Linking Verbs
The word, phrase, or clause which follows a linking verb to re-identify or describe the subject is called the subject complement.
A List of Linking Verbs
The most common linking verb is the verb to be. Other common ones relate to the five senses (to look, to feel, to smell, to sound, and to taste). Here is a list of common linking verbs:
to be
(In all its forms, e.g., am, is, are, was, were, will be, was being, has been.)
to appear
to be
to become
to feel
to look
to seem
to smell
to sound
to taste
Examples of Linking Verbs Used to Re-identify the Subject
Here are some examples of linking verbs (shaded) re-identifying the subject:
Alan is a beast.
His father was the headmaster.
This project is a disaster.
Examples of Linking Verbs Modifying (Describing) the Subject
Here are some examples of linking verbs (shaded) modifying the subject:
Alan seems drunk.
The soup smells delicious.
His voice sounds flat.
Linking Verbs Are Not Action Verbs
The verbs to be, to become, and to seem are always linking verbs. They always link the subject to the predicate to re-identify or describe it. However, the other verbs in the list above are not always linking verbs. Remember, linking verbs do not express an action. However, some of the verbs in our list can express an action. For example:
He smells the soup.
(In this example, smells is not a linking verb. This time, it is an action verb. It has taken a direct object. He is doing something to the soup.)
Tony smells awful.
(In this example, smells is a linking verb. It links the subject Tony to the adjective awful to modify Tony.)
Here is another example:
The inspector will feel the fabric.
(In this example, will feel is not a linking verb. This time, it is an action verb. It has taken a direct object. The inspector will do something to the fabric.)
The fabric will feel soft.
(In this example, will feel is a linking verb. It links the subject The fabric to the adjective soft.)
Linking Verbs in the Passive Voice and Progressive Tense
The verb to be is used to form the passive voice and the progressive tenses. For example:
He was painted.
(This is the passive voice.)
He is complaining.
(This is the present progressive tense.)
As past participles (here, painted) and present participles (here, complaining) are classified as adjectives, the constructions above are no different from these:
He was happy.
He is happy.
Therefore, the "to be" part of a passive construction (here, was painted) and a verb tense (here, is complaining) can be considered a linking verb.