Understanding what follows a linking verb or action verb is essential for constructing clear, grammatically correct sentences. Whether you are writing an essay, crafting a professional email, or simply speaking in everyday conversation, knowing the appropriate elements that can appear after these verbs helps you express ideas precisely and avoid common errors. This guide explores the various components that can follow linking verbs (such as be, seem, appear) and action verbs (such as run, give, think), providing examples, explanations, and tips to improve your writing.
Introduction
A verb is the heart of a sentence, and what comes after it determines the sentence’s meaning and structure. Linking verbs connect the subject to additional information about it, while action verbs express an activity or state. The elements that can follow each type of verb differ, and recognizing these patterns is a foundational skill in English grammar.
Worth pausing on this one.
Key takeaway: The main keyword what follows a linking verb or action verb encompasses subject complements, direct objects, indirect objects, and prepositional phrases, each serving a distinct grammatical function.
Linking Verbs and Their Complements
Linking verbs do not express action; they link the subject to a word that describes or identifies it. The words that follow linking verbs are called subject complements. There are two primary types:
Predicate Nominative
A predicate nominative renames or identifies the subject. It is always a noun or pronoun Worth knowing..
- The winner was my sister.
- She became the manager of the department.
In these examples, my sister and the manager of the department are predicate nominatives that rename the subject Simple, but easy to overlook..
Predicate Adjective
A predicate adjective describes the subject and is always an adjective And that's really what it comes down to..
- The weather feels cold today.
- He looked tired after the long meeting.
Here, cold and tired are predicate adjectives that modify the subject.
Why it matters: Using the correct complement after a linking verb ensures that the sentence conveys the intended meaning without grammatical confusion Most people skip this — try not to..
Action Verbs and Their Objects
Action verbs express an activity, state, or occurrence. What follows an action verb can be a direct object, an indirect object, or a prepositional phrase, depending on the verb’s transitivity and intended meaning Easy to understand, harder to ignore..
Direct Objects
A direct object receives the action of the verb and answers the question *what?On top of that, * or *whom? * after an action verb.
- She read the novel last night.
- The artist sculpted the statue in the courtyard.
In these sentences, the novel and the statue are direct objects Small thing, real impact..
Indirect Objects
An indirect object indicates to whom or for whom the action is performed. It usually appears before the direct object and can be a noun or pronoun Not complicated — just consistent..
- The teacher gave the students a certificate.
- He sent his brother an email.
Here, the students and his brother are indirect objects, while a certificate and an email are direct objects.
Prepositional Phrases
Many verbs are followed by prepositional phrases that provide additional information about time, place, direction, or manner.
- They looked at the painting.
- We listened to the music.
In these examples, at the painting and to the music are prepositional phrases functioning as complements to the verb.
Tip: When a verb is followed by a prepositional phrase, the phrase often acts as a complement, but it does not serve as a direct or indirect object.
Verb Patterns and Common Structures
Certain verbs have specific patterns that dictate what can follow them. Understanding these patterns helps you choose the right words and avoid awkward constructions.
Transitive vs. Intransitive Verbs
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Transitive verbs require a direct object.
She baked a cake. -
Intransitive verbs do not take a direct object.
The children played in the yard.
Some verbs can be both, depending on context.
- He slept soundly. (intransitive)
- She slept the baby. (transitive – meaning to put the baby to sleep)
Verb + Gerund or Infinitive
Many action verbs are followed by a gerund (-ing form) or an infinitive (to + verb). These complements often function as nouns within the sentence.
- He enjoys reading books.
- She decided to study harder.
Here, reading books and to study harder are verb complements that act as nouns.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Even advanced writers sometimes misuse what follows a linking verb or action verb. Here are frequent pitfalls and how to correct them:
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Confusing Predicate Nominative with Direct Object
Incorrect: The chef tasted the recipe.
Correct: The chef tasted the recipe. (If the recipe is what was tasted, it’s a direct object.)
Correct: The recipe was delicious. (If delicious describes the recipe, it’s a predicate adjective.) -
Omitting Required Objects
Incorrect: She gave.
Correct: She gave a gift. (Missing direct object) -
Misplacing Indirect Objects
Incorrect: He sent an email his friend.
Correct: He sent his friend an email. (Indirect object precedes direct object) -
Using a Gerund Where an Infinitive is Needed
Incorrect: She wants to eat healthy.
Correct: She wants to eat healthy. (Infinitive is appropriate after wants) -
Linking Verb Followed by an Object Instead of a Complement
Incorrect: He is the manager.
Correct: He is the manager. (If the manager identifies him, it
the manager identifies him, it is a predicate nominative, not a direct object.)
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Treating a Prepositional Object as a Direct Object in Passive Voice
Incorrect: The bed was slept in by the cat. (Awkward/Incorrect passive formation for prepositional verbs)
Better: The cat slept in the bed. (Keep prepositional verbs active, or rephrase: *The bed was slept in by the cat is grammatically possible but stylistically poor; prefer The cat slept in the bed.) -
Confusing Lie vs. Lay (Intransitive vs. Transitive)
Incorrect: I am going to lay down.
Correct: I am going to lie down. (Lie is intransitive; lay requires an object: I will lay the book down.)
Advanced Considerations: Complex Transitivity and Object Complements
Beyond the basic patterns, some verbs allow for complex transitive structures, where the verb takes a direct object and an additional element that completes the meaning regarding that object. This second element is called an object complement Simple, but easy to overlook..
Object Complements (Nouns or Adjectives)
These rename or describe the direct object.
- They elected her president. (President renames her; noun complement)
- The heat made the pavement hot. (Hot describes the pavement; adjective complement)
Resultative Constructions
Similar to object complements, these depict a change of state or location caused by the verb Turns out it matters..
- He painted the fence white.
- She laughed herself silly.
Recognizing these structures prevents the error of misidentifying the second noun phrase as an indirect object. In They elected her president, her is the direct object and president is the complement; there is no indirect object.
Stylistic Implications: Varying Your Verb Patterns
Mastery of verb patterns is not merely about correctness; it is a tool for rhythm and emphasis.
- Short, punchy transitive sentences drive action: The judge struck the gavel.
- Linking verbs with vivid predicate adjectives create atmosphere: The silence felt oppressive.
- Ditransitive structures (Verb + IO + DO) point out the recipient: He gave his daughter a compass.
- Prepositional dative shift (Verb + DO + to/for + Recipient) emphasizes the gift: He gave a compass to his daughter.
Choosing between She sent him a letter and She sent a letter to him allows you to control the reader’s focus without changing the core facts.
Conclusion
Verbs are the engine of the sentence, and what follows them—the objects, complements, and phrases—determines whether that engine runs smoothly or stalls. Worth adding: by distinguishing between transitive and intransitive actions, recognizing the unique role of linking verbs, and mastering the nuances of direct objects, indirect objects, and subject complements, you gain surgical control over your syntax. You move beyond simply avoiding errors like He gave the book she or The soup tastes badly into the realm of intentional craft. Whether you are writing a technical manual requiring precise ditransitive instructions or a novel relying on evocative predicate adjectives, a deep understanding of verb valency ensures your meaning lands exactly as intended And it works..
