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When to use Its vs. It's: How to Avoid Looking bad

Its vs. it's: "Its" is a possessive pronoun, while "it's" is a contraction of the words "it is."

Main Its vs. It’s Takeaways:

  • Its is the possessive pronoun for it, as in “the door blew open on its own.”
  • It’s is a contraction meaning it is, as in “it’s raining cats and dogs.”
  • Its’ is not a word.

Sometimes, even seasoned writers use its and it’s incorrectly because the words sound the same. They look almost identical and sounds the same, but they’re not. Here’s are a few easy tips to make sure you always choose the correct word.

What is the Rule for Its?

On one hand, its signifies ownership or possession. It is not a contraction and as a result, does not have an apostrophe.On the other hand, it’s always takes the place of it is. It is a contraction, which is why it has an apostrophe.

Use its when expressing possession. Conversely, use it’s when you want to say it is. The words are not interchangeable.

Here are 3 easy tricks to help you decide whether to use its vs. it’s:

Trick #1: Replace with “it is”

Try replacing the word with the phrase it is in your sentence. If you sentence still make sense, then you know it’s is the correct option.

It isa hot, sunny day.
It’sa hot, sunny day.
Itsa hot, sunny day.

However, if you can’t substitute itis, then you should use its.

A pink square character holds an ice cream that's melting. He looks upset and has the text "It's melting" above his head.
“Its” is a possessive pronoun, while “it’s” is a contraction of the phrase “it is.”

Trick #2: Look for a Determiner

Is the word is followed by a determiner like “a,” “an,” “the,” “this,” or “that”? What about a pronoun like “my,” “hers,” “ours,” or “theirs?” Or, maybe even a quantity like “a few” or number like “three?”

If so, then it’s is the correct option.

The pizza is on its way, but it’s a few minutes late.
The pizza is on it’s way, but its a few minutes late.

In the example above:

  • it refers to the pizza.
  • its posses way
  • it’s is a contraction of it is and is followed by the determiner a few.

Possessive pronouns always need a direct object. For example, the pronoun is the owner and the direct object is what they possess or own. Usually, the point of this construction is to show ownership of something specific.

Its is a possessive pronoun. For this reason, it’s not usually followed by a determiner.

Trick #3: Look for a Noun That Comes Before

Is there a noun like pizza before the word?

If the answer is “yes,” then you probably want to go with the possessive pronoun its. This is because it is most likely substituting the noun at the beginning of the sentence to avoid repetition.

If you can replace the word with the same noun at the beginning of the sentence, then its is the correct choice.

The pizza is on the pizza’s way.
The pizza is on its way.

We can double check itsis the correct choice with Trick #1, or substituting the word with the phraseit is:

The pizza is on its way.
The pizza is on it is way.

When we replace the word with it is, the sentence no longer makes sense. Therefore, we know that its is the correct option here.

Do You Need an Apostrophe After Its?

No, you don’t need an apostrophe after its, whether you’re writing the contraction or the possessive form of it. 

We use apostrophes to show that a noun or pronoun owns something, like John’s book. However, this punctuation is also useful for indicating that you removed letters to form contractions.

It’s hard to find your way around a new city.
It’s raining outside.

You’re more likely to find the contraction it’s in texts than the possessive pronoun its. That’s because the possessive form of its is only acceptable when referring to an object.

If a chair is lopsided, you should fix one of its legs.

What about when referring to a person? 

There are 3 pink square characters help illustrate the difference between it's with an apostrophe and its without. The one on the far left is labeled it's with an apostrophe and has a broken heart above his head. The one of the far right is labeled its, looks angry and is possessively holding onto the middle character.
“It’s” and “its” can’t be used interchangeably in a sentence. If you’re expressing possession, you should go with “its.”

Can We Use Its for Humans? 

It’s not appropriate to use the possessive pronoun its for humans. That implies that the individual in question is either an object or has no gender. Both depictions are generally considered offensive. Instead, consider using words such as he, she, his, her, they, or them. 

The rule is not so straightforward when dealing with animal pronouns. 

Grammar experts recommend referring to an animal as it unless the relationship is personal, like a pet with a name. In such a case, it’s acceptable to use he or she when referring to the animal. 

The “personal” rule also applies when writing a children’s book about animals that can talk or have human traits. 

How Do You Use Its and It’s in a Sentence?

