Verbs: Action, Linking, Helping

Verbs fall into three categories: action, linking, and helping (auxiliary).

1. Action verbs express an action that the subject of a sentence does, did in the past or will do in the future.

Cats meow loudly.Miriam leapt over the couch.
Tom reached for the glass.
The water is boiling.

Action verbs can be further categorized as transitive or intransitive.

2. Linking verbs connect a subject to other words in a sentence that describe it or provide additional information.

My dog is an Akita.
Tom was a rich man.
I feel refreshed after that nap.
The water is boiling.

3. Helping (auxiliary) verbs is the part of a verb phrase that helps the main verb show tense, possibility, ability or other degrees of meaning.

He is sleeping. (Express present tense)
He was sleeping. (Express paste tense)
He will be sleeping. (Express future tense)
That could help. (Express possibility)
Do you want to go? (Ask a question)
I can swim. (Express ability)
That should help. (Express likelihood)



Study.com: Action, Linking and Auxiliary Verbs
English Grammar 101: Action Verbs
English Grammar 101: Linking Verbs
Lumen: Helping Verbs