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In the following examples, the linking verb is bold and the predicate nominative or predicate adjective is underlined.
A linking verb implies a state of being or condition for the subject, not an action. It links the subject to an equivalent word in the sentence.
The test indicates that Sarah is a genius.
The subject (SARAH) is linked to a noun that is, in a sense, standing in for her (GENIUS).
Toni Morrison was the first African-American woman to win the Nobel Prize in Literature.
The subject (TONI MORRISON) is linked to a noun that is of equal weight in terms of description. (WOMAN).
A linking verb may connect the subject with a noun:
Roads were a slushy mess on Monday along parts of the East Coast.
ROADS is linked to MESS, which is equal in terms of description.
Smoking appeared to be the cause of the blaze.
SMOKING is linked to CAUSE, which restates the subject.
It was a sad day.
IT is linked to a noun DAY, which restates the subject.
A linking verb may connect the subject with a pronoun:
The book could be his.
The subject (BOOK) is linked with the pronoun indicating its state of being (HIS).
The robbery victim pointed and yelled, "That is he."
THAT is linked with HE, which is equal in terms of description.
A linking verb may connect the subject with an adjective:
The writer was proud of her efforts.
The subject (WRITER) is linked with her state of being (PROUD).
Before the show, Malik seemed nervous.
MALIK is linked with NERVOUS, which is equal in terms of description.
Linking verbs are also called "state of being verbs": is, am, are, was, were, be, being, been
These 3 categories are ALWAYS going to be linking verbs.
to be (is, am, are, was, were, has been, have been, had been, is being, are being, was being, will have been, etc.)
to become (become, becomes, became, has become, have become, had become, will become, will have become, etc.)
to seem (seemed, seeming, seems, has seemed, have seemed, had seemed, is seeming, are seeming, was seeming, were seeming, will seem)
Sometimes linking verbs related to the five senses:
look, sound, smell, feel, taste
"
The soup tastes bad."
"Tastes" is a linking verb here because the soup isn't actually "tasting" anything.
"Gary tastes every flavor before he finally orders one."
In this sentence, "tastes" is an action verb because Gary is actually tasting something.
Verbs that can be Linking or Action
Verbs that can be Linking or Action
Linking or Action?
This song sounds familiar.
I will sound the alarm
Common verbs that can exist as either action verbs or linking verbs include:
Grow
Look
Prove
Remain
Smell
Sound
Taste
Turn
Stay
Get
Appear
Feel
Since these verbs can function as either action verbs or linking verbs, how do you make the distinction?
A common test is to replace the verb you suspect in the sentence with an appropriate form of a true linking verb. If it makes sense, it is linking. If it isn't logical with the substitution, it's an action verb.
For example, take these two sentences:
"The flowers looked wilted."
"She looked for wildflowers"
Substitute the verb "looked" with the linking verb "are" in both sentences. In the first sentence, it makes sense: "The flowers are wilted."
In the second sentence, however, it doesn't make sense: "She are for wildflowers."
"The spaghetti sauce tasted delicious."
"She tasted the delicious spaghetti sauce."
The sentence: "The spaghett is sauce is delicious" works, but "She is the delicious spaghetti sauce" is illogical. The verb in the first sentence is copular, and in the second sentence it is not.
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