Jose started the car after unlockingitsdoors.
She turned the onion onitsside before grabbing her knife.
The door was jammed, so Landon brokeitslock to get inside.
It’scold outside, so wear your jacket.
Actually,it’spretty easy to figure out how to use contractions.
“Yeah, I’ll try it,” Kathy responded when the waiter asked if she’d like a sample of pecan pie.
I don’t like when it gets hot in Chicago.
“It looks good,” Tyler’s mom said when she saw his clean room.

It’s is a contraction that combines this pronoun with the verbis. Is expresses a state of being.

“It’stoo windy today,” complained Cynthia.
I’m not sureit’sa good idea for you to do that.
It’sanother exciting day at the office.

It’s is not the plural or possessive form of it. Writers should use its when they need a possessive pronoun.

It’sa fun event.
The bug flappedit’swings.
A pink square character holds two signs that explain that "Its" is the possessive pronoun for "it," while "it's"is a contraction for "it is."
“Its” is the possessive pronoun for “it,” while “it’s”is a contraction for “it is.”

Recap: What’s the Difference Between It and It’s?

Its is the possessive pronoun for it, which describes an object, person, or other entity.

its definition:(pronoun) relating to it or itself; the object, agent or possessor of an action

It’s is a contraction that means “it is.” People often use it’s instead of its because they assume an apostrophe plus ‘s’ always signifies ownership. Remember, many other possessive pronouns omit the apostrophe as well. This is true for my, your, hers, and his.

it’s definition:(contraction) it is

You may have also seen some people write its’ with an apostrophe at the end. This is a grammatical error because its’ is not a word.

It is a third-person singular neuter pronoun. Generally, the word it appears as the subject, indirect object, or direct object of a verb. It can also be the object of a preposition.

It Fact Sheet:

  • It is a pronoun.
  • It usually references an inanimate object, such as a car, book, or beverage.
  • You can also use it to describe a person, animal, or plant.
  • It’s is a contraction for it is.
  • Its is the possessive pronoun.
  • its’ is always incorrect because it is not a word.

Its vs. it’s might be one of the most confusing things in the English Language, but now have everything you need to master of the difference between the two.

Put Your Skills to the Test with This Quick Its vs. It’s Quiz

Its vs. It's Question #1

The words it and it's are interchangeable in a sentence.
Correct! Wrong!

The answer is FALSE. “It's” is a contraction for “it is,” while “its” is used to indicate ownership.

It's vs. Its Question #2

Select the possessive pronoun for “it.”
Correct! Wrong!

The answer is A. We use “its” in a sentence to indicate ownership or possession.

It's Question #3

The word “it's” can indicate possession in a sentence.
Correct! Wrong!

The answer is FALSE. “It's” is a contraction that means “it is.”

It's or Its Question #4

Select the grammatically correct sentence(s).
Correct! Wrong!

The answer is A. You can substitute “it is” in all the sentences except A.

It's and Its Question #5

Select the grammatically correct sentence(s).

Please select 2 correct answers

Correct! Wrong!

The answers are A and D. You can substitute “it's” for “it is” in both A and D.

Read More: Among vs. Amongst: Their Differences and Proper Usage

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How to use the Past Perfect Perfectly: A Super Easy Guide

An exhausted young man being told by the train station officer that the train had left early in the morning.

Main Past Perfect Takeaways:

  • The past perfect tense is also called the pluperfect.
  • Form the past perfect with the formula had + past participle.
  • Make past perfect negative with the formula had + not + past participle.
  • If you aren’t describing a sequence of events, avoid this tense
  • Past perfect tense helps clarify a timeframe more than simple perfect tense.
  • Use past perfect when describing a point in the past or an event that happened before something else.
  • Use past perfect when expressing a condition, also known as the if-clause.

What is Past Perfect Tense?

Sometimes verbs are confusing when they express timeframes, but past perfecttense or pluperfect gives more clarity. It expresses something that happened at a previous point in time. Ensure your audience understands exactly what happened when with this verb tense. Form Past perfect by combining the past tense of the verb “to have,” with the past participle of the main verb. It often appears with the word “already.”

Past perfect formula:subject + had + past participle =past perfecttense
Alex had already finished his meal by time we had to leave.

What is the Structure of Past Perfect Tense?

Past perfecttense involves a subject, the word had, and the past participle of a verb. Past perfect formula: subject + had + past participle = past perfect tense.

