Linking Verbs

1. What is a linking verb?

We usually think of verbs as “action words.” But unlike most verbs, linking verbs do not express an action. Instead, they connect (link) the subject of a sentence to additional information about that subject.

Example:

Jeremy is a baseball player.

In this sentence, “is” is not an action that Jeremy completes. The linking verb “is” connects the subject (Jeremy) to information about Jeremy (the fact that he plays baseball).

The most common linking verbs are become, seem, and any form of the verb be (including am, is, are, was, were, etc.). These verbs are called true linking verbs because they are always linking verbs.

There are other verbs that are sometimes linking verbs and sometimes action verbs. These include grow, prove, look, smell, sound, taste, turn, feel, remain, stay, and appear.

How can we tell if one of these verbs is being used as a linking verb? Try this simple trick: Replace the verb with the correct form of “be” and see if the sentence still makes sense.

If the sentence does make sense, it’s a linking verb.
If the sentence does not make sense, it’s an action verb.

Example 1:

The brownies smell delicious. The brownies are delicious.

When we replace the verb “smell” with the linking verb “are,” the sentence still makes sense.
We know that in this sentence, “smell” is a linking verb.

Example 2:

I smell delicious brownies cooking in the oven. I am delicious brownies cooking in the oven.

When we replace the verb “smell” in this sentence with the linking verb “am,” the sentence definitely does not make sense.
We know that in this sentence, “smell” is an action verb and not a linking verb.

The purpose of linking verbs is to show the connection between a sentence’s subject and words that describe the subject.

2. Examples of Linking Verbs

Let’s take a look at a few more examples of common linking verbs.

Example 1:

Jennifer seems upset.

The true linking verb “seems” connects the subject (Jennifer) to additional information (the fact that she’s upset).

Example 2:

My dog becomes anxious during thunderstorms.

In this example, the true linking verb “becomes” is connecting the subject (my dog) to more information about the dog (thunderstorms make him anxious).

Example 3:

Pepperoni pizza tastes delicious.

If we replace “tastes” with “is,” the sentence still makes sense. (Pepperoni pizza is)
In this example, “tastes” is a linking verb connecting the subject (pepperoni pizza) to more information about the pizza (it’s delicious).

Example 4:

My sister looked beautiful in her wedding dress.

Try replacing “looked” with “is.” Does the sentence still make sense? Yes! My sister is beautiful in her wedding dress.
In this sentence, “looked” is a linking verb that connects the subject (my sister) to more information (she’s beautiful in her wedding dress).

Example 5:

The milk turned sour after I forgot to put it in the refrigerator.

If we replace “turned” with “is,” this sentence still makes sense. (The milk is)
“Turned” is a linking verb in this example because it is connecting the subject (milk) to additional information (it’s sour).

Example 6:

Bryan appears tired.

Does this sentence still make sense if we replace “appears” with “is?” Yes! Bryan is
In this sentence, “appears” connects the subject (Bryan) to more information about Bryan (he’s tired).

NOTE: You should know that our trick for identifying linking verbs does not always work with the word “appears.”

Here’s another example:

My lost glasses finally appeared on my dresser.

In this example, it does make sense if we replace the verb “appeared” with “are.” (The glasses are on my dresser.) However, “appears” is an action verb in this sentence.
For the verb “appears,” you have to think about what the verb is doing in the sentence to determine if it’s a linking verb or an action verb.
In our first example, appears was connecting the subject (Bryan) to additional information (he’s tired). In the second example, appeared is an action completed by the glasses.

Linking verbs are unique because they are verbs that don’t complete an action. Instead, they link a sentence’s subject with more information about the subject.