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2nd Grade Linking Verbs Worksheets

A linking verb joins the subject to a word that describes or renames it: the soup is hot, the puppy seems sleepy. Second graders learn the common set (is, are, was, were, seems, looks, feels, tastes, smells, sounds) and find the linking verb in each sentence.

Free printable PDF. One skill per page, answer key on page two.

Every sheet is one of a kind and prints with a version code, so you can reprint the exact same one later. New version every click.

A sample 2nd grade sheet. Yours will have different sentences. Click it to print your own.

The kind of sentences you'll get

Underline the linking verb in each sentence.

  1. Grandpa seems happy in his garden.

    Answer: seems

  2. Her cat is on the rug.
  3. The goats were hungry at sunrise.

Every print draws a fresh mix of sentences at this level, so a make-up test or a second sibling gets a different sheet.

What's on each sheet

Every version prints on US Letter or A4, with its answer key on the last page.

How to teach this

Teach the equals-sign picture: write "The soup = hot" under "The soup is hot" and let the arrow of the idea land. Then practice the hunt: find the subject, find its describing word, and the linking verb is the bridge between them. Keep the set small at first: is, are, was, were, seems, looks.

Watch for: Linking verbs show no action; they work like an equals sign between the subject and its description. The sense verbs moonlight: in 'She smells the roses' smells is an action, but in 'The roses smell sweet' it links.

Common questions about linking verbs

What is a linking verb for a 2nd grader?
A connecting word, not a doing word. In "The kitten is soft," nothing happens; is just joins the kitten to soft. The starter set to know: is, are, was, were, plus seems and looks. Our sheets keep the describing word close so the link is easy to see.
How is a linking verb different from an action verb?
Action verbs show something happening (jump, stir, build); linking verbs just connect (is, seems, feels). A quick check: can you act it out? You can act out stirring; you can't act out seeming. That question settles most sentences at this level.

Related worksheets

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Reviewed by the One More Sheet curriculum team. Content version 68, updated July 2026.