Two boys looking at each other. The curly-haired boy on the left labeled as past participle is thinking: "I had looked." On the right, the other boy labeled as past tense is shown thinking: "I looked."
The past perfect tense of a verb refers to an action that took place before another point in the past.

Let’s break everything down with this pluperfect example:

Lucyhad requesteda gluten-free sandwich, but the chef put her turkey on a whole-wheat bun instead.

Lucyis the subject.

Hadis the past tense version of “to have.”

Requested is the past participle of the verb request.

You can verify this by asking yourself what happened first. Did Lucy order a gluten-free sandwich first, or did the chef give her a whole-wheat bun first?

The word hadindicated that Lucy ordered her sandwich before receiving the wrong item.

Writers don’t always use had at the beginning of a sentence. However, past perfecttense still shows an event that happened before another event.

Here’s another example of pluperfect tense:

John’s ex said she still loved him, but Johnhad already founda new partner.

Tough luck for John’s ex here. This sentence shows John moved on before she confessed her love. This is evident even though hadappears in the second part of the sentence rather than the first.

Where Do We Use Past Perfect?

Use past perfect tense in the part of the sentence that contains the if-clause. This part of the sentence explains the condition. Most of the time, writers use this verb tense to show that it took place before other things happened in the sentence. Past perfect makes this difference clear with “had” (had gone) while the other actions in the sentence use the simple past tense (went).

Juanhad just walkedin the door when the phone rang.
An exhausted young man being told by the train station officer that the train had left early in the morning.
We use past perfect tense when referring to an event that happened at some point in the past.

Take a look at these examples of pluperfect . These examples all follow the formula referenced earlier: subject + had + past participle =past perfecttense.

Jillhad gottensick from eating expired cupcakes.
Thomashad gottenon his supervisor’s bad side after questioning her authority.
Kara wished shehad wonthe raffle at the picnic.
Lavernehad foundedher company before the pandemic’s rigid guidelines.
Hehad trouble sleepingyesterday because he had received some bad news.

When Shouldn’t You Use Past Perfect Tense?

Avoid past perfect tense when you aren’t referencing a sequence of events. Inserting had unnecessarily is a common error people make in written and verbal communication.

Let’s say you came home and discovered someone stole your Amazon package. You stomped over to your neighbor’s house and vented about the situation. What should you say?

Someonehad stolenmy package.
(Past Simple) Someonestolemy package.
(Past Perfect ) I called the police because I noticed someonehad stolenmy package.

You don’t need to include had in your sentence. Unless you’re telling your neighbor what you did before or after you noticed the package was missing.

A girl clutching her belly. She looks sick. In front of her is a cupcake. Text reads: Jill had gotten sick from eating expired cupcakes.
You use “had” plus the past participle of the verb to form the past perfect tense.

What is the Difference Between Past Tense and Past Perfect?

While both past simple and past perfect tenses describe events that happened at a previous time, they have different functions. We use the simple past tense of a verb when describing a single event that happened in the past. For instance:

He bought fast food for breakfast yesterday.
Shetriedon the dress at the store.
Marcovisitedhis cousin at work.
Shaunaorderedpizza for lunch.

We also use simple past to describe past events in the order in which they occurred. See example below:

Ricky got up at eight this morning. He quickly opened his Christmas presents, and then he and his family went to the theme park.

On the other hand, we use the past perfect tense of a verb to sequence events in the past and show which event happened first. Consider the following examples:

The fridge was empty even though shehad just gonegrocery shopping on Monday.
Hehad spenthours studying for the exam but still failed.
Lena’s bosshad warnedher not to leave early, but Lena still went home before lunch.
Alan was surprised by how fashionable the glasses hehad orderedonline were.

In addition, the past simple expresses a stronger connection between the time of two or more events, as opposed to past perfect.

A curly-haired boy holding two placards. First placard reads past perfect, while the other says pluperfect. Additional text reads: The past perfect tense is also known as the pluperfect.
The past perfect tense is also known as the pluperfect.

How Do You Make Past Perfect Negative?

Add notbetween the word hadand your past participle. Use the formula had + not + past participle.

The neighborshad not noticedanything suspicious the day my package went missing.
Arnold was frustrated because his mother stillhad not acceptedresponsibility for her actions.
Juliehad not expressedher feelings clearly via email, so her client called for clarification.

