Linking Verbs: Rules, Examples, and Usage Guide

by

Linking verbs are a crucial part of English grammar, connecting the subject of a sentence to a word or phrase that describes or identifies it. Mastering linking verbs is essential for constructing clear, descriptive sentences and avoiding common grammatical errors.

This comprehensive guide explores the definition, types, rules, and usage of linking verbs, providing numerous examples and practice exercises to help you improve your understanding and proficiency. Whether you’re a beginner or an advanced learner, this article will equip you with the knowledge and skills to use linking verbs confidently and correctly.

Table of Contents

Definition of Linking Verbs

A linking verb, also known as a copula, connects the subject of a sentence to a noun or adjective that describes or identifies the subject. Unlike action verbs, which show action, linking verbs express a state of being or a condition. They “link” the subject to additional information about it. The words or phrases that follow a linking verb are called the predicate nominative (a noun or pronoun that renames the subject) or the predicate adjective (an adjective that describes the subject).

In essence, linking verbs act as an equal sign (=) between the subject and the information that follows. For example, in the sentence “The sky is blue,” the verb “is” links the subject “sky” to the adjective “blue,” which describes the sky.

Understanding this function is key to correctly identifying and using linking verbs.

Structural Breakdown

The basic structure of a sentence using a linking verb is as follows:

Subject + Linking Verb + Predicate Nominative/Predicate Adjective

Let’s break this down further:

  • Subject: The noun or pronoun that the sentence is about.
  • Linking Verb: The verb that connects the subject to its description.
  • Predicate Nominative: A noun or pronoun that renames or identifies the subject. For example, “He is a doctor.” (Doctor renames “He”).
  • Predicate Adjective: An adjective that describes the subject. For example, “The flower is beautiful.” (Beautiful describes “flower”).

Understanding this structure allows you to quickly identify linking verbs within a sentence. By recognizing the subject and the word or phrase that describes it, you can easily pinpoint the linking verb that connects them.

Types of Linking Verbs

Linking verbs can be categorized into three main types:

Forms of the Verb “Be”

The most common linking verbs are forms of the verb “be”: is, am, are, was, were, be, being, been. These verbs are frequently used to express a state of being or existence.

Sense Verbs

Sense verbs describe how something is perceived through the senses. Common sense verbs that can act as linking verbs include: look, feel, smell, taste, sound. Whether they are linking verbs or action verbs depends on their usage. If they describe the subject, they are linking verbs. If they describe an action performed by the subject, they are action verbs.

Other Linking Verbs

Several other verbs can function as linking verbs, depending on the context. These include: become, seem, appear, grow, remain, stay, turn, prove. These verbs often indicate a change in state or condition or maintain a state of being.

Examples of Linking Verbs

To solidify your understanding, let’s look at examples of each type of linking verb.

Examples with “Be” Verbs

The following table provides examples of sentences using different forms of the verb “be” as linking verbs. Notice how each verb connects the subject to a word or phrase that describes it.

Sentence Subject Linking Verb Predicate Nominative/Adjective
I am a student. I am a student (predicate nominative)
You are kind. You are kind (predicate adjective)
He is tall. He is tall (predicate adjective)
She was happy. She was happy (predicate adjective)
They were tired. They were tired (predicate adjective)
The food is delicious. The food is delicious (predicate adjective)
My dog is playful. My dog is playful (predicate adjective)
The movie was interesting. The movie was interesting (predicate adjective)
The flowers are beautiful. The flowers are beautiful (predicate adjective)
The music is soothing. The music is soothing (predicate adjective)
The test was difficult. The test was difficult (predicate adjective)
The book is informative. The book is informative (predicate adjective)
The weather is pleasant. The weather is pleasant (predicate adjective)
The coffee is strong. The coffee is strong (predicate adjective)
The car is fast. The car is fast (predicate adjective)
The house is large. The house is large (predicate adjective)
The game was exciting. The game was exciting (predicate adjective)
The project is complex. The project is complex (predicate adjective)
The lesson is clear. The lesson is clear (predicate adjective)
The answer is correct. The answer is correct (predicate adjective)
He is a teacher. He is a teacher (predicate nominative)
She is an artist. She is an artist (predicate nominative)
They are friends. They are friends (predicate nominative)
It is a mystery. It is a mystery (predicate nominative)
This is my car. This is my car (predicate nominative)
Related Learning Post  Beyond "Good Morning": Diverse Ways to Greet the Day

As you can see, the “be” verbs consistently link the subject to descriptive information, providing valuable context about the subject’s state or identity.

