Linking Verb Examples are an essential part of English grammar, acting as a bridge between the subject and additional information about that subject. Unlike action verbs, linking verbs don’t show an action but instead describe or identify the subject’s state or condition. Understanding how linking verbs work is crucial for constructing clear, effective sentences.
In this article, we will explore 80 linking verb examples, explain their function, and provide insights into how they can enhance your writing. We’ll also look at how to use them in various tenses, how to identify them, and answer common questions.
What Are Linking Verbs?
A linking verb connects the subject of a sentence to a subject complement, such as an adjective or a noun, which further describes or identifies the subject. Unlike action verbs, linking verbs do not express an action but instead describe a state or condition of the subject. These verbs are essential for linking the subject to additional information that completes the meaning of a sentence.
For example, in the sentence “She is a teacher,” the verb “is” links the subject “She” to the noun “teacher,” which tells us more about her identity.
Common linking verbs include “am,” “is,” “are,” “was,” and “were,” as well as verbs that describe sensory experiences or indicate a change of state.
Linking Verb Examples
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“She is a teacher.”
“is” connects the subject “She” with the subject complement “teacher.” -
“The cookies were delicious.”
“were” links “cookies” to “delicious,” describing their state.
Types of Linking Verbs
Linking verbs come in various types, depending on what kind of connection they establish between the subject and the subject complement. Here are the key types of linking verbs:
1. Forms of “To Be”
The forms of “to be” are some of the most common linking verbs. These include am, is, are, was, were, be, being, and been. They connect the subject to a state or condition.
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Examples:
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“She is happy.”
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“They were excited about the event.”
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2. Sensory Verbs
Sensory verbs describe sensory experiences, including how something looks, sounds, smells, tastes, or feels. These verbs link the subject to a sensory description.
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Examples:
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“The soup smells wonderful.”
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“The flowers look beautiful.”
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“The music sounds amazing.”
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3. Verbs of Becoming
These linking verbs indicate a change in state or condition. They include verbs like become, grow, turn, appear, and remain.
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Examples:
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“He became a doctor.”
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“The sky turned dark.”
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80+ Linking Verb Examples
Here’s a comprehensive list of 70+ linking verb examples to help you better understand their use in sentences:
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Am
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I am excited for the weekend.
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Is
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She is the best singer in the choir.
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Are
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They are happy to be here.
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Was
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He was tired after the long run.
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Were
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The books were on the table.
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Be
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She will be a doctor one day.
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Been
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I have been to Paris twice.
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Being
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The decision is still being discussed.
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Appear
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He appears confident during his presentation.
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Become
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She became an artist after years of training.
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Seem
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The movie seems interesting.
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Grow
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He grew tired of waiting.
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Turn
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The leaves turned brown in autumn.
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Feel
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I feel excited about the upcoming event.
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Look
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The sky looks clear today.
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Sound
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The music sounds beautiful.
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Smell
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The cake smells delicious.
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Taste
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The soup tastes salty.
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Stay
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She stayed calm during the storm.
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Remain
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He remained silent throughout the meeting.
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Seem
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She seems very friendly.
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Appear
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They appeared nervous during the interview.
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Get
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He got upset when the team lost.
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Keep
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The situation keeps getting worse.
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Run
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The car ran smoothly after the repair.
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Go
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She goes to school every day.
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Come
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He came tired after the hike.
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Exist
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Many animals exist only in the wild.
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Fall
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The leaves fell off the tree.
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Lie
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She lay exhausted after the workout.
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Happen
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The accident happened late last night.
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Becoming
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He is becoming more responsible.
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Look
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You look great in that dress.
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Smell
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The flowers smell wonderful.
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Taste
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The pizza tastes amazing.
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Sound
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His voice sounded strong.
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Seem
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It seems like it’s going to rain.
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Appear
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She appeared calm but was really nervous.
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Feel
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The water feels cold.
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Become
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He became very successful in his career.
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Remain
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The problem remains unresolved.
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Stay
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We stayed home because it was raining.
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Is
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The cake is ready to be served.
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Am
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I am very proud of my achievements.
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Are
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You are so kind to everyone.
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Was
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She was upset when she heard the news.
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Were
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The students were excited about the field trip.
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Is
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The dog is very friendly.
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Was
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He was a great mentor to me.
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Were
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The children were playing in the yard.
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Be
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She will be here by noon.
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Been
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I have been working all day.
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Being
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The proposal is being reviewed by the committee.
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Become
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She became a professional chef.
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Get
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The situation got worse after the news spread.
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Grow
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The plants grew taller every week.
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Turn
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The weather turned cold suddenly.
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Look
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He looked tired after the long day.
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Sound
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The music sounded like it was from the 80s.
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Feel
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I feel better now.
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Taste
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The dessert tastes rich and creamy.
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Remain
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He remained calm despite the chaos.
