
Easy Examples of Linking Verbs
- Alan is a vampire.
- (Here, the subject is re-identified as a vampire.)
- Alan is thirsty.
- (Here, the subject is described as thirsty.)
What is the difference between linking and being verb?
Linking and helping verbs are not action verbs, and there is a significant difference in their usage in the English language. A linking verb is a verb that connects the subject of a sentence to another word, or the predicate, in the same sentence to describe or identify it. Linking verbs do not express an action, rather a state of being or a ...
What are some examples of linking words?
“But,” “because,” “and,” “so,” are examples of basic linking words (also called conjunctions), which we use frequently. “However,” “although,” “therefore,” “in spite of,” “nevertheless,” are examples…
Are linking verbs the same as helping verbs?
The main difference between linking and helping verbs is that linking verbs act as the main verb of a sentence whereas helping verbs do not act as the main verb. In addition, helping verbs are generally used with action verbs whereas linking verbs do not denote an action.
What is the difference between linking and helping verbs?
Main Differences Between Helping Verb and Linking Verb
- Both the helping and linking verb are used to connect with nouns, pronouns, and adjectives.
- Helping the verb does not consider the main verb in the sentences. ...
- Helping the verb generally follows the principle of the verb. ...
- Helping verbS put in the extra information in the sentences. ...

What are linking verbs examples sentences?
Common linking verbs include: be, am, are, is, was, were, seem, look, feel, sound, and taste. example: Austin and Ella were tired. The word were links the subject, Austin and Ella, to the predicate, tired.
What are 10 linking verbs?
Here is the list: Be, am, is, are, was, were, has been, any other form of the verb “be”, become, and seem. There are other verbs that can be both linking verbs and action verbs. All of the sense verbs; look, smell, touch, appear, sound, taste, and feel can be linking verbs.
What are the 20 linking verbs?
20 Linking VerbsAB4 that begin with "s"seem, stay, sound, smell2 that begin with "w"was, were2 that begin with "t"taste, turn5 other wordsis, remain, grow, look, feel2 more rows
What are the 5 basic linking verbs?
The most common linking verbs are forms of the verb "to be": am, is, are, was, were, being, been.
How do you identify a linking verb?
A verb is a linking verb if it's used to describe the subject. Linking verbs always have a subject complement afterward (except in rare cases like “I think therefore I am”), so look for a subject complement to determine if the sentence uses a linking verb.
What is the most common linking verb?
to beThe most common linking verb is to be and its forms am, is, are, was, were, be, being, and been. My cat is furry. The verb is links the main noun, cat, with a describing word, furry. Furry is an example of an adjective.
What words are linking words?
Linking/Transition WordsAdditional comments or ideasadditionally; also; moreover; furthermore; again; further; then; besides; too; similarly; correspondingly; indeed; regarding.Alternativeswhereas; conversely; in comparison; by contrast; another view is…; alternatively; although; otherwise; instead.10 more rows•Apr 1, 2022
How do you identify a linking verb and a helping verb?
To tell if the verb “to be” is a linking verb or a helping verb, see if there another verb in the sentence. If there is, then “to be” acts as a helping or auxiliary verb. If “to be” is alone and connects the subject to more information about it, then it is a linking verb.
How do you explain a linking verb to a child?
0:003:16Verbs Part 5: Linking Verbs | English For Kids | Mind Blooming - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipLinking verbs linking verbs link or connect the subject to the rest of the sentence. Which could beMoreLinking verbs linking verbs link or connect the subject to the rest of the sentence. Which could be a noun or an adjective. Linking verbs do not show action or help the main verb. Instead they
How do you write a linking sentence?
Linking Sentences in the IntroductionUse a surprising or startling statement to start the paragraph.Explain how that startling idea relates to the general topic of your paper.Introduce background or any necessary information about the issue or subject.Thesis.
How do you teach linking verbs?
3:194:35Award Winning Linking Verb Teaching Video | Parts of Speech - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThe children aren't doing anything r simply connects the subject the children to more informationMoreThe children aren't doing anything r simply connects the subject the children to more information they're six years old. So remember action verbs tell what the subject of the sentence.
What is another word for linking verb?
Similar words for linking verb: copula (noun) copulative (noun) other relevant words (noun) other synonyms.
What are the 15 helping verbs?
Helping VerbsThese verbs include: am, is, are, was, were, be, been, have, has, had, do, does, and did. ... These verbs, while they don't show action, help build the action for the main verbs of the writing, so they are essential to the operation.More items...•
How many linking verbs are there?