Examples with Sense Verbs

Sense verbs can function as either linking verbs or action verbs. When they describe a quality of the subject, they are linking verbs.

When they describe an action, they are action verbs. The following table illustrates the use of sense verbs as linking verbs.

Sentence Subject Linking Verb Predicate Adjective
The soup tastes delicious. The soup tastes delicious
The fabric feels soft. The fabric feels soft
The music sounds beautiful. The music sounds beautiful
The flower smells fragrant. The flower smells fragrant
He looks tired. He looks tired
The cake tastes sweet. The cake tastes sweet
The sand feels warm. The sand feels warm
The thunder sounds loud. The thunder sounds loud
The perfume smells lovely. The perfume smells lovely
She looks happy. She looks happy
The coffee tastes bitter. The coffee tastes bitter
The pillow feels fluffy. The pillow feels fluffy
The rain sounds calming. The rain sounds calming
The air smells fresh. The air smells fresh
The sky looks clear. The sky looks clear
This tea tastes floral. This tea tastes floral
The blanket feels cozy. The blanket feels cozy
The wind sounds eerie. The wind sounds eerie
The spices smell exotic. The spices smell exotic
The situation looks grim. The situation looks grim

In each of these examples, the sense verb links the subject to a predicate adjective that describes a quality perceived through the senses.

Examples with Other Linking Verbs

The following table presents examples of sentences using other linking verbs. These verbs often indicate a change in state or condition.

Sentence Subject Linking Verb Predicate Nominative/Adjective
He became a doctor. He became a doctor (predicate nominative)
She seems happy. She seems happy (predicate adjective)
It appears difficult. It appears difficult (predicate adjective)
The child grew taller. The child grew taller (predicate adjective)
They remained silent. They remained silent (predicate adjective)
The food stayed warm. The food stayed warm (predicate adjective)
The leaves turned brown. The leaves turned brown (predicate adjective)
The rumor proved false. The rumor proved false (predicate adjective)
He became angry. He became angry (predicate adjective)
She seems confident. She seems confident (predicate adjective)
It appears complicated. It appears complicated (predicate adjective)
The plant grew strong. The plant grew strong (predicate adjective)
They remained hopeful. They remained hopeful (predicate adjective)
The milk stayed fresh. The milk stayed fresh (predicate adjective)
The sky turned gray. The sky turned gray (predicate adjective)
The story proved true. The story proved true (predicate adjective)
He became a leader. He became a leader (predicate nominative)
She seems a natural. She seems a natural (predicate nominative)
It appears a success. It appears a success (predicate nominative)
The situation grew tense. The situation grew tense (predicate adjective)
The water remained still. The water remained still (predicate adjective)
The soup stayed hot. The soup stayed hot (predicate adjective)
The weather turned cold. The weather turned cold (predicate adjective)
The alibi proved solid. The alibi proved solid (predicate adjective)
He became silent. He became silent (predicate adjective)

These linking verbs connect the subject to information that describes a state, condition, or identity, providing a comprehensive view of how they function within sentences.

Usage Rules for Linking Verbs

Using linking verbs correctly involves understanding their function and following specific grammatical rules.

Predicate Nominatives

A predicate nominative is a noun or pronoun that follows a linking verb and renames or identifies the subject. It must agree in number with the subject. For example:

  • Incorrect: They is my friends.
  • Correct: They are my friends.

In this case, “friends” is the predicate nominative, and it must agree in number with the plural subject “they.”

Predicate Adjectives

A predicate adjective is an adjective that follows a linking verb and describes the subject. Unlike predicate nominatives, predicate adjectives do not need to agree in number with the subject, as adjectives do not change based on number.

  • The sky is blue. (“blue” describes “sky”)
  • The flowers are beautiful. (“beautiful” describes “flowers”)

Subject-Verb Agreement

Linking verbs must agree in number and person with their subjects. This is a fundamental rule of grammar.

Related Learning Post  Mastering English: A Guide to Everyday Idioms

For example:

  • Incorrect: I is happy.
  • Correct: I am happy.
  • Incorrect: She are tired.
  • Correct: She is tired.

Ensure that the form of the linking verb matches the subject’s number (singular or plural) and person (first, second, or third).

Distinguishing Linking Verbs from Action Verbs

Some verbs can function as both linking verbs and action verbs. The key to distinguishing them is to determine whether the verb expresses action or connects the subject to a description.