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Stay
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They stayed at the hotel by the beach.
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Appear
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She appeared anxious before the presentation.
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Become
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He became a great leader over time.
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Seem
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It seems like everyone is happy today.
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Is
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She is the CEO of the company.
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Am
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I am sorry for the misunderstanding.
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Are
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They are planning a surprise party for her.
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Were
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They were excited for the concert.
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Have Been
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I have been working here for five years.
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Is
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The movie is very exciting.
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Has Been
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He has been sick all week.
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Was
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It was a great experience.
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Has
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She has been busy with work.
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Feel
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It feels like it’s going to snow.
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Smell
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The pizza smells amazing.
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Sound
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The baby sounded upset.
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Look
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You look wonderful tonight.
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Appear
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The weather appears to be changing.
Linking Verb Examples in Sentences
To truly understand how linking verbs work, it’s important to see them in context. Here are some examples of linking verbs used in sentences:
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She is a teacher.
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“is” links “She” to the subject complement “teacher.”
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They are excited about the trip.
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“are” connects “They” to “excited,” describing their emotional state.
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He was tired after the game.
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“was” links “He” to the adjective “tired.”
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The cookies were delicious.
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“were” links “cookies” to “delicious,” describing their quality.
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I am happy today.
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“am” connects “I” to “happy,” describing my state of mind.
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The sky is blue.
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“is” links “sky” to “blue,” describing its appearance.
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It has been a great day.
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“has been” links “It” to the subject complement “great day.”
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The cake smells wonderful.
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“smells” connects “cake” to “wonderful,” describing its scent.
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The flowers look beautiful.
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“look” links “flowers” to “beautiful,” describing their appearance.
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The soup tastes salty.
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“tastes” links “soup” to “salty,” describing its flavor.
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Rules for Using Linking Verbs
To use linking verbs correctly, it’s important to follow some basic rules:
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Link Subject to Complement: A linking verb connects the subject to a subject complement (either an adjective or noun) that provides more information.
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No Action: Linking verbs do not indicate action; instead, they describe a state of being or condition.
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Use Forms of “To Be”: The forms of “to be” (am, is, are, was, were) are common linking verbs.
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Sensory Descriptions: Sensory verbs like “look,” “smell,” and “feel” act as linking verbs when describing sensory experiences.
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Indicate Change of State: Verbs like “become,” “grow,” and “turn” show a change in the subject’s state.
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Follow with Adjectives or Nouns: Linking verbs are usually followed by adjectives or nouns that provide more information about the subject.
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No Direct Objects: Linking verbs do not take direct objects, unlike action verbs.
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Can Be Replaced by “=”: If you can replace the verb with “=” and the sentence still makes sense, it’s likely a linking verb.
Functions of Linking Verbs
Linking verbs serve various functions that help enhance sentence structure, clarity, and detail. They are used to describe the subject, connect it to sensory experiences, and even indicate a change of state or condition. Here are the most common functions of linking verbs:
1. Describe State of Being
Linking verbs are used to describe the subject’s current state or condition. They provide important context, helping to elaborate on what the subject is like, whether it’s in terms of emotion, physical state, or appearance.
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Example: “She is tired.”
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The verb “is” links “She” to “tired,” describing her current emotional or physical state.
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2. Connect Subject to Adjective
Linking verbs can connect the subject to an adjective, which describes or modifies the subject, offering more detail about its appearance, feelings, or characteristics.
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Example: “The flowers look beautiful.”
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The verb “look” links “flowers” to the adjective “beautiful,” describing their appearance.
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3. Connect Subject to Noun
Linking verbs are also used to connect the subject to a noun that identifies or renames it. These nouns typically serve as subject complements that give more information about the subject’s identity or role.
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Example: “He became a doctor.”
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The verb “became” links “He” to the noun “doctor,” identifying his profession.
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4. Indicate Sensory Experience
Sensory verbs such as “look,” “smell,” “taste,” “feel,” and “sound” act as linking verbs when they describe sensory experiences related to the subject. These verbs help to create vivid imagery in the reader’s mind.
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Example: “The soup smells delicious.”
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The verb “smells” links “soup” to “delicious,” describing the sensory experience of its scent.
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5. Show Change of State
Some linking verbs indicate a change in the subject’s state or condition. These verbs often show transitions, such as from one state to another or from one appearance to another.
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Example: “He grew tired after the long day.”
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The verb “grew” links “He” to “tired,” indicating a gradual change in his state.
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6. Provide Subject Complement
Linking verbs are essential for providing subject complements, which give additional information about the subject. These complements can be adjectives, nouns, or other descriptive phrases that make the sentence more complete.
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Example: “The room feels cold.”
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The verb “feels” links “room” to the adjective “cold,” providing more detail about the subject.
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7. Convey Existence
Linking verbs like “is” and “are” can also convey the existence or presence of the subject, especially in sentences that emphasize what is or isn’t present.
