The verb of a sentence consists of a main verb possibly preceded by one or more helping verbs. A sentence’s verb is classified as linking, transitive, or intransitive, depending on the kinds of objects or complements the verb can (or cannot) take.
Linking verbs and subject complements
Transitive verbs, objects, and complements
Intransitive verbs
Exercise: Subject complements and direct objects
Exercise: Indirect objects and object complements
Exercise: All objects and complements
Exercise: Linking, transitive, and intransitive verbs
verb A word that expresses action (jump, think) or being (is, was, seems). A sentence's verb is composed of a main verb possibly preceded by one or more helping verbs.
linking verb A verb that links a subject to a subject complement, a word or word group that renames or describes the subject. Linking verbs are be, am, is, are, was, were, being, been; also appear, become, feel, grow, look, make, seem, smell, sound, taste.
transitive verb A verb that expresses an action and takes a direct object.
intransitive verb A verb that does not take a direct object.