We can’t make your past less confusing, but we can help you describe it with clarity. Remember the tips above, whether you’re using pluperfect, past simple, or past perfect negative.

Past perfect tense. Past perfect tense is formed by adding had to the past participle of a verb. A man holding two placards. Placard on the left reads past perfect, to the right pluperfect. Past perfect vs. simple past. Two boys looking at each other. Boy on the left labeled as past perfect is pointing to the boy labeled as simple past while saying NO "HAD." How to make past perfect negative? Add not between had and past participle.
INK Past Perfect Infographic

Common Regular Verbs in Their Past Perfect, Infinitive, and Negative Forms

Simple Present

abate adjust abduct bag bait calculate call dazzle edit educate fade fail glaze glue halt hammer ignite ignore join joke kiss knit lessen levitate maintain nab nail obtain occupy offend pair pamper parade sacrifice satisfy tangle tarnish unbox validate veil wallow wander yap yelp yield zest zigzag

Simple Past

abated adjusted abducted bagged baited calculated called dazzled edited educated faded failed glazed glued halted hammered ignited ignored joined joked kissed knitted lessened levitated maintained nabbed nailed obtained occupied offended paired pampered paraded sacrificed satisfied tangled tarnished unboxed validated veiled wallowed wandered yapped yelped yielded zested zigzagged

Past Perfect

had abated had adjusted had abducted had bagged had baited had calculated had called had dazzled had edited had educated had faded had failed had glazed had glued had halted had hammered had ignited had ignored had joined had joked had kissed had knitted had lessened had levitated had maintained had nabbed had nailed had obtained had occupied had offended had paired had pampered had paraded had sacrificed had satisfied had tangled had tarnished had unboxed had validated had veiled had wallowed had wandered had yapped had yelped had yielded had zested had zigzagged

Infinitive

to abate to adjust to abduct to bag to bait to calculate to call to dazzle to edit to educate to fade to fail to glaze to glue to halt to hammer to ignite to ignore to join to joke to kiss to knit to lessen to levitate to maintain to nab to nail to obtain to occupy to offend to pair to pamper to parade to sacrifice to satisfy to tangle to tarnish to unbox to validate to veil to wallow to wander to yap to yelp to yield to zest to zigzag

Negative

had not abated had not adjusted had not abducted had not bagged had not baited had not calculated had not called had not dazzled had not edited had not educated had not faded had not failed had not glazed had not glued had not halted had not hammered had not ignited had not ignored had not joined had not joked had not kissed had not knitted had not lessened had not levitated had not maintained had not nabbed had not nailed had not obtained had not occupied had not offended had not paired had not pampered had not paraded had not sacrificed had not satisfied had not tangled had not tarnished had not unboxed had not validated had not veiled had not wallowed had not wandered had not yapped had not yelped had not yielded had not zested had not zigzagged

Common Irregular Verbs in Their Past Perfect, Infinitive, and Negative Forms

Simple Present

awake befall buy behold bend catch creep dealt dig do feed flee forbid go grind hurt hear interweave intertwine keep kneel know leave lie lose make meet misdeal mislead outgrow outsell outspeak partake prebuild rebuild redo seek shake thrive throw unbind undo weep win wring withdraw withhold withstand

Simple Past

awoken befell bought beheld bent caught crept dealt dug did fed fled forbade went ground hurt heard interwove intertwined kept knelt knew left lied lost made met misdealt misled outgrew outsold outspoke partook prebuilt rebuilt redid sought shook thrived threw unbound undid wept won wrung withdrew withheld withstood

Past Perfect

had awoken had befell had bought had beheld had bent had caught had crept had dealt had dug had done had fed had fled had forbade had gone had ground had hurt had heard had interwoven had intertwined had kept had knelt had known had left had lied had lost had made had met had misdealt had misled had outgrew had outsold had outspoken had partaken had prebuilt had rebuilt had redone had sought had shaken had thrived had thrown had unbound had undone had wept had won had wrung had withdrawn had withheld had withstood

Infinitive

to awake to befall to buy to behold to bend to catch to creep to deal to dig to do to feed to flee to forbid to go to grind to hurt to hear to interweave to intertwine to keep to kneel to know to leave to lie to lose to make to meet to misdeal to mislead to outgrow to outsell to outspeak to partake to prebuild to rebuild to redo to seek to shake to thrive to throw to unbind to undo to weep to win to wring to withdraw to withhold to withstand

