The main difference between action verbs and linking verbs lies in the role they play in a sentence:

Action Verbs:

• Action verbs describe an action or activity.
• They indicate something the subject is doing.
• Examples include: run, jump, sing, write, eat, etc.
• Action verbs can take direct objects (e.g. “I eat an apple”).

Linking Verbs:

• Linking verbs connect the subject to a subject complement (noun, pronoun or adjective).
• They describe a state of being or a condition.
• Examples include: be, become, appear, seem, feel, smell, taste, sound, look, etc.
• Linking verbs do not take direct objects.
• They link the subject to a noun, pronoun or adjective that renames or describes the subject (e.g. “The flower is beautiful”).

In summary:

• Action verbs describe actions or activities.
• Linking verbs connect the subject to a subject complement that renames or describes the subject.
• Action verbs can take direct objects, while linking verbs cannot.

This distinction is important for constructing grammatically correct sentences and understanding the roles different verbs play.