Helping and Linking Verbs- Free PDF Guide

What Are Helping Verbs? The Short Answer

Helping verbs (also called auxiliary verbs) sit in front of main verbs to add information about time, possibility, obligation, or ability. They don't stand alone—you'll always see them paired with another verb.

Here's the thing: most English speakers use helping verbs every day without thinking about it. But when it comes to writing or grammar tests, plenty of people get confused about which verbs do what.

The Most Common Helping Verbs

• Be forms: am, is, are, was, were, been, being
• Have forms: has, have, had
• Do forms: does, do, did
• Modal verbs: can, could, may, might, shall, should, will, would, must

Examples in Action

Look at these sentences:

• She is working late tonight. (is + working = present continuous)
• They have finished the project. (have + finished = present perfect)
• He could have been lying. (could + have + been + lying = modal perfect progressive)

The helping verb carries the extra meaning. The main verb carries the core action.

What Are Linking Verbs? Here's the Deal

Linking verbs connect the subject to a description or identity. They don't show action—they show a state of being or a connection.

The most common linking verb is be. But there are others too.

Linking Verbs You Probably Know

• Be verbs: am, is, are, was, were, been, being
• Sensory linking verbs: look, feel, smell, sound, taste
• Other state verbs: appear, seem, become, grow, turn, prove, remain, stay

Examples That Make It Clear

• She is tired. (is links "she" to "tired")
• The soup smells delicious. (smells links soup to a quality)
• He became a teacher. (became links him to a new identity)

Helping Verbs vs. Linking Verbs: The Key Difference

This is where people get tripped up. Here's the difference:

• Helping verbs assist the main verb and always appear with it
• Linking verbs connect the subject to a word that describes or renames it

Some verbs can do both jobs, depending on the sentence. That's what makes this confusing.

Same Verb, Different Jobs

Look at "is":

• She is running. → "is" is a helping verb here (present continuous)
• She is a doctor. → "is" is a linking verb here (connects "she" to "doctor")

Context determines the function. That's the bitter truth about English grammar—it doesn't always follow clean rules.

Comparison Table: Helping Verbs vs. Linking Verbs

The "Be" Verb Problem

"Be" is the troublemaker in this topic. It can function as both a helping verb and a linking verb depending on the sentence structure.

When "be" helps another verb, it's auxiliary:

• They are playing basketball. (are + playing)
• She was sleeping when I called. (was + sleeping)

When "be" connects without helping another verb, it's linking:

• He is happy. (links him to happiness)
• We were students. (links us to our identity)

The only way to tell? Look at what comes after "be." If there's another verb, it's helping. If there's a noun or adjective, it's linking.

Modal Verbs: Special Case Helpers

Modal verbs (can, could, may, might, shall, should, will, would, must) are always helping verbs. They express:

• Possibility: may, might, could, can
• Probability: must, should, will, would
• Ability: can, could
• Permission: can, could, may
• Obligation: must, should, shall

They never function as linking verbs. They only help other verbs.

How to Identify Each Verb Type: Quick Guide

Here's a practical test you can use right now:

For Helping Verbs

• Ask: "Is there another verb in this sentence?"
• Ask: "Does removing this verb break the sentence?"
• If yes to both, it's probably a helping verb

For Linking Verbs

• Ask: "Does this verb connect the subject to a description or identity?"
• Try replacing it with "equals" (=)
• She = a doctor. The food = delicious. That works? It's linking.

The Smell/Taste Test

With sensory linking verbs (look, feel, smell, taste, sound), there's a trick:

• Use them literally → helping verb or main verb with action
• Use them to describe → linking verb

Examples:

• The dog smells the food. (literal action = main verb)
• The food smells good. (describes quality = linking verb)

Free PDF Guide: Print and Keep

Download our Helping and Linking Verbs Quick Reference Guide below. It covers:

• Complete list of helping verbs
• Complete list of linking verbs
• The "be" verb function chart
• 20 practice sentences with answers
• Common mistakes to avoid

📥 [Click here to download the free PDF guide]

Print it out. Stick it on your wall. Use it when you're writing. That's what it's for.

Getting Started: Your Action Plan

If you want to get better at identifying these verbs, here's what works:

• Read your own writing aloud. Circle every verb. Ask: "Action or state?"
• Practice with one sentence per day. Pick a sentence from anything you're reading. Identify the verb type.
• Use the replacement test. Try swapping "be" verbs with other linking verbs (seem, appear, become). If the sentence still works, it's linking.
• Don't memorize lists endlessly. Focus on understanding the function. The lists become obvious once you get the concept.

You don't need to memorize every exception. You need to understand how the sentence works.

Final Thoughts

The confusion between helping and linking verbs comes from two sources: English using the same words for different jobs, and poor grammar instruction that doesn't explain function over memorization.

Forget trying to memorize everything. Focus on the question: Is this verb doing something, or is it connecting something?

That's it. That's the whole distinction.

Download the PDF if you want a reference. Otherwise, start practicing on your next piece of writing. You'll get it faster than you think.