Linking Verbs: Definition and Examples

Linking Verbs: Definition and Examples

English Grammar

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Have you ever wondered about those special verbs that connect the subject of a sentence to more information about that subject?

These are called linking verbs, and they play a crucial role in how we communicate in English.

In this post, I’ll teach you what linking verbs are, how they work, and why they’re so important in our language.

What Are Linking Verbs?

Unlike action verbs that show what a subject does, linking verbs connect the subject to additional information about the subject. Think of them as a bridge that links the subject to a description or state of being. Instead of showing an action, they help describe or identify the subject.

The most common linking verb is “to be” in its various forms: am, is, are, was, were, will be. But there are many other linking verbs that can serve this purpose. These verbs don’t describe an action, but instead describe a condition or state.

Common Linking Verbs

While “to be” is the most familiar linking verb, there are several others you might encounter:

Sense Verbs: These verbs relate to how we perceive things

    • Look: The cake looks delicious.
    • Smell: The flowers smell sweet.
    • Sound: The music sounds beautiful.
    • Feel: The blanket feels soft.
    • Taste: The soup tastes salty.

Appearance Verbs:

    • Appear: She appears tired.
    • Seem: He seems happy.
    • Become: They became doctors.

Condition Verbs:

    • Remain: The room remained quiet.
    • Stay: She stayed calm.
    • Grow: The child grew tall.

How Linking Verbs Work

Let’s break down how linking verbs function in a sentence. After a linking verb, you’ll typically find a noun, pronoun, or adjective that describes the subject. This part of the sentence is called a subject complement.

Examples:

“The sky is blue.”

    • “Is” is the linking verb
    • “Blue” describes the sky
    • The verb connects the subject (sky) to its description (blue)

“She seems worried.”

    • “Seems” is the linking verb
    • “Worried” describes her condition
    • The verb links the subject (she) to her emotional state

“The children became excited.”

    • “Became” is the linking verb
    • “Excited” describes the children’s state
    • The verb shows a change in condition

Linking Verbs vs. Action Verbs

To help you understand the difference, let’s compare linking verbs with action verbs:

Action Verb Example:

  • “The dog runs quickly.” (The verb shows an action the dog is doing)

Linking Verb Example:

  • “The dog looks tired.” (The verb describes the dog’s condition)

In the first sentence, “runs” is an action verb because the dog is performing an action. In the second sentence, “looks” is a linking verb because it connects the subject to a description of its state.

Why Linking Verbs Matter

Linking verbs are essential because they help us:

  • Describe things more precisely
  • Express states of being
  • Show conditions and changes
  • Create more descriptive and nuanced sentences

Without linking verbs, our language would be much less expressive. They allow us to paint a more vivid picture with words by connecting subjects to their qualities, conditions, and characteristics.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Many people get confused about linking verbs. Here are some tips to help you use them correctly:

Don’t Confuse Linking Verbs with Action Verbs

    • Incorrect: “The cake is smelling bad.” (Action verb usage)
    • Correct: “The cake smells bad.” (Linking verb usage)

Use Adjectives, Not Adverbs, After Linking Verbs

    • Incorrect: “She feels badly about the mistake.”
    • Correct: “She feels bad about the mistake.”

Recognize Different Forms of Linking Verbs Some verbs can be both action and linking verbs depending on the context. Pay attention to how they’re used in a sentence.

Practice Identifying Linking Verbs

Try identifying linking verbs in these sentences:

  • The flowers look beautiful.
  • He became a successful entrepreneur.
  • The weather seems perfect today.
  • The room stayed quiet.

In each of these sentences, the bolded words are linking verbs:

  • look
  • became
  • seems
  • stayed

Conclusion

Linking verbs might seem small, but they play a big role in how we communicate.

They help us describe, identify, and express the qualities of subjects in our sentences.

By understanding how linking verbs work, you can make your writing and speaking more precise and engaging.

Remember, linking verbs are like bridges – they connect subjects to their descriptions, helping us paint a more vivid picture with words.

So the next time you’re writing or speaking, pay attention to these helpful little words that do so much heavy lifting in our language!

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