it describes the action of directing one's gaze, so it's an action verb (A).

Answer:

1. L
2. L
3. L
4. L
5. A
6. L
7. A
8. A
9. L
10. A