# Examples of verbs that don’t describe an action or state of being

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-verbs-that-don-t-describe-an-action-or-state-of-being/657536>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [May 5, 2013, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-verbs-that-don-t-describe-an-action-or-state-of-being/657536 "2013-05-05T12:16:03Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![JustinC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justinc/32/8083_2.png) [@JustinC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JustinC)\
**Post date:** [May 6, 2013, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-verbs-that-don-t-describe-an-action-or-state-of-being/657536/21 "2013-05-06T14:29:13Z")

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> [@Blake](#):
>
> How is the verb “to do” not describing an action? :dubious:

You’re right, my error. I think what the article is describing is linking verbs, which have a different definition to state of being or doing verbs.

_That’s what I’m thinking, anyway._

The ‘doing’ verb there is ‘to think’ and the linking verb is ‘to be’. Some websites will say ‘to be’ in that example is a ‘state of being’ verb, my guess is the author is stating that’s not the case with Merriam-Webster.

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