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English lesson plan · 4th grade (Year 5 in England) · 30 minutes

Action verb or linking verb? (tastes the soup, tastes salty)

Grammar

CCSS L.4.1CCSS L.3.1.AEngland: Y4 GPS (verbs)England: Y5/6 GPS (subject complements)

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Action verb or linking verb? (tastes the soup, tastes salty).

  • I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
  • I can explain each step and say why it works.
  • I can check my answer and spot a mistake.

Before and after

Needs first: Helping verbs and main verbs (is, has, can, will, must)

Leads to: the next skill in this area.

Materials: Sentence strips, Highlighters, Mini whiteboards, Mini whiteboards, A short model text on the board, Printed student sheet (below).

Warm-up · 4 min

  • Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Helping verbs and main verbs (is, has, can, will, must)). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. Which word is the HELPING verb? Our class could hear the drums. (hear / drums / could / class) → couldPrompt: Find the main action word first.
  2. Which word is the MAIN verb? Leo might join the chess club. (club / might / chess / join) → joinPrompt: Which word names the action or state?
  3. Choose the helping verb that fits the meaning. I ___ swim when I was five, but now I can. (mustn't / shan't / couldn't / can't) → couldn'tPrompt: Read the sentence after the gap for clues.

Hook · 3 min

  • Show a sentence with the grammar point used wrongly and ask what sounds odd.
  • Share the objective: Action verb or linking verb? (tastes the soup, tastes salty). Read the success criteria together.

I do: model it · 7 min

  • Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
  • Example: The puppy chased the ball. Is "chased" an action verb or a linking verb here?
  • Step 1: An action verb shows what the subject does. A linking verb joins the subject to a word that describes it (is, seems, becomes, looks, feels).
  • Step 2: So the answer is: action verb
  • Answer: action verb
  • Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

We do: guided practice · 6 min

  • Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
  • Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
  1. The children ran to the gate. Is "ran" an action verb or a linking verb here? (action verb / linking verb) → action verbPrompt: Does the subject DO something, or is the verb just linking the subject to a describing word?
  2. Read the question. Which sentence uses "sound" as a LINKING verb? (The guard sounded the bell. / Sound the alarm! / Your plan sounds great. / Sound out each letter.) → Your plan sounds great.Prompt: Swap the verb for 'is' or 'are'. Does it still make sense?

You do: independent practice · 7 min

  • Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
  • Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.

The 6 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.

Exit ticket · 3 min

  • Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
  1. The flowers smell lovely. Is "smell" an action verb or a linking verb here? (action verb / linking verb) → linking verbPrompt: Does the subject DO something, or is the verb just linking the subject to a describing word?
  2. Read the question. Which sentence uses "sound" as a LINKING verb? (The guard sounded the bell. / Your plan sounds great. / Sound out each letter. / Sound the alarm!) → Your plan sounds great.Prompt: Swap the verb for 'is' or 'are'. Does it still make sense?

Watch out for

  • Naming the feature but not using it in their own sentences.
  • Thinking a sentence is right because it sounds right when spoken casually.

Support and stretch

Support

  • Review first: Helping verbs and main verbs (is, has, can, will, must).
  • Use concrete materials: sentence strips.
  • Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
  • Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.

Stretch

  • Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
  • Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.

Homework and more practice

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/english/grade-4.

Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder

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Action verb or linking verb? (tastes the soup, tastes salty)

Name

Date

Score/ 6

  1. Question 1

    Read the question. Which sentence uses "taste" as a LINKING verb?

    • A. He tasted the lemon.
    • B. Taste the sauce first.
    • C. These strawberries taste sweet.
    • D. Can you taste the pepper?

  2. Question 2

    The puppy is fluffy. Is "is" an action verb or a linking verb here?

    • A. action verb
    • B. linking verb

  3. Question 3

    Read the question. Which sentence uses "feel" as a LINKING verb?

    • A. Feel this soft wool.
    • B. I feel sleepy.
    • C. She felt the bump on her head.
    • D. Feel the rain on your face.

  4. Question 4

    Ali felt the soft fur. Is "felt" an action verb or a linking verb here?

    • A. action verb
    • B. linking verb

  5. Question 5

    Read the question. Which sentence uses "sound" as a LINKING verb?

    • A. Sound out each letter.
    • B. Your plan sounds great.
    • C. Sound the alarm!
    • D. The guard sounded the bell.

  6. Question 6

    Our team grew stronger every week. Is "grew" an action verb or a linking verb here?

    • A. action verb
    • B. linking verb

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Answer key: Action verb or linking verb? (tastes the soup, tastes salty)

  1. 1. C. These strawberries taste sweet.

  2. 2. B. linking verb

  3. 3. B. I feel sleepy.

  4. 4. A. action verb

  5. 5. B. Your plan sounds great.

  6. 6. B. linking verb