Negative

had not awoken had not befell had not bought had not beheld had not bent had not caught had not crept had not dealt had not dug had not done had not fed had not fled had not forbade had not gone had not ground had not hurt had not heard had not interwoven had not intertwined had not kept had not knelt had not known had not left had not lied had not lost had not made had not met had not misdealt had not misled had not outgrew had not outsold had not outspoken had not partaken had not prebuilt had not rebuilt had not redone had not sought had not shaken had not thrived had not thrown had not unbound had not undone had not wept had not won had not wrung had not withdrawn had not withheld had not withstood

Quick Pluperfect Quiz to Test Your Knowledge

Past Perfect Tense Question #1

Which sentence is the correct past perfect form of "I do the laundry"?
Correct! Wrong!

The answer is C. The formula for creating a past perfect is subject + had + past participle.

Past Perfect Tense Question #2

Which sentence is the correct past perfect form of "We visit Berlin"?
Correct! Wrong!

The answer is A. The formula for creating a past perfect is subject + had + past participle.

Past Perfect Tense Question #3

The past tense of the verb "to have" is required to form a past perfect tense.
Correct! Wrong!

The answer is TRUE. To form a past perfect, combine the past tense of the verb "to have," which is had, with the past participle of the main verb.

Past Perfect Tense Question #4

Which word is correct? When I got home, the children had already____ to bed.
Correct! Wrong!

The answer is GONE. The past perfect describes an action that took place before another action in the past.

Past Perfect Tense Question #5

Which word is correct? We ___ been out long when it started to rain.
Correct! Wrong!

The answer is HADN'T. Make a past perfect negative by adding not between the had and the past participle been.

Past Perfect Quiz Result
You're an expert!

You're an expert!

Not Bad!

Not Bad!

Almost got it! Review the article and try again.

Almost got it! Review the article and try again.

Read More: How to use not Only… but Also in a Sentence

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The Best Selection of the Longest Words in English

Ever wondered what the longest words in English language are?

We’ve all been there: trying to pronounce chemical names on the back of a shampoo bottle. No surprise one of the longest words in English is the chemical name for the human titin protein.

One of the longest Englishwords has over 180,000 letters. Spelling it would take 57 pages, so we won’t drag it out here. With that said, there are plenty of other big words in the English language. So, we’ve listed some of them using much smaller words in this article.

Main Longest Words in English Takeaways:

  • The average English word has 4.5 letters.
  • Many of the longest words in English are scientific or medical terms.
  • Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis has 45 letters.
  • Pseudopseudohypoparathyroidism has 30 letters.
  • Prefixes and compounds can increase word length.

In this article, we’ve compiled some of the longest words for anyone who appreciates the English language. So, prepare yourself because your vocabulary is about to get much bigger—pun intended.

Ever wondered what the longest words in English language are?
Ever wondered what the longest words in English language are?

How Long is the Average Word?

Before we discuss big words, let’s start with some basics. The average English word contains 4.5 letters. The longest words in English dictionaries have significantly more letters than that.

Nearly 60% of English words have at least one ‘e’ in them. ‘T’ comes in second, as it appears in 47.3% of words. Meanwhile, ‘Z’ finds a home in just 0.3% of words, with ‘q’ not far behind at 0.5%.

Why are Some Words So Long?

We often see a word with lots of letters and wonder what happened. Why would anyone create such a long word? Technically, some word formation rules result in big words. For instance, Long words often contain multiple prefixes or compound terms.

“Great” is a prefix that can significantly alter the length of a word. Genetics aside, you can use “great” as many times as you want for family titles. Make sure to use hyphens in between the “great” prefixes, and not commas.

Grandma’s grandma often baked cookies with my great-great-great-great-aunt.
Our great-great-great-great-great-grandfather was a hardworking farmer.
My mom says I get my blue eyes from my great-great-great-grandma.

Compound words can also get long. This is especially true when writers hyphenate adjectives. These words can easily become three- or four-word compounds.

Prefixes and compounds can make words really, really, really long!
Prefixes and compounds can make words really, really, really long!

