Name: Johnnatams Mancebo
Teacher's Name: Prof. Adriana Adrian
Year: 2025
Subject: Fundamentals of English Grammar
Topic: Linking Verbs

What Are Linking Verbs?

Linking verbs are verbs that do not express action. Instead, they serve to connect the subject of a sentence to a subject complement, which can be a noun, pronoun, or adjective that renames or describes the subject. These verbs indicate a state of being or condition rather than an activity.

Characteristics of Linking Verbs

1. They link the subject to more information about the subject.

2. They are not action verbs.

3. They are often followed by adjectives or nouns.

4. They describe a state, not an action.

Common Linking Verbs

Forms of the Verb "To Be":

• am

• is

• are

• was

• were

• be

• being

• been

Examples:

• He is tired.

• We are students.

Other Linking Verbs:

• become

• seem

• appear

• remain

• grow

• turn

• stay

Examples:

• She became nervous.

• They seem ready.

Sensory Verbs (when used to describe a state):

• look

• sound

• feel

• taste

• smell

Examples:

• The soup smells good.

• He looks upset.

Note: These verbs can sometimes be action verbs depending on context.

Linking Verbs vs. Action Verbs

Some verbs can function as either linking or action verbs.

• Linking: The blanket feels soft.

• Action: She feels the blanket.

In the first sentence, "feels" describes the state of the blanket. In the second, "feels" describes an action.

Identifying Linking Verbs

To test if a verb is linking:

1. Try replacing it with a form of "to be" (is, are, was, etc.).

2. If the sentence still makes sense, it's likely a linking verb.

Example:

• The flowers smell nice.

• Replace "smell" with "are": The flowers are nice.

• Since it still makes sense, "smell" is a linking verb here.

Sentence Examples

Sentence: She is a teacher.
Linking Verb: is
Subject Complement: a teacher
Complement Type: noun

Sentence: The cake smells delicious.
Linking Verb: smells
Subject Complement: delicious
Complement Type: adjective

Sentence: They became friends.
Linking Verb: became
Subject Complement: friends
Complement Type: noun

Sentence: He looks tired.
Linking Verb: looks
Subject Complement: tired
Complement Type: adjective

Creating accurate and descriptive sentences.

• Mastering English grammar structure.

• Differentiating between states and actions in writing and speech.

Formally referred to as copulas or copulae, linking verbs are an essential component of any language, particularly English, where the most prevalent verb, “be,” functions as a linking verb.

Linking verbs are verbs that do not show action. Instead, they connect the subject of a sentence to additional information about it, usually a noun or adjective. Common linking verbs include "be," "seem," "become," and "feel." For example: She is happy. – "is" links the subject "she" to the adjective "happy." They help describe a state or condition rather than an action.

For instance: She became a teacher.

The word 'became' works as a linking verb to the subject which is 'teacher'.