A linking verb helps us convey information about the subject in a clear and descriptive way. By understanding linking verbs, you can enhance your sentence structure and express ideas more precisely. Let’s explore it!
What is a linking verb?
A linking verb is a special type of verb that connects the subject of a sentence to additional information or characteristics about the subject. It helps us understand more about the subject by linking it to a word or phrase that describes or identifies it.
Instead of showing action like other verbs, a linking verb acts like an equal sign, showing a relationship between the subject and the complement (the word or phrase linked to the subject). It tells us what the subject is, feels, looks like, or becomes.
For example:
“She is a teacher.” Here, the linking verb “is” connects the subject “she” to the compliment “a teacher,” describing what she is.
“The flower smells lovely.” In this sentence, the linking verb “smells” connects the subject “the flower” to the compliment “lovely,” describing how it smells.
Importance of Linking Verbs in Sentences
Linking verbs is important in sentences because they help us provide more information about the subject. They connect the subject to a word or phrase that describes or identifies it, allowing us to give more details and paint a clearer picture.
Here are a few reasons why linking verbs is important:
1. Describing what something is: Linking verbs help us explain what someone or something is. For example, we can say, “She is a doctor” to describe her profession. The linking verb “is” connects the subject “she” to the compliment “a doctor” and tells us what she is.
2. Expressing states and conditions: Linking verbs help us express how someone or something feels or exists. For instance, we can say, “He feels tired” to describe his current state. The linking verb “feels” connects the subject “he” to the compliment “tired” and conveys his condition.
3. Identifying characteristics: Linking verbs assist us in identifying specific qualities or characteristics of the subject. For example, we can say, “The sky looks beautiful” to describe its appearance. The linking verb “looks” connects the subject “the sky” to the compliment “beautiful” and indicates its quality.
Examples of Linking Verbs
“She is intelligent.” (The linking verb “is” connects the subject “she” to the complement “intelligent,” describing her quality.)
“The flowers smell wonderful.” (The linking verb “smell” connects the subject “the flowers” to the complement “wonderful,” describing their scent.)
“I feel tired.” (The linking verb “feel” connects the subject “I” to the complement “tired,” expressing a state or condition.)
“The cake looks delicious.” (The linking verb “looks” connects the subject “the cake” to the complement “delicious,” describing its appearance.)
“They became friends.” (The linking verb “became” connects the subject “they” to the complement “friends,” indicating a change in their relationship.)
“The house seems cozy.” (The linking verb “seems” connects the subject “the house” to the complement “cozy,” expressing an observation or impression.)
“The boy appears confident.” (The linking verb “appears” connects the subject “the boy” to the complement “confident,” describing his demeanor.)
How to Identify Linking Verbs?
Identifying linking verbs is relatively simple once you know what to look for. Here’s a straightforward way to identify linking verbs in a sentence:
1. Look for the verb: Start by identifying the main verb in the sentence. It’s usually the word that shows the action or state of being.
2. Check for a link: Once you find the verb, ask yourself if it connects the subject to additional information about the subject. Does it describe, identify, or link the subject to something else?
3. Look for a complement: A complement is a word or phrase that follows the linking verb and provides more information about the subject. It can be a noun, pronoun, or adjective that describes or renames the subject.
Here are a few examples to help you understand:
Example 1: “She is a singer.”
The verb is “is.”
Ask yourself, does it connect the subject “she” to additional information? Yes, it connects “she” to “a singer.”
“A singer” is the complement, describing what she is.
Example 2: “The flowers smell sweet.”
The verb is “smell.”
Does it connect the subject “the flowers” to additional information? Yes, it connects “the flowers” to “sweet.”
“Sweet” is the complement, describing how the flowers smell.
Example 3: “I feel happy.”
The verb is “feel.”
Does it connect the subject “I” to additional information? Yes, it connects “I” to “happy.”
“Happy” is the complement, describing how I feel.
List of some Common Linking Verbs
- be (am, is, are, was, were, been, being)
- seem
- appear
- become
- feel
- look
- sound
- taste
- smell
- stay
- grow
- remain
- prove
- turn
- get
Difference between Linking Verbs from Action Verbs
Understanding the difference between linking verbs and action verbs is important to construct accurate sentences. Let’s break it down in simple terms:
Linking Verbs:
- Linking verbs connect the subject of a sentence to additional information or characteristics about the subject.
- They do not show action or movement.
- Linking verbs describe what the subject is, feels, looks like, or becomes.
- They help us understand more about the subject’s state or identity.
Example: “She is a teacher.” In this sentence, the linking verb “is” connects the subject “she” to the complement “a teacher,” describing what she is.
Action Verbs:
- Action verbs, as the name suggests, show action or movement performed by the subject.
- They describe what the subject is doing or how it is acting.
- Action verbs depict activities or actions that can be seen or physically done.
Example: “She teaches English.” In this sentence, the action verb “teaches” describes the action performed by the subject “she.”
Functions of Linking Verbs
Linking verbs serve several functions in a sentence. Let’s explore them in simple terms with examples to help you understand:
1. Linking Verbs and Subject-Complement Relationship:
Linking verbs connect the subject of a sentence to a complement, which provides more information about the subject. Complements can be nouns, pronouns, or adjectives.