Consider the following examples:

  • Linking Verb: The soup tastes delicious. (Tastes describes the soup)
  • Action Verb: He tastes the soup carefully. (Tastes describes an action he performs)
  • Linking Verb: She looks tired. (Looks describes her)
  • Action Verb: She looks for her keys. (Looks describes an action she performs)

If you can replace the verb with a form of “be” (is, am, are, was, were) and the sentence still makes sense, it is likely a linking verb.

Common Mistakes with Linking Verbs

Several common mistakes can occur when using linking verbs. Being aware of these errors can help you avoid them.

Incorrect Correct Explanation
I is happy. I am happy. Subject-verb agreement: “I” requires “am.”
They is my friends. They are my friends. Subject-verb agreement: “They” requires “are.”
The soup tastes badly. The soup tastes bad. Use an adjective (“bad”) to describe the subject, not an adverb (“badly”)
He feels goodly. He feels good. Use an adjective (“good”) to describe the subject’s feeling, not an adverb (“goodly”).
She looks nicely. She looks nice. Use an adjective (“nice”) to describe the subject’s appearance, not an adverb (“nicely”).
The flower smells sweetly. The flower smells sweet. Use an adjective (“sweet”) to describe the flower’s scent, not an adverb (“sweetly”).
It seems that he is be tired. It seems that he is tired. Avoid unnecessary use of “be” after linking verbs like “seems.”
He appears be sad. He appears sad. Avoid unnecessary use of “be” after linking verbs like “appears.”
They are seem happy. They seem happy. Do not combine “are” with “seem” to form a linking verb.
She is become a doctor. She has become a doctor. / She became a doctor. Use the correct tense and form of “become.”

By correcting these common errors, you can significantly improve the clarity and accuracy of your writing.

Practice Exercises

To reinforce your understanding of linking verbs, complete the following exercises.

Exercise 1: Identifying Linking Verbs

Identify the linking verb in each of the following sentences. If a sentence does not contain a linking verb, write “None.”

Sentence Linking Verb
1. The coffee is hot.
2. She sings beautifully.
3. The dog seems friendly.
4. They are running a race.
5. The cake tastes delicious.
6. He became a teacher.
7. The fabric feels soft.
8. We are going to the store.
9. The music sounds calming.
10. She looks tired.

Answers:

Sentence Linking Verb
1. The coffee is hot. is
2. She sings beautifully. None
3. The dog seems friendly. seems
4. They are running a race. None
5. The cake tastes delicious. tastes
6. He became a teacher. became
7. The fabric feels soft. feels
8. We are going to the store. None
9. The music sounds calming. sounds
10. She looks tired. looks

Exercise 2: Choosing the Correct Linking Verb

Choose the correct linking verb to complete each sentence.

Sentence Options Correct Answer
1. The sky ______ blue. (a) is (b) are (c) am
2. I ______ a student. (a) is (b) are (c) am
3. They ______ happy. (a) is (b) are (c) am
4. She ______ tired yesterday. (a) is (b) was (c) were
5. The flowers ______ beautiful. (a) is (b) are (c) am
6. He ______ a doctor now. (a) became (b) becomes (c) is becoming
7. The soup ______ delicious. (a) taste (b) tastes (c) tasting
8. The music ______ calming. (a) sound (b) sounds (c) sounding
9. It ______ to be raining. (a) appear (b) appears (c) appearing
10. The fabric ______ soft. (a) feel (b) feels (c) feeling

Answers:

Sentence Options Correct Answer
1. The sky ______ blue. (a) is (b) are (c) am (a) is
2. I ______ a student. (a) is (b) are (c) am (c) am
3. They ______ happy. (a) is (b) are (c) am (b) are
4. She ______ tired yesterday. (a) is (b) was (c) were (b) was
5. The flowers ______ beautiful. (a) is (b) are (c) am (b) are
6. He ______ a doctor now. (a) became (b) becomes (c) is becoming (c) is becoming
7. The soup ______ delicious. (a) taste (b) tastes (c) tasting (b) tastes
8. The music ______ calming. (a) sound (b) sounds (c) sounding (b) sounds
9. It ______ to be raining. (a) appear (b) appears (c) appearing (b) appears
10. The fabric ______ soft. (a) feel (b) feels (c) feeling (b) feels
Related Learning Post  Mastering Sociology: Essential Vocabulary Terms

Exercise 3: Using Predicate Adjectives and Nominatives

Complete each sentence with an appropriate predicate adjective or predicate nominative.