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Example: “There are many people here.”
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The verb “are” links “many people” to the concept of presence in the space.
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8. Describe Appearance
Linking verbs are frequently used to describe how something looks or its outward appearance. Sensory verbs like “look,” “seem,” “appear,” and “taste” can be used to describe a subject’s external qualities.
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Example: “She seems happy today.”
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The verb “seems” links “She” to “happy,” describing her emotional state or appearance.
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How to Use Linking Verbs in Sentences
Using linking verbs effectively can enhance the clarity and depth of your writing. Here’s how to incorporate linking verbs into your sentences for better communication:
1. Link Subject to Adjective
Use linking verbs to connect the subject of the sentence to an adjective that provides more detail about it.
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Example: “The sky is blue.”
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Linking verb: “is”
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Adjective: “blue”
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2. Link Subject to Noun
You can use linking verbs to connect the subject to a noun, helping to rename or identify the subject.
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Example: “He became a leader.”
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Linking verb: “became”
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Noun: “leader”
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3. Link Subject to Sensory Description
Sensory verbs act as linking verbs when describing how something looks, feels, tastes, smells, or sounds. This helps paint a vivid picture for the reader.
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Example: “The pizza smells amazing.”
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Linking verb: “smells”
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Sensory description: “amazing”
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4. Indicate Change of State or Condition
Use verbs like “become,” “turn,” “grow,” and “remain” to show a transition or change in the subject’s state or condition.
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Example: “She became a professional athlete.”
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Linking verb: “became”
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Noun: “professional athlete”
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5. Linking Verbs with Adjectives to Express Feelings
When describing emotions, linking verbs can help express how someone feels.
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Example: “He feels sad.”
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Linking verb: “feels”
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Adjective: “sad”
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6. Use Linking Verbs with Different Tenses
Linking verbs can be used in different tenses to match the context of the sentence. You can use them in the past, present, or future, depending on the time frame you’re referring to.
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Example (Past tense): “She was tired after the workout.”
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Linking verb: “was”
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Adjective: “tired”
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Example (Future tense): “They will be happy to see you.”
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Linking verb: “will be”
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Adjective: “happy”
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Common Mistakes with Linking Verbs
Even experienced writers sometimes make mistakes with linking verbs. Here are some common errors and how to avoid them:
1. Using Linking Verbs with Direct Objects
Linking verbs should never be followed by a direct object. If you find that the verb is followed by a direct object, it is likely an action verb, not a linking verb.
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Incorrect: “She became the teacher.”
(“The teacher” is a direct object, so this would be a case of action, not linking.) -
Correct: “She became a teacher.”
(“A teacher” is a subject complement, not a direct object.)
2. Confusing Linking Verbs with Action Verbs
Some verbs can be both linking and action verbs depending on how they are used in a sentence. It’s essential to understand the context.
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Example:
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“He ran a marathon.” (Action verb, not linking)
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“He ran tired after the marathon.” (Linking verb, describing his state)
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3. Incorrectly Replacing Linking Verbs with Action Verbs
Don’t replace linking verbs with action verbs. Linking verbs don’t show action, but instead connect the subject to the complement.
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Incorrect: “She looked the cake.”
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Correct: “She looked at the cake.” (Here, “looked at” is an action verb.)
How Linking Verbs Work in Different Tenses
Linking verbs can appear in various tenses to match the context of the sentence. Understanding how they function in different tenses can help you form grammatically correct sentences in any situation. Here are some examples of linking verbs in different tenses:
1. Present Tense
Linking verbs are commonly used in the present tense to describe the current state or condition of the subject.
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Example: “He is happy.”
(Here, “is” links the subject “He” to the adjective “happy.”)
2. Past Tense
Linking verbs can also be used in the past tense to describe the subject’s state in the past.
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Example: “She was tired after the workout.”
(In this sentence, “was” connects “She” to the adjective “tired.”)
3. Future Tense
In the future tense, linking verbs can be used to describe a predicted or future state of the subject.
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Example: “They will be excited about the trip.”
(Here, “will be” links “They” to the adjective “excited.”)
4. Perfect Tenses
Linking verbs can appear in perfect tenses to describe a state or condition that has been ongoing or completed.
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Example: “She has been very helpful.”
(The phrase “has been” indicates an ongoing state that started in the past and continues to the present.)
Conclusion
Linking verbs are a powerful tool in English grammar, helping to connect the subject of a sentence to additional information such as adjectives, nouns, or sensory details. They are essential for creating well-structured, descriptive sentences. Understanding how to use linking verbs in various contexts and tenses will improve your sentence clarity and writing style.
By practicing 80 linking verb examples and following the tips provided, you’ll be able to recognize and use linking verbs with ease. Whether you’re writing professionally or casually, mastering linking verbs will enhance your communication skills and elevate your English proficiency.
