Using Linking Verbs/Helping Verbs

What are linking or helping verbs? Verbs such as is/are/am are known as linking/helping verbs. When using linking verbs, attention must be drawn to the subject of the sentence. Generally, singular subjects agree with singular linking verbs, plural subjects with plural linking verbs. Pay attention to the subjects and linking verbs as you read these sentences.

I am typing the letter now.
Tom/He is learning English in the study.
Hilda and her sister/They are watching television now.

The subject "You" always agrees with "are"/"were".
You are reading the newspaper now.

Note: past tense of "is" - "was"
past tense of "are" - "were"

Linking verbs are verbs that do not indicate any action. They only link the subject with the predicate of the sentence. It will be incomplete and incorrect to say:
I typing the letter now.
Tom/He learning English in the study.
Hilda and her sister/They watching television now.

Click on "Grammar" for "Using Action Verbs as Linking
Verbs".

By Susan L
On 12/03/2009 10:40:00 PM
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Using Linking Verbs/Helping Verbs

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