How Many Linking Verbs are There? There are 23 total linking verbs in the English language. This total is made up of about eight verbs that are always linking. Examples include become, seem, and any form of the verb to be like am, is, are, was, were, and has been.
Which are the linking words?
Conjunctions are linking words like and, or, but, then and because. The two main types of conjunctions are coordinating (words such as and and but) and subordinating. Subordinating conjunctions (e.g. because, if, when, in order to) link a subordinate clause to a main clause.
Is smell a linking verb?
The verbs appear, become, feel, get, grow, look, remain, seem, smell, sound, stay, taste, and turn can act either as action verbs or linking verbs.
What is a link verb?
Linking Verbs. Linking verbs are verbs that serve as a connection between a subject and further information about that subject. They do not show any action; rather, they “link” the subject with the rest of the sentence.
What are the sense verbs in English?
These include all the sense verbs, such as look, touch, smell, appear, feel, sound, and taste. There are also some outliers, such as turn, grow, remain, and prove.
What is a linking verb?
Linking Verbs are verbs that express a state of being. They are called "linking" verbs because they link the subject of the sentence to a word or phrase in the predicate that renames or describes the subject (tells us more about the subject's "state of being").
Is "looks" a linking verb?
In this sentence, "looks" is a linking verb.
Is "be" a verb?
All forms of the verb "be" are always linking verbs. Forms of be: be being been am is are was were. Other verbs can be linking verbs or action verbs: Examples: feel taste smell look grow. 1) If the verb is a form of be (be, being, been, am, is, are, was, were), you have a linking verb.
What are some examples of linking verbs?
Examples and Observations of Linking Verbs 1 The Grinch is grumpy. 2 In the movie How the Grinch Stole Christmas, the mayor of Whoville is Augustus Maywho. 3 In the book Horton Hears a Who!, Ned McDodd is the mayor of Whoville. 4 This lemonade tastes sour, but the cookies smell delicious. 5 Beth felt bad and wanted to go home. 6 Tom felt Beth's forehead and then he became upset. 7 Though she appeared calm, Naomi was extremely happy about her promotion. 8 "How often have I said to you that when you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth?" (Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, The Sign of Four, 1890) 9 "If your daily life seems poor, do not blame it; blame yourself. Tell yourself that you are not poet enough to call forth its riches." (Rainer Maria Rilke) 10 "If any word is improper at the end of a sentence, a linking verb is ." (William Safire, How Not to Write: The Essential Misrules of Grammar. W.W. Norton, 2005) 11 "I became a feminist as an alternative to becoming a masochist." (Sally Kempton)
What is a linking verb?
A linking verb is a traditional term for a type of verb (such as a form of be or seem) that joins the subject of a sentence to a word or phrase that tells something about the subject. For example, is functions as a linking verb in the sentence "The boss is unhappy.".
How to tell if a verb is a linking verb?
A good way to tell if one of these verbs is used as a linking verb is to substitute a form of be for the verb: If the sentence retains the same meaning, the verb is a linking verb. For example, look at the way feels, looks and tastes are used in the following sentences. Jane feels (is) sick. That color looks (is) awful on you.
What is a simple syntactic structure?
A simple syntactic structure--a linking verb with a noun and two adjectives--here makes an urgent point:
What is the word that follows a linking verb?
The word or phrase that follows the linking verb (in our example, unhappy ) is called a subject complement . The subject complement that follows a linking verb is usually an adjective (or adjective phrase ), a noun (or noun phrase) or a pronoun .
Is "looked" a linking verb?
Seemed doesn't work, so looked is not a link ing verb in the sentence above.
What is the most common linking verb?
The most common linking verb is the verb "to be" (in all of its forms, e.g., "am," "is," "are," "was," "were," "will be," "was being," "has been").
Why Should I Care about Linking Verbs?
Linking verbs do not cause serious problems for native English speakers , but here are two noteworthy issues.
What is the word that follows a linking verb to re-identify or describe the subject?
The word, phrase, or clause that follows a linking verb to re-identify or describe the subject is called the subject complement. In these next four examples, everything after the linking verb is the subject complement. Also note that a subject complement functions as either an adjective (when it describes) or a noun (when it re-identifies).
When to use an adjective after a linking verb?
Use an adjective (definitely not an adverb) after a linking verb to describe your subject.
When to use an adverb instead of an adjective?
Occasionally when speaking, you will hear someone (usually someone who is quite grammar savvy ) use an adverb instead of an adjective after a linking verb.
What is Smashing Grammar?
