What Are Linking Verbs?
Linking verbs (sometimes called “copular verbs”) do not show an action. Instead, they connect (or link) the subject of a sentence to more information—usually an adjective, noun, or pronoun that describes or renames the subject. The word(s) after a linking verb are known as “subject complements.”
Example:
She is happy.
Subject = She
Linking Verb = is
Subject Complement (adjective) = happy
Here, “is” links the subject (she) to her state or condition (happy).
Common Linking Verbs
Below is a table of frequently used linking verbs, along with brief notes and example sentences. Some of these verbs can only be linking verbs (like forms of “be,” “become,” “seem”), while others can act as either linking verbs or action verbs depending on context (like “smell,” “taste,” “feel,” etc.).
| Linking Verb | Forms or Related Verbs | Notes | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Be | am, is, are, was, were, being, been | The most common linking verb. “Be” has many forms, depending on tense and subject. | They are teachers. |
| Become | become, becomes, became | Always linking when it means “to grow or change into a new state.” | He became a doctor. |
| Seem | seem, seems, seemed | Always linking when it means “to appear as if.” | It seems impossible. |
| Appear | appear, appears, appeared | Linking when it means “to look or to seem.” Could show action if it means “to come into view” (context matters). | You appear tired. (linking) |
| Feel | feel, feels, felt | Linking when describing a state or emotion. Action when describing physical touch. | I feel happy today. (linking) I felt the fabric. (action) |
| Look | look, looks, looked | Linking when describing appearance. Action when describing the act of looking at something. | You look great today. (linking) She looked at the map. (action) |
| Sound | sound, sounds, sounded | Linking when referring to how something “seems” based on hearing. | That idea sounds interesting. |
| Smell | smell, smells, smelled | Linking when describing a state or quality based on scent. Action when someone is actively sniffing. | The roses smell wonderful. (linking) He smelled the roses. (action) |
| Taste | taste, tastes, tasted | Linking when describing flavor. Action when someone is sampling food or drink. | This soup tastes delicious. (linking) She tasted the soup. (action) |
| Remain | remain, remains, remained | Always linking when it means “to continue to be in a certain state.” | They remain hopeful. |
| Stay | stay, stays, stayed | Linking when it means “to continue being or to keep in a certain state.” | Please stay calm. |
| Grow | grow, grows, grew, growing, grown | Usually linking when describing a change over time in state or condition. (It can also be action if you literally grow crops, but that’s a bit different usage.) | He grew tired after the long day. |
Why Group These Verbs Together?
We group these verbs together because:
- They Link: Their primary function is to connect the subject to a subject complement (e.g., an adjective describing the subject, or a noun renaming the subject).
- Not True Action: Unlike action verbs (“run,” “eat,” “jump”), linking verbs do not express something the subject does. They express a state of being or condition.
- Grammar Rules: After a linking verb, we usually use an adjective (not an adverb) to describe the subject. For example:
- Correct: The food smells good. (adjective describing “food”)
- Incorrect: The food smells well. (“well” is an adverb, which would imply the food is doing the smelling skillfully.)
Essentially, linking verbs “link” the subject to information about itself, rather than showing an external action. That is why we group them together in English grammar.
Example of Linking vs. Action:
Linking: She feels happy.
- (The verb “feels” connects “she” to “happy.”)
Action: She feels the fabric.
- (Here, “feels” is something she does with her sense of touch.)
Key Takeaways
- Linking verbs are used to describe a subject’s state or condition, or to rename the subject.
- Many linking verbs can be action verbs in different contexts (e.g., “feel,” “taste,” “look,” “smell”). The deciding factor is how the verb is used—does it link a subject to a describing word (linking), or does it show an action the subject is performing (action)?
- “Be” and its forms are the most common linking verbs in English.
By learning these core linking verbs and identifying how they function, you’ll be able to construct clearer, grammatically correct sentences that express a subject’s state of being or condition.
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