Three-Word Hyphenated Compounds

  • Do-it-yourself
  • Salt-and-pepper
  • Remote-robot-assisted
  • New-and-improved

Four-Word Hyphenated Compounds

  • Run-of-the-mill
  • State-of-the-art
  • Too-big-to-fail
  • Chocolate-chip-milkshake-loving

You may have seen even longer compounds than these. For example, perhaps you viewed a blink-and-you-missed-it theatrical run.

What’s the Longest English Word?

The longest word in the English language has 189,819 letters. We’d love to share it, but it’s 57 pages long, which means a lot of scrolling! So, the word we’re talking about here refers to a chemical compound called titin. For the uninitiated, titin is a human protein found in our vertebral muscle.

Titin’s official term is 189,819 words because it follows traditional protein-naming guidelines. Proteins’ names are typically derived from their contributing chemicals. Titin has a lengthy chemical list.

Reading a dictionary can help you improve your vocabulary and discover big words that you can use to impress your peers.
Reading a dictionary can help you improve your vocabulary and discover big words that you can use to impress your peers.
Fun fact:It would take 3.5 hours to say the official name for titin out loud.

Some lexicographers consider titin a verbal formula rather than an official word. Lexicographers are the language experts who help create dictionaries. Traditional dictionaries don’t have room for lengthy words such as the scientific term for titin.

What are Some of the Longest Words in English?

Many big words are scientific or medical terms. Normally, scientists combine several ingredients and traits to form these scientific terms. Meanwhile, medical terms often contain prefixes and suffixes.

Most of us don’t have hours to pronounce the scientific term for titin. However, you can impress your friends with these long words:

1. lopado­temacho­selacho­galeo­kranio­leipsano­drim­hypo­trimmato­silphio­parao­melito­katakechy­meno­kichl­epi­kossypho­phatto­perister­alektryon­opte­kephallio­kigklo­peleio­lagoio­siraio­baphe­tragano­pterygon (182 letters) – a fictional meal referenced in Assemblywomen, a comedy by Aristophanes.

2. pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis (45 letters) – a synonym for silicosis. Silicosis is a lung disease caused by inhaling silica. It’s also the longest word that you’ll find in most well-known dictionaries.

3. supercalifragilisticexpialidocious (34 letters) – a nonsense word featured in Mary Poppins. Admit it: You sang this word rather than read it.

4. pseudopseudohypoparathyroidism (30 letters) – a genetic medical condition similar to pseudohypoparathyroidism.

Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis refers to a lung disease. It is also the longest word that you can find in any of the major English dictionaries available today.
Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis refers to a lung disease. It is also the longest word that you can find in any of the major English dictionaries available today.

5. floccinaucinihilipilification (29 letters) – the act of finding something worthless or without value. Finally, a nontechnical word on our list!

6. antidisestablishmentarianism (28 letters) – a political stance that opposes disestablishment. While many people assume antidisestablishmentarianism is the longest word in the English language, it’s not. In fact, it has 12 syllables only.

7. honorificabilitudinitatibus (27 letters) – with honorableness. This is an interesting word because it alternates consonants and vowels.

Why are Scientific Words So Long?

Maybe you have noticed that many of the longest words to date are scientific words. Why is that so? It’s because the scientific naming convention orbinomial nomenclature followed by the scientific community is derived from Latin. Latin words tend to have more vowels and, therefore, more letters. This naming convention is standardized. Meaning, every creature or organism will only have one scientific name, regardless of where they are in the world. Here are some examples:

1.Parastratiosphecomyia stratiosphecomyioides (42 letters) — a species of soldier fly native to Thailand.

2. Griseotyrannus aurantioatrocristatus (36 letters) — a species of bird. It is native to South-Central and South-Eastern Amazonia. It is known as the crown slaty flycatcher. 

3. Anaerobiospirillum succiniciproducens (37 letters) — a genus of spiral-shaped bacteria.

4. Gammaracanthuskytodermogammarus loricatobaicalensis (51 letters) — the longest proposed name for an organism — a tiny amphipod from Lake Baikal, the world’s deepest lake, in Russia.

In Short…

Ridiculously long words can make for interesting trivia, but, let’s face it, few will benefit from adding these monstrosities to their vocabulary. But if you’re looking for a lengthy word that could net you a world record, try oxyphenbutazone. It’s believed to be the highest-scoring word that can be played in a game of Scrabble (1,458 points on an outside edge).