Example 1: “She is a student.”
The linking verb “is” connects the subject “she” to the complement “a student.” It tells us what she is.
Example 2: “The cake tastes delicious.”
The linking verb “tastes” connects the subject “the cake” to the complement “delicious.” It describes the cake’s taste.
2. Subjective and Objective Complements:
Linking verbs can have subjective complements or objective complements.
Subjective complement: It renames or describes the subject.
Example 1: “He is a doctor.”
The linking verb “is” connects the subject “he” to the subjective complement “a doctor.” It renames the subject.
Example 2: “She became a famous singer.”
The linking verb “became” connects the subject “she” to the subjective complement “a famous singer.” It describes the subject.
Objective complement: It provides additional information about the object.
Example 1: “They elected her president.”
The linking verb “elected” connects the subject “they” to the object “her,” and “president” acts as the objective complement. It describes what she was elected as.
3. Predicate Nominatives and Predicate Adjectives:
Linking verbs can introduce predicate nominatives (PN) and predicate adjectives (PA).
Predicate nominative: It renames or identifies the subject.
Example 1: “She is a lawyer.”
The linking verb “is” connects the subject “she” to the predicate nominative “a lawyer.” It renames the subject.
Example 2: “He became the captain.”
The linking verb “became” connects the subject “he” to the predicate nominative “the captain.” It identifies the subject.
Predicate adjective: It describes or modifies the subject.
Example 1: “The flowers are beautiful.”
The linking verb “are” connects the subject “the flowers” to the predicate adjective “beautiful.” It describes the subject.
Example 2: “She seems happy.”
The linking verb “seems” connects the subject “she” to the predicate adjective “happy.” It describes the subject’s state.
Examples and sentence structures of linking verb
Here are examples of sentence structures that use linking verbs and demonstrate how they function in different contexts:
Linking Verbs with Nouns as Subject Complements:
Subject + Linking Verb + Noun
Example 1: “She is a doctor.”
In this sentence, “is” is the linking verb that connects the subject “she” to the noun complement “a doctor.”
Example 2: “The book became a bestseller.”
The linking verb “became” connects the subject “the book” to the noun complement “a bestseller.”
Linking Verbs with Adjectives as Subject Complements:
Subject + Linking Verb + Adjective
Example 1: “The coffee smells delicious.”
Here, “smells” is the linking verb that connects the subject “the coffee” to the adjective complement “delicious.”
Example 2: “He seems tired.”
The linking verb “seems” connects the subject “he” to the adjective complement “tired.”
Linking Verbs with Pronouns as Subject Complements:
Subject + Linking Verb + Pronoun
Example 1: “I am he.”
In this sentence, “am” is the linking verb that connects the subject pronoun “I” to the pronoun complement “he.”
Example 2: “They are us.”
The linking verb “are” connects the subject pronoun “they” to the pronoun complement “us.”
Linking Verbs with Time Expressions:
Subject + Linking Verb + Time Expression
Example 1: “It is midnight.”
Here, “is” is the linking verb that connects the subject pronoun “it” to the time expression complement “midnight.”
Example 2: “Today is Friday.”
The linking verb “is” connects the subject “today” to the time expression complement “Friday.”
Verb Tenses and Linking Verbs
Understanding verb tenses in relation to linking verbs is essential for constructing grammatically correct sentences. Here’s a simplified explanation:
Verb Tenses:
- Verb tenses indicate the time of an action or state described by the verb.
- There are three primary verb tenses: past, present, and future.
Linking Verbs and Verb Tenses:
- Linking verbs do not have a direct connection with verb tenses because they do not express action.
- Instead, linking verbs focus on the subject and its relationship with the complement.
Example 1: “She is a student.”
The linking verb “is” remains the same regardless of the verb tense used. For instance, it could be “She was a student” (past tense) or “She will be a student” (future tense).
Example 2: “They seem happy.”
Similarly, the linking verb “seem” does not change based on the verb tense. It can be “They seemed happy” (past tense) or “They will seem happy” (future tense).
In summary, when using linking verbs, the verb tense typically depends on the auxiliary verbs (e.g., “is,” “was,” “will be”) or the main verb in the sentence. The linking verb itself remains constant, focusing on the relationship between the subject and the complement.
Frequently Asked Questions on Linking Verb
Linking verbs connect the subject to additional information or characteristics, while action verbs express an action or movement performed by the subject.
Yes, some verbs can function as both linking verbs and action verbs, depending on their usage in a sentence. Context and the purpose of the verb determine its role.
Common linking verbs include “be” (am, is, are, was, were, been, being), “seem,” “appear,” “become,” “feel,” “look,” “sound,” “taste,” “smell,” “stay,” “grow,” “remain,” “prove,” “turn,” and “get.”
Also read:
Some online sources:
- What Is a Linking Verb? – YourDictionary
- What Is a Linking Verb? | Definition & Examples – Scribbr
- What Are Linking Verbs? List And Examples – Thesaurus
