Linking Verbs: Definition, Form, Usage and Examples

In our reference on linking verbs, we will explore what they are and how to use them in sentences. Linking verbs are verbs that connect the subject of a sentence to a subject complement, such as a noun or adjective. This means they don’t show action like regular verbs do but instead link the subject to more information about it. In the reference, we will also distinguish linking verbs from action verbs. Let’s get started!

Table of Contents

What Are Linking Verbs?

Linking verbs connect the subject of a sentence with more information about the subject. They do not show action but instead link to a subject complement.

Definition and Function

Linking verbs are also known as copular verbs. They link the subject of a sentence to a subject complement. This can be a noun, pronoun, or adjective that provides more information about the subject.

For example, in the sentence “She is a teacher,” the verb “is” connects the subject “She” to “a teacher,” helping to describe her role.

Common linking verbs include “am,” “is,” “are,” “was,” “were,” “seem,” and “become.” Unlike action verbs, linking verbs do not indicate what the subject is doing but rather what the subject is or what state it is in.

Forms of Linking Verbs

Linking verbs can take different forms to show relationships between the subject and the rest of the sentence. These forms include primary linking verbs, verbs that relate to the senses, and those that can function as both linking and action verbs.

Primary Linking Verbs

The most common linking verb is the verb “to be.” It appears in various forms, including am, is, are, was, were, be, being, and been. These forms help show the state of the subject.

Example Sentences:

She is a teacher.
They were happy.

We also have verbs like “become” and “seem” that act solely as linking verbs. They connect the subject to a descriptor or identifier.

Example Sentences:

He became a doctor.
She seems tired.

Linking Verbs of the Senses

Several verbs relate to the senses and function as linking verbs. These include verbs like look, smell, taste, sound, and feel. These verbs link the subject with an adjective that describes the subject’s state.

Example Sentences:

The cake smells delicious.
She feels cold.

These verbs provide direct sensory information about the subject, making our sentences more descriptive and immediate.

Telling Apart Linking and Action Verbs

Some verbs can function as both linking and action verbs depending on their use in a sentence. A key to identifying the function is to see whether the verb describes an action or a state.

Example Sentences as Action Verbs:

He smells the flower (action).
She looks at the sky (action).

Example Sentences as Linking Verbs:

The flower smells sweet (state).
She looks tired (state).

By examining the context, we can determine how the verb is functioning in the sentence.

Usage in Sentences

Linking verbs connect the subject of a sentence to additional information. They help describe the subject’s state or identity.

Subject Complement

A subject complement can be a noun, pronoun, or adjective that renames or describes the subject. For instance, in the sentence “Tom is a teacher,” the word “teacher” is a noun that renames the subject “Tom.” In another example, “She seems tired,” the adjective “tired” describes the subject “She.” Both nouns and adjectives can function as subject complements to provide more information about the subject.

Patterns and Examples

Linking verbs often follow specific patterns in sentences. Consider the verb “is” in “The sky is blue.” Here, “blue” is a subject complement describing “the sky.” Another example is “They became friends,” where “friends” is the noun complement referring back to “They.”

It’s important to note that some verbs can act both as linking and action verbs. For instance, “grow” can be a linking verb in “She grows tired” or an action verb in “She grows tomatoes.”

Linking Verbs vs. Auxiliary Verbs

Linking verbs and auxiliary verbs serve different purposes in sentences.

Linking verbs connect the subject to a subject complement. They describe or rename the subject. Common linking verbs include “is,” “are,” “was,” “were,” “seem,” and “be.” For example, in “She is a teacher,” “is” links “she” to “teacher.”

Auxiliary verbs, also known as helper verbs, assist the main verb. They convey different tenses, moods, or voices. Common auxiliary verbs include “have,” “has,” “had,” “do,” “does,” “did,” and “will.” For example, in “She is running,” “is” helps the main verb “running” to show the present continuous tense.

Let’s compare them:

Linking Verbs	Auxiliary Verbs
Connect subject to complement	Help the main verb
Describe or rename the subject	Show tense, mood, or voice
Examples: “is,” “seem”	Examples: “have,” “do”

Examples:

Linking Verb: “He feels tired.” (“feels” links “he” to “tired”)
Auxiliary Verb: “She has finished her work.” (“has” assists main verb “finished”)

Practical Exercises

Exercise 1: Complete the Sentences with the Correct Linking Verb

Choose the correct linking verb from the options provided to complete each sentence: is, feels, appears, smell, are, seem, become, taste.

The book _______ interesting from the first chapter.
His explanations _______ always complicated.
The sky _______ cloudy today, it might rain.
This fruit _______ too ripe, I can’t eat it.
She _______ unhappy today, maybe something happened at school.
The flowers in the garden _______ wonderful.
All the answers on the quiz _______ correct.
The story _______ to be true, but it’s actually fiction.
These grapes _______ sour.
He _______ a teacher before he retired.

Answers:

appears – The book appears interesting from the first chapter.
are – His explanations are always complicated.
seems – The sky seems cloudy today, it might rain.
tastes – This fruit tastes too ripe, I can’t eat it.
seems – She seems unhappy today, maybe something happened at school.
smell – The flowers in the garden smell wonderful.
are – All the answers on the quiz are correct.
seems – The story seems to be true, but it’s actually fiction.
taste – These grapes taste sour.
was – He was a teacher before he retired.

Exercise 2: Linking Verb or Action Verb?

Decide if the verb in each sentence is a linking verb (L) or an action verb (A). Then, correct the sentence if the usage of the verb is incorrect based on its context.

He tastes the soup. (___)
She looks beautiful today. (___)
The results seem incorrect. (___)
The cat feels the soft blanket. (___)
They are at the park. (___)
The lemonade tastes too sweet. (___)
She smells the roses. (___)
The book appears old and worn. (___)
He grows impatient with the delay. (___)
The children become tired after the hike. (___)

Answers:

He tastes the soup. (A) – Action verb (correct as is, he is performing the action of tasting)
She looks beautiful today. (L) – Linking verb (correct as is, describes her appearance)
The results seem incorrect. (L) – Linking verb (correct as is, describes the results)
The cat feels the soft blanket. (A) – Action verb (correct as is, the cat is performing the action of feeling)
They are at the park. (L) – Linking verb (correct as is, states their location)
The lemonade tastes too sweet. (L) – Linking verb (correct as is, describes the lemonade)
She smells the roses. (A) – Action verb (correct as is, she is performing the action of smelling)
The book appears old and worn. (L) – Linking verb (correct as is, describes the book)
He grows impatient with the delay. (L) – Linking verb (correct as is, describes his state of being)
The children become tired after the hike. (L) – Linking verb (correct as is, describes their state after the hike)