Learning English grammar involves mastering different types of verbs, and one of the most important categories is linking verbs. These verbs help connect ideas in sentences and make communication clearer. If you’re a beginner in English, this guide will explain everything you need to know about linking verbs in simple terms. By the end of this article, you’ll understand their purpose, how to use them, and why they are essential.
In this article, you will learn what are intransitive verbs in English and how to use them in the sentence.
Linking verbs are verbs that do not show an action but instead link the subject of a sentence to more information about it. For example:
- She is happy.
- The soup smells delicious.
Here, “is” and “smells” are linking verbs because they connect the subject (she, soup) to a description (happy, delicious).
Linking verbs show the state of the subject in the sentence. They don’t act as action verbs like other verbs. Linking verbs explain how it is and what it looks like.
- I am thirteen years old.
- She seems sad today.
- This place looks like a mess!
- It looks clean
- I feel tired.
- I see something outside.
- It smells bad here.
Common Linking Verbs Examples
- be
- become
- seem
- feel
- act
- come
- get
- Keep
Why Are Linking Verbs Important in English?
Linking verbs help make sentences complete and meaningful. They describe what something is or how it feels rather than what it does. For example:
- Without a linking verb: The soup delicious.
- With a linking verb: The soup is delicious.
The linking verb “is” helps the sentence make sense.
How Linking Verbs Work in Sentences
Linking verbs act as a bridge between the subject and its description. They do not show actions like “run” or “eat.” Instead, they tell us more about the subject’s state or condition. For example:
- The sky looks clear.
- He seems tired.
Linking Verbs Vs Action Verbs: Key Differences
It’s easy to confuse linking verbs with action verbs.
- Action verbs show what someone is doing:
- She runs every morning.
- Linking verbs show what someone is or feels:
- She is a runner.
Remember, linking verbs describe, while action verbs do.
How to Use Linking Verb
Subject complements
Linking verbs have special predicates called subject complements that do not describe the action but instead describe the subject. Specifically, there are two teyp of subject complements, or two types of predicates, for linking verbs:
1. predicate nominative (predicate noun):
When the words describing the subject are nouns or nouns phrases.
- At college, she became an athlete and a scholar.
2. Predicate adjective
When the words describing the subject are adjectives or adjectives phrases.
- I was awake but still sleepy when the sun came up.
Rules for Linking Verbs
1. Dont use adverbs as the subject complement
Adverbs describe verbs in the same way that adjectives describe nouns. But subject complements describe the subject, which is a noun, so we use adjectives instead of adverbs.
- The runner is quick.
2. In subject-verb-agreement, linking verbs match the subject
When it comes to subject-verb agreement, the linking verb still matches the subject. This remains true even if the subject is singular and the predicate nominative is plural or vice versa.
- The weirdest animal is giraffes.
- Giraffes are the weirdest animal.
How to Identify Linking Verbs
Simple Tips for Beginners to Spot Linking Verbs
- Replace the verb with “=”. If the sentence still makes sense, it’s a linking verb.
- Example: The cake is delicious → The cake = delicious (Makes sense, so “is” is a linking verb.)
- Check if the verb shows action. If not, it might be a linking verb.
- Example: He feels happy. (“Feels” is not an action but a state, so it’s a linking verb.)
Linking Verbs in Regular and Irregular Forms
Some linking verbs change form based on tense:
- Present: She is a student.
- Past: She was a student.
Practice identifying them in sentences to build confidence.
Go is a linking verb when it means become.
- The dog goes wild if she stays indoors too long.
- The fruit went bad because it was old.
Fall is a linking verb when talking about illness or used with the word silent.
- I’m afraid they have fallen ill.
- At once, the room fell silent.
Prove is a linking verb when talking about illness or used with the word silent.
- [Linking verb] The theory proved true after experimentation.
- [action verb] The trial proved his innoncence.
Act is a linking verb when discussing someone’s behaviour or demeanor but an action verb when discussing dramatic acting as in movies or plays.
- [linking verb] Why do you act suspicious when I mention him?
- [action verb] He acts in the local theater group on weekends.
Come, grow, get, and turn are linking verbs when used to show a change.
- My belt came loose so I made a new hole.
- He grew tired of the mind games.
- We get bored waiting for the after-credits scenes.
- His hair turned gray, but he’s not any wiser.
Remain and stay are linking verbs when used in the sense of continue to be like this, but they are action verbs when they describe not moving.
- [linking verb] They remained angry the entire car ride.
- [action verb] They remained in the auditorium after everyone left.
Keep is also a linking verb when it means “continue to be like this,” but it is an action verb in its more common meaning of possession or ownership.
- [linking verb] Keep calm and carry on.
- [action verb] She keeps a glass of water by her bed.
Linking Verbs List: Common Linking Verbs Examples
Permanent linking verbs
- be
- become
- seem
Sensory linking verbs
- appear
- feel
- look
- smell
- sound
- taste
Conditional Linking Verbs
- act
- constitute
- come
- equal
- fall
- get
- go
- grow
- keep
- prove
- remain
- stay
- turn
Common Mistakes with Linking Verbs
Misusing Linking Verbs in Sentences
Beginners often confuse linking verbs with action verbs or forget to include them. For example:
- Incorrect: The dog playful.
- Correct: The dog is playful.
How to Avoid Confusion with Action Verbs
Always check if the verb is describing a state or connecting the subject to more information. If it is, it’s a linking verb.
Practice Exercises: Mastering Linking Verbs
Fill-in-the-Blanks with Linking Verbs
- The sky _____ blue.
- He _____ a great friend.
- This soup _____ amazing.
Answers: is, is, tastes.
Sentence Correction Activities
Correct these sentences:
- The flowers smell sweet.
- She seem excited about the event.
Correction: She seems excited about the event.
Conclusion: Mastering Linking Verbs for Better English
Linking verbs may seem tricky at first, but they are easy to understand with practice. They connect subjects to descriptions or identities, making sentences complete and meaningful. By learning to recognize and use linking verbs, you can make your English more accurate and clear. Keep practicing, and you’ll master linking verbs in no time!
Frequently Asked Questions
What are linking verbs?
Linking verbs are verbs that describe the subject rather than the action like other verbs. With linking verbs like be, become, or seem, the action in the sentence is merely existing.
How do you use linking verbs?
Linking verbs use subject complements, which give details about the sentence’s subject. Subject complements can either be adjectives (predicate adjectives) or nouns (predicate nominatives/predicate nouns).
How do you identify linking verbs?
The fastest way to identify linking verbs is to look for the subject complement, but this can get confusing. If you are having trouble, try to determine whether the verb is describing an action (action verb) or the state of the subject (linking verb).
I hope this article helped you learn linking verbs and their use in English.
You can also see articles on grammar, vocabulary, and learning tips to improve your English language skills.
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