Grade 3 Linking Verbs — Dinosaurs

About this English worksheet for Grade 3

Third graders need to distinguish linking verbs from action verbs to build foundational sentence construction skills required by CCSS L.3.1, and this resource provides scaffolded practice identifying verbs like 'is,' 'are,' and 'was' that connect subjects to descriptors. Teachers can use this worksheet as a formative assessment during grammar mini-lessons, then assign similar sentence-building activities to reinforce how linking verbs establish relationships between nouns and their attributes before students advance to more complex sentence patterns in grade 4.

This printable English worksheet is designed for Grade 3 students and covers Linking Verbs. The Dinosaurs theme keeps kids engaged while they practice essential English skills. Every worksheet includes a full answer key making it easy for parents and teachers to check work instantly. Aligned to Common Core State Standards (CCSS) for Grade 3 English. Print-ready at US Letter size. No login required — download and print in seconds.

Last updated: April 2026

Why Linking Verbs matters in Grade 3

Linking verbs are the connectors in sentences—they describe *what something is* rather than *what something does*. At this age, students are building the foundation for more complex writing, and recognizing linking verbs helps them understand how to describe people, places, and things more clearly. When your child writes "The sky is blue" or "She seems happy," they're using linking verbs to paint a picture with words. This skill directly supports reading comprehension because students start noticing how authors describe characters and settings. In third grade, this awareness also strengthens their ability to write complete sentences with clear meaning. Mastering linking verbs now makes future grammar concepts—like adjectives and predicate nouns—much easier to grasp, setting them up for stronger writing confidence through elementary school.

What your student will practice

• Identify linking verbs (is, are, am, was, were, be, seem, look, feel, taste, sound, smell) in sentences
• Distinguish between linking verbs and action verbs in context
• Use linking verbs correctly to connect subjects to descriptive words
• Complete sentences by choosing the correct linking verb form

Common mistakes to watch for

Third graders commonly confuse linking verbs with action verbs, especially with words like "feel" and "smell" that can function both ways. For example, they might write "The pizza smells delicious" (correct linking verb) but then use "smell" as an action verb without understanding the difference. Another frequent error is mismatching the linking verb with the subject: "The dinosaurs was big" instead of "The dinosaurs were big." Watch for sentences where the linking verb seems weak or replaced with an action verb inappropriately—this signals the student hasn't yet internalized that linking verbs specifically describe, not show action.

Teacher & Parent Tip

Play a quick 5-minute "Describe It" game at dinner or during car rides. Point to something (a pet, a family member, a meal) and have your child describe it using at least one linking verb: "The dog is fluffy," "Dad seems tired," "The soup tastes warm." This real-world, conversational practice helps third graders see that linking verbs aren't just worksheet grammar—they're tools they naturally use to describe the world around them, making the skill stick far better than practice alone.