Sentence Type Your Answer
1. The weather is ______. Predicate Adjective
2. She is a ______. Predicate Nominative
3. The movie was ______. Predicate Adjective
4. He became a ______. Predicate Nominative
5. The soup tastes ______. Predicate Adjective
6. They are ______. Predicate Nominative
7. The music sounds ______. Predicate Adjective
8. It appears ______. Predicate Adjective
9. The fabric feels ______. Predicate Adjective
10. I am ______. Predicate Nominative

Possible Answers:

Sentence Type Possible Answer
1. The weather is ______. Predicate Adjective pleasant
2. She is a ______. Predicate Nominative teacher
3. The movie was ______. Predicate Adjective exciting
4. He became a ______. Predicate Nominative leader
5. The soup tastes ______. Predicate Adjective savory
6. They are ______. Predicate Nominative friends
7. The music sounds ______. Predicate Adjective soothing
8. It appears ______. Predicate Adjective difficult
9. The fabric feels ______. Predicate Adjective smooth
10. I am ______. Predicate Nominative a student

Advanced Topics

For advanced learners, understanding how linking verbs interact with other grammatical elements can further enhance your proficiency.

Linking Verbs with Gerunds

A gerund is a verb form ending in “-ing” that functions as a noun. Linking verbs can connect a subject to a gerund phrase acting as a predicate nominative.

For example:

  • His favorite activity is reading books.
  • Her job is teaching children.

In these sentences, “reading books” and “teaching children” are gerund phrases that rename the subjects “activity” and “job,” respectively.

Linking Verbs with Infinitives

An infinitive is the base form of a verb preceded by “to.” Linking verbs can also connect a subject to an infinitive phrase acting as a predicate nominative. For example:

  • Her ambition is to become a doctor.
  • His goal is to travel the world.

Here, “to become a doctor” and “to travel the world” are infinitive phrases that rename the subjects “ambition” and “goal,” respectively.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Here are some frequently asked questions about linking verbs:

  1. What is the difference between a linking verb and an action verb?

    An action verb shows an action performed by the subject, while a linking verb connects the subject to a word or phrase that describes or identifies it. If the verb can be replaced with a form of “be” and the sentence still makes sense, it is likely a linking verb.

  2. How can I identify a linking verb in a sentence?

    Look for verbs that express a state of being or condition rather than action. Common linking verbs include forms of “be” (is, am, are, was, were) and sense verbs (look, feel, smell, taste, sound) when they describe the subject. Also, consider verbs like become, seem, appear, grow, remain, stay, turn, and prove.

  3. What is a predicate nominative?

    A predicate nominative is a noun or pronoun that follows a linking verb and renames or identifies the subject. It must agree in number with the subject. For example, “He is a doctor.” In this sentence, “doctor” is the predicate nominative.

  4. What is a predicate adjective?

    A predicate adjective is an adjective that follows a linking verb and describes the subject. For example, “The sky is blue.” In this sentence, “blue” is the predicate adjective.

  5. Do linking verbs need to agree with the subject in number and person?

    Yes, linking verbs must agree in number and person with their subjects. This is a fundamental rule of subject-verb agreement in English grammar. For example, “I am happy,” not “I is happy.”

  6. Can a verb be both a linking verb and an action verb?

    Yes
    , some verbs, particularly sense verbs like “look,” “feel,” “smell,” “taste,” and “sound,” can function as both linking verbs and action verbs, depending on the context. If the verb describes the subject, it is a linking verb. If it describes an action performed by the subject, it is an action verb.

  7. What are some common mistakes to avoid when using linking verbs?

    Common mistakes include incorrect subject-verb agreement (e.g., “I is happy” instead of “I am happy”), using adverbs instead of adjectives after linking verbs (e.g., “The soup tastes badly” instead of “The soup tastes bad”), and using unnecessary forms of “be” after certain linking verbs (e.g., “He seems to be tired” instead of “He seems tired”).

Conclusion

Mastering linking verbs is essential for clear and effective communication in English. By understanding their definition, types, and usage rules, you can construct grammatically correct and descriptive sentences.

Regular practice and attention to common mistakes will further enhance your proficiency. Whether you are writing essays, reports, or everyday correspondence, a solid grasp of linking verbs will enable you to express your ideas with greater precision and confidence.

Keep practicing, and you’ll find that using linking verbs becomes second nature.