Written by the founder of Grammar Monster, "Smashing Grammar" includes a comprehensive A-Z glossary of essential grammar terms, a detailed punctuation section, and a chapter on easily confused words. Each entry kicks off with a simple explanation and some basic examples before giving real-life, entertaining examples.
Is "felt" a linking verb?
Remember that a linking verb does not express an action.) He felt sick when he felt the heat. (Here, the first "felt" is a linking verb, but the second "felt" isn't.) Here is a good way to think about linking verbs: A Clear Thought. A linking verb tells us what the subject is, not what the subject is doing.
What are linking verbs in English?
Linking verb definition: A linking verb is a main verb that links the subject of a sentence to its complement (a word or a group of words that identifies the subject and either renames it or modifies it).
When to use a pronoun after linking verbs?
Using a pronoun after linking verbs. When a subject complement renames the subject, it’s usually a noun, but it can also be a pronoun. When a subject complement is a pronoun, some people use a subjective pronoun, and some use an objective pronoun. It was me who called her.
What is the word or a group of words that comes after a linking verb and identifies?
The word or a group of words that comes after a linking verb and identifies is called a subject complement. Linking verbs explanation. Here’s a complete list of linking verbs in English.
Is a verb an action verb?
If a verb functions as an action verb, it is followed by a noun (object) or an adverb or a prepositional phrase. None of these things will refer to the subject; they will be different from the subject.
Can "to be" be a verb?
All the ‘to be’ verbs can function as both linking verbs and helping verbs.
Is a linking verb a noun?
A linking verb is either followed by a noun (predicate nominative) or an adjective (predicate adjective).
When to use linking verbs?
Linking verbs can be used in the progressive tenses to express a state of being.
What is a link verb?
Linking verbs “link” a subject to the predicate of the sentence. Linking verbs are not action verbs. Linking verbs express a state of being.
What is a predicate adjective?
A predicate adjective is adjective (or adjectives) that follows a linking verb that renames a subject. Sara seems. We are. In each of these examples, the words after the linking verb are adjectives and they describe the subject.
What does it mean when a link verb is nouns?
In each of these examples, the words after the linking verb are nouns and they rename or re-identify the subject. Linking verbs serve to help describe the subject. When linking verbs help to describe the subject when they are used with a predicate adjective.
What is linking verb in passive voice?
Here is how linking verbs interact with both of these constructions in English. Passive voice. Linking verbs can be used in the passive voice to express a state of being.
What is the difference between action and linking verbs?
The subject does not “do” the verb. An action verb is a verb that expresses an action that the subject is doing. Explain the difference between these two. Give examples.
How to determine if a verb is a linking verb or an action verb?
To determine if a verb is used as a linking verb or an action verb, decide if the subject is “doing” the action or if the action is expressing a state of being. For example: Verb: to smell. Action: He smelled the flowers. Linking: He smells bad. In the “action” sentence, the subject is “doing” the smelling.
Linking Verb Example: Sense Verbs
Certain sense verbs that indicate opinions, perceptions, or sensations are also used as linking verbs. These verbs are:
Linking Verb Examples: Verbs of progression
Some verbs showing growth, development, or progression also function as linking verbs. Some of such kinds of verbs are:

Examples and Observations of Linking Verbs
- The Grinch isgrumpy.
- In the movie How the Grinch Stole Christmas, the mayor of WhovilleisAugustus Maywho.
- In the book Horton Hears a Who!, Ned McDodd isthe mayor of Whoville.
- This lemonade tastes sour, but the cookies smelldelicious.
Two Tests For Linking Verbs
- "A good trick to determine if a verb is alinking verb is to substitute the word seemsfor the verb. If the sentence still makes sense, the verb is a linking verb. The food looked spoiled. The food seemedspoiled. Seemed works, so lookedis a linking verb in the sentence above. I looked at the dark clouds. I seemedat the dark clouds. Seemed doesn't work, so lookedis not a linking verb in …
Two Types of Linking Verbs
- "These copular verbs (also linking verbs) can be divided semantically into two types: (1) those like be that refer to a current state: appear, feel, remain, seem, sound; and (2) those that indicate a result of some kind: become, get (wet); go (bad); grow (old); turn (nasty). Be is the copula that most often takes adverbial complements that characterize or identify the subject: I felt cold; I felt …
Using Linking Verbs with Complements For Emphasis
- "Like the be pattern, linking verbs may take nouns as complements. Some of the linking verbs have a little more acute verbal action than the be equations: Everything became a mist. (C.S. Lewis, That Hideous Strength, 380) He became a castaway in broad daylight. (William Golding, Pincher Martin, 56) A simple syntacticstructure--a linking verb with a noun and two adjectives--h…