Grade by Grade
B. Foundations of Language · Spelling, Grammar and Punctuation

Verbs That Work Well: Consistent Tense and Linking Verbs

B3.2 D2.6About 40 minutes
Learning goals
  • I can keep my verb tense consistent, and change tense only when the time changes.
  • I can tell the difference between an action verb and a linking verb.
  • I can use an adjective (not an adverb) after a linking verb, like I feel bad.
  • I can use the forms of be correctly, like we were (not we was).

Words to know

tense
The form of a verb that shows when something happens: past, present or future.
tense shift
Changing tense in the middle of writing when the time hasn't changed. It confuses readers.
linking verb
A verb that connects the subject to a word that renames or describes it, like is, seems, becomes, feels.
subject complement
The word after a linking verb that renames or describes the subject: She is a doctor, He seems tired.

Remember from earlier grades

You've used the past, present and future tenses since the early grades, and in Grade 4 you learned the perfect tense (has walked, had walked). In Grade 5 you used verbs in many kinds of sentences.

In Grade 6, longer writing makes verb mistakes easier to slip in. This lesson helps you keep your verbs consistent and use linking verbs well.

Keep your tense consistent

Choose a tense and stick with it, unless the time really changes.

  • Stories are usually told in the past tense: She opened the door and saw a fox.
  • Reports and explanations usually use the present tense: Foxes live in many habitats. They eat mice.

❌ We walked to the rink, and then we put on our skates and skate for an hour. (skate shifts to the present)

✅ We walked to the rink, and then we put on our skates and skated for an hour.

It's fine to change tense when the time changes: Last year I lived in Halifax, but now I live in Toronto.

PASTPRESENTwalkedput onskatedskateA story about one afternoon: keep every verb in the past.Last year I lived in Halifax,but now I live in Toronto.The time really changes, so the tense changes too.
Top: skate slipped into the present by mistake, so change it to skated. Bottom: a tense change is fine when the time really changes.

Linking verbs

Most verbs show an action: run, build, shout. A linking verb shows no action. It links the subject to a word that renames or describes it, like an equal sign.

  • My aunt is a pilot. (aunt = pilot)
  • The soup smells delicious. (soup = delicious)
  • The sky became dark. (sky = dark)

Common linking verbs: the forms of be (am, is, are, was, were, be, been, being), become, seem, appear, remain, and the sense verbs look, feel, smell, sound, taste.

The equal-sign test: replace the verb with is or =. If it still makes sense, it's linking. The soup smells delicious → The soup is delicious ✓ (linking). I smell the soup → I is the soup ✗ (action).

The soup smells delicious.→soup=deliciouslinking verbI smell the soup.→I=the soupaction verb (I am not the soup!)
The equal-sign test: if the subject equals the word after the verb, the verb is linking. If not, it's an action.
SentenceAction or linking?Why
The milk tastes sour.Linkingmilk = sour
I taste the milk.ActionI'm doing something to the milk
Dad looks tired.LinkingDad = tired
Dad looks at the map.ActionHe's doing the looking
The leaves turned red.Linkingleaves = red (here turned means became)
Some verbs can be action OR linking verbs, depending on the sentence

Adjectives after linking verbs

After a linking verb, use an adjective (it describes the subject), not an adverb:

  • ✅ I feel bad about missing your game. (I = bad)
  • ❌ I feel badly. (That would mean your sense of touch isn't working well!)
  • ✅ The music sounds beautiful.

And use the right form of be: we were, you were, they were (not we was).

Worked example

Let's fix tense shifts

Fix the tense shifts in this story: Yesterday, a moose wandered into our yard. It eats our cedar bush and then it walked away. My little brother is so excited that he screamed.

  1. The story happened yesterday, so use the past tense throughout.
  2. eats → ate.
  3. is so excited → was so excited.
  4. Check the rest: wandered, walked, screamed are already past.

Yesterday, a moose wandered into our yard. It ate our cedar bush and then it walked away. My little brother was so excited that he screamed.

Worked example

Let's find the linking verbs

Find the linking verbs and the words they link: The trail seemed long, but the view from the top was amazing.

  1. Try the equal-sign test on seemed: The trail is long ✓. So seemed is linking: trail = long.
  2. was: the view = amazing ✓. Linking.
  3. Both link the subject to an adjective that describes it.

seemed links trail → long; was links view → amazing.

Just for fun

Riddle: The past, the present and the future walked into a room.

It was tense.

Hands-on activity

Tense detective and linking-verb taste test

You need: a short story you wrote before (or a page from a book), a pencil, and three foods from your kitchen that are safe for you to eat (check allergies with a grown-up).

  1. Tense detective: read a story you wrote. Underline every verb. Is the tense consistent? Fix any shifts.
  2. Taste test: taste three foods. For each, write two sentences: one with tastes as a linking verb (The apple tastes sweet.) and one with taste as an action verb (I taste the apple slowly.).
  3. Do the same with smells and looks.
  4. Use the equal-sign test to check each sentence.
  5. Read your sentences to a grown-up and ask them to say action or linking for each one.

Your turn

1

Fix the tense shift: I opened my lunch and find a note from Mom.

2

Is the tense change correct? I was shy in Grade 3, but now I am confident.

3

Action or linking? The puppy seems hungry.

4

Action or linking? The puppy smells the snow.

5

Choose: I feel (bad / badly) that I forgot your birthday.

6

Choose: We (was / were) late for the bus.

7

Find the linking verb and what it links: My cousin became a firefighter.

More practice: warm-up

1

Name the three main tenses.

2

What tense are stories usually told in?

3

Name three forms of the verb be.

4

Linking verbs work like what math symbol?

5

Choose: They (was / were) at the library.

More practice: on your own

1

Fix the tense shifts: Every winter, my family goes ice fishing. We drilled a hole and wait for a bite.

2

Action or linking? Explain: The sky grew dark.

3

Action or linking? Explain: My mom grew tomatoes.

4

Fix: The choir sounded beautifully.

5

Write a sentence using look as a linking verb and another using it as an action verb.

Challenge

1

Rewrite this report paragraph in the present tense, because it describes facts: Polar bears lived in the Arctic. They hunted seals on the sea ice. When the ice melted, they went to land.

2

Explain why I feel badly and I feel bad mean different things.

3

Find and fix all the verb errors: Last summer we visit Prince Edward Island. The cliffs was red and the water feeled warm.

Check your understanding

Quiz

1.

Which sentence has a tense shift error?

2.

Which sentence uses a linking verb?

3.

Choose: The lemonade tastes ___.

4.

Which is correct?

5.

When is it correct to change tense?

6.

In Maria became captain, what does became link?

For parents and teachers

Big idea (B3.2): Grade 6 students continue to use verb tenses, forms of to be and linking verbs correctly (the curriculum's conventions continuum lists these as skills to keep consolidating in Grade 6). Checking verbs is part of Grade 6 editing (D2.6).

How to help at home:

  • When your child tells you about their day, model consistent past tense.
  • Read a story draft aloud together and listen for tense jumps.
  • Use the equal-sign test in conversation: "The pizza smells great: pizza = great!"

Common difficulties:

  • Shifting tense in long stories, especially at exciting moments.
  • we was / they was. Common in casual speech in many communities; explain that formal writing uses were.
  • Adverbs after linking verbs (feel badly, smell nicely).
  • Irregular verbs (feeled, eated). Keep a list of tricky past forms.