Linking Verbs in English: Be, Seem, Become, Appear

Introduction

Have you ever said “I feel happy” or “That sounds great” and wondered if you were using the verb correctly? You were probably using a linking verb without even realising it. Linking verbs like be, seem, become, and appear are essential for describing states, changes, and impressions in English. Understanding them will make your speaking and writing much more natural and accurate.

What Is a Linking Verb?

A linking verb connects the subject of a sentence to a word or phrase that describes or identifies the subject. Unlike action verbs (like run, eat, write), linking verbs do not show an action. Instead, they link the subject to a subject complement — a noun, adjective, or phrase that gives more information about the subject.

For example:

• She is a teacher. (linking verb is connects she to teacher)
• He seems tired. (linking verb seems connects he to tired)
• The sky became dark. (linking verb became connects sky to dark)
• They appear confident. (linking verb appear connects they to confident)

Rules

1. Linking verbs are followed by a subject complement, not an object. The complement can be an adjective, a noun phrase, or a prepositional phrase. Example: He is happy (adjective), not He is happiness (wrong).
2. They do not take direct objects. You cannot say “She seems the book” because seems does not transfer an action. Instead: She seems interested in the book.
3. Some verbs can be both linking and action verbs. For example, appear can be linking (He appears nervous) or action (He appears on stage). Context determines the type.
4. Linking verbs are often stative — they describe a state or condition, not a dynamic action. Be, seem, and appear are rarely used in continuous tenses (e.g., He is being tired is incorrect; say He is tired).
5. Use an adjective, not an adverb, after a linking verb. Many learners mistakenly use an adverb. Correct: She feels good (adjective). Incorrect: She feels well (unless referring to health).

How to Use It

Follow these steps to use linking verbs correctly:

1. Identify the subject. Who or what is the sentence about? Example: The flowers.
2. Choose the right linking verb. Ask yourself: Are you describing a state (be), a change (become), or an impression (seem, appear)? Example: The flowers become (change).
3. Add a subject complement. This is a noun, adjective, or phrase. Example: The flowers become beautiful (adjective).
4. Check for agreement. The linking verb must match the subject in number and tense. Example: The flower becomes beautiful (singular) vs. The flowers become beautiful (plural).
5. Avoid adverbs. Do not say “The flowers become beautifully” — use an adjective instead.

Examples in Sentences

• She is a doctor.
• They are excited about the trip.
• He seems nervous before the exam.
• This soup tastes delicious. (Note: taste is a sense verb that functions as a linking verb here.)
• The weather became colder overnight.
• You appear upset. Is everything okay?
• My father became a manager last year.
• That idea sounds wonderful.
• The children look happy in the photo.
• This fabric feels soft and smooth.
• She remained calm during the emergency.
• The problem seems more complicated than we thought.

Common Mistakes

• Mistake 1: ❌ He is being tired today.
  ✅ He is tired today. (Use simple present for states, not continuous.)
• Mistake 2: ❌ She seems nicely.
  ✅ She seems nice. (Use an adjective after a linking verb.)
• Mistake 3: ❌ They became angrily.
  ✅ They became angry. (Again, adjective, not adverb.)
• Mistake 4: ❌ It appears a good idea.
  ✅ It appears to be a good idea. (Sometimes appear needs to be for noun complements.)
• Mistake 5: ❌ She feels badly about the mistake.
  ✅ She feels bad about the mistake. (Feel as a linking verb takes an adjective; badly is an adverb.)

Quick Summary

• Linking verbs connect the subject to a complement (adjective, noun, or phrase).
• Main linking verbs: be, seem, become, appear (plus sense verbs like look, feel, taste, sound, smell).
• Do not use adverbs after linking verbs — use adjectives.
• Linking verbs are usually stative; avoid continuous forms.
• Some verbs (like appear) can be linking or action depending on context.

Practice Exercises

Fill in the blanks with the correct linking verb: be, seem, become, appear. Use the correct tense.

1. The children _______ very quiet today. What’s wrong?
2. This problem _______ more difficult than I expected.
3. After the rain, the sky _______ clear again.
4. She _______ (not) happy with the results.
5. He _______ to be the best candidate for the job.

Answers:

1. are (or seem)
2. seems (or is becoming)
3. became
4. is not (or does not seem)
5. appears

Conclusion

Linking verbs like be, seem, become, and appear are simple but powerful tools for describing people, things, and situations. By remembering to use adjectives instead of adverbs and avoiding continuous forms, you will quickly improve your accuracy. Keep practising with real examples, and soon these verbs will feel completely natural.

FAQ

1. What is the difference between a linking verb and an action verb?

An action verb shows a physical or mental action (e.g., run, think, eat), while a linking verb connects the subject to a description (e.g., is, seems, becomes). For example, in “She runs fast,” runs is an action; in “She is fast,” is links she to fast