Section outline

  • Linking Verbs are verbs that simply link the subject & it's complement.

    Examples:

    1. She is a teacher.
    2. You look tired.

    Here, the verbs 'is' & 'look' simply connect the subject and it's complement.

    Features:

    1. Linking verbs don't show any direct or indirect action.
    2. They are the main verbs in the sentence.
    3. They are are also called "state of being verbs" as they describe 'what the subject is or the subject's being' rather than 'what the subject is doing'. 

    * To know more about subject complement, click here.

    • Linking verbs consists of:

      1.  All forms of ‘be’ verbs.

      Examples:

      1. The sky is blue.
      2. The show was excellent.

      The 'be' verbs, act as either linking or auxiliary verbs, depends upon their use in the sentence.

      Example:

      Tom is playing with the ball.

      Here, 'is' is an auxiliary verb, as it is helping the action verb 'play'.

      2. Sensory linking verbs.

      They link the subject to its complement by using physical senses like smell, taste, look, sound, feel, etc.

      Examples:

      1. The food smells good.
      2. I feel happy.
      3. This juice tastes sour.
      3. Verbs describing state of being. 

      These are verbs like 'seem appear, become, etc.’ which describe how the subject is perceived rather than stating an actual fact or truth.

      Examples:

      1. They seem so happy together.
      2. Jane became impatient.
      3. She appears sad.