Quick Longest Words in English Grammar Quiz

Longest Words in English Question #1

The most common letter in English words is “e.”
Correct! Wrong!

The answer is TRUE. Nearly 60 percent of English words have at least one “e” in them.

Longest Words in English Question #2

Which sentence is incorrect?
Correct! Wrong!

The answer is B. An average English word has 4.5 letters.

Longest Words in English Question #3

The least common letter in English words is “q.”
Correct! Wrong!

The answer is False. “Z” is the least common letter, present in 0.3 percent of English words. On the other hand, “q” is present in 0.5 percent of English words.

Longest Words in English Question #4

How many letters are in the word incomprehensibilities?
Correct! Wrong!

The answer is B. This plural form of incomprehensibility describes things or events that are difficult to understand.

Read More: Hyphen vs. Dash: Size Matters in Punctuation

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Linking Verbs: Complete List and How to Identify Them

A girl holding a rope where banners labeled as subject, adjective, and noun are attached. Additional text reads: Linking Verbs.

Main Linking Verbs Takeaways:

  • Here’s a Comprehensive Linking Verbs .pdf
  • Unlike most verbs, a linking verb is not an action word.
  • Instead, they connect the subject of a sentence with the rest of the sentence. They join a subject with its predicate noun or adjective.
  • There are 12 main and 23 total linking verbs in the English language.
  • These are always linking verbs: to seem, to become, and any form of the verbto be.

What is a Linking Verb in English Grammar?

According to traditional English grammar guides, a linking verb describes the subject by connecting it with the rest of a sentence. What’s more, they can be a single word or a group of words. Unlike other verbs, this type of verb does not convey action. Instead, they describe or identify a subject. Think of them as the glue that holds a sentence together.

There are several verbs that are always linking. These are:

  • to seem
  • to become
  • any form of the verb to be

Here are some examples of linking verbs used in sentences:

She seemed upset after the meeting.
The flowers smelled lovely.
He looked nervous when the teacher called on him during class.
The new yellow wallpaper in the dining room is stunning.
The twins were outside when the storm hit!
All of the children stayed calm during the fire drill.
A girl holding a rope where banners labeled as subject, adjective, and noun are attached. Additional text reads: Linking Verbs.
Linking verbs connect the subject with the rest of the sentence. They are not action words.

What is the Difference Between a Linking Verb and an Action Verb?

Typically, verbs are action words. However, linking verbs don’t express action. Instead of acting, they describe and connect. Specifically, this type of verb describes a state of being. Moreover, it connects the subject of a sentence with the subject complements. Subject complements are predicate nouns or predicate adjectives. “To be,” “to become,” and “to seem” are always linking verbs. Words that can function as a linking or an actionverb include smell, appear, look, and sound.

Linking Verb Definition: a word or expression that joins the subject of a sentence with its predicate.

How Many Linking Verbs are There?

There are 23 total linking verbs in the English language. This total is made up of about eight verbs that are always linking. Examples include become, seem, and any form of the verb to be like am, is, are, was, were, and has been. Additionally, this total includes about 15 more verbs that can also be action or helping verbs.

What are the 23 Linking Verbs?

The 23 linking verbs are:

  • am
  • is
  • was
  • are
  • were
  • being
  • been
  • be
  • have
  • has
  • had
  • do
  • does
  • did
  • shall
  • will
  • should
  • would
  • may
  • might
  • must
  • can
  • could

What is the Most Common Linking Verb?

There are 12 popular linking verbs (is, seems, be, am, becomes, been, are, feels, being, was, appears, were).

  • is
  • are
  • am
  • was
  • were
  • can be
  • could be
  • will be
  • would be
  • shall be
  • should be
  • may be
  • might be
  • must be
  • has been
  • have been
  • had been

But, you can transform some of them into other forms, such ashelping verbs.

What Is the Difference Between a Linking Verb and a Helping Verb?

To start with, both linking verbs and helping verbs are not action verbs. However, there’s a big difference between their functions in a sentence. Linking verbs express a state of being or a condition. They connect the subject to the rest of the sentence. On the other hand, helping verbs or auxiliary verbs help the main action verb in a sentence. Consider the following examples:

Linking verbs used in sentences

I am a copywriter.
The man became angry.
She was shocked when she heard the news.

Helping verbs used in sentence

They haveeaten lunch.
I believe the team will win.
The babies are sleeping.
Two panels. First panel has a triangle labeled as Subject and a circle labeled as Rest of The Sentence. A broken line meeting in between them shows they're connected. The line is labeled linking verb. Second panel shows a young man labeled as helping verb looking at his watch while assisting an elderly woman labeled as Main Verb. Additional text reads: Linking verbs and helping verbs have different functions, but some linking verbs are also helping verbs.
Linking verbs and helping verbs have different functions, but some linking verbs are also helping verbs.

Here is a list of common helping verbs. Bold verbs are also linking:

  • is
  • can
  • be
  • do
  • may
  • had
  • should
  • was
  • has
  • could
  • are
  • will
  • been
  • did
  • might
  • were
  • does
  • must
  • have
  • would
  • am
  • shall
  • being

To further complicate things, sometimes “is” can be linking, action verb, or a helping verb depending on the sentence’s context.

Benjiismy neighbor.
Mrs. McCormickismy teacher.
Kylieismy boss.

In these sentences, “is” describes a state of being. The action referenced here is “to be.”

Download:Here’s a Comprehensive .pdf of Linking Verbs

How Do You Identify a Linking Verb?

Here’s are three quick tricks for identifying a linking verb. First, replace your verb with is or are. If the sentence still makes sense, then your verb is most likely a linking verb. This is because is and are can act as linking verbs, but they are also effective substitutes for others. Similarly, another trick is to replace the verb with an equals sign (=). If the sentence still make sense, the verb is almost certainly a linking verb. The final trick is to decide whether the verb describes a state of being or an action. If the verb describes the subject’s state of being, it’s probably a linking verb. However, if the verb describes an action, it’s probably not.

1. Replace the Verb With Is or Are

Ericafeelstired.
Ericais tired.
Samanthaseemsstressed when she writes essays.
Samanthais stressed when she writes essays.
The skyappearscloudy.
The skyiscloudy.

In the examples above, you can replace each verb in question with “is” or “are.” The sentences still make sense. Therefore, it’s confirmed that the each verb we replaced islinking.

However, in this example, the meaning of the sentence changes when we substitute the verb in question:

During the summer, my laundry dries quickly.
During the summer, my laundry is quickly.

The verb dries is an action verb because itdescribes an action the subject takes and not a state of being.

2. Replace the Verb With =

One of my favorite short-hand tactics for taking notes in History class. Replacing the verb in question with an equal sign can also help you determine what kind of verb a word is.

Shayla is annoyed.
Shayla = annoyed

How does Shayla feel? She’s annoyed, and we understand that after reading each example.

3. You Decide: State of Being or Action?

Action verbs express something a person or thing does. Linking verbs do not convey action. However, some are also action verbs.
Dariasmellslike cake.

The example above describes the subject, Daria. What’s more, the word smells connects Daria to the rest of the sentence. The linking category of verbs describes the subject and connects it to the rest of the sentence. Therefore, smells is linking here.

Dariasmellsthe cake.

However, this example describes an action that the subject of the sentence took. In other words, this example describes something that Daria did.

What did Daria do? She smelled (the cake. We know you’re fresh as a daisy, Daria).

Therefore, smells is an action verb here.

Linking, Helping, Action, or All of the Above? Set a new High Quiz Score

Linking Verbs Question #1

A linking verb does not express action.
Correct! Wrong!

The answer is TRUE. Linking verbs connect the subject of a sentence with its predicate.

Linking Verb Question #2

Identify the linking verb. John seems happy whenever he plays the piano.
Correct! Wrong!

The answer is B. Seems connects the subject, John, with the rest of the sentence.

Verb "is" and "are" Question #3

“Is” and “Are” can serve as substitutes for linking verbs.
Correct! Wrong!

The answer is TRUE. You can identify a linking verb in a sentence by replacing it with “is” or “are.”

Linking Verb Question #4

Which of these is NOT a linking verb?
Correct! Wrong!

The answer is D. Work is an action verb.

Linking Verb Question #5

Which statement is FALSE?
Correct! Wrong!

The answer is A. Unlike linking verbs, helping verbs help the main verb in a sentence by extending its meaning.

Helping Verb Question #6

Which of these is NOT a helping verb?
Correct! Wrong!

The answer is B. Seems is a linking verb that connects the subject of a sentence with its predicate.

Read More: First, Second, and Third Person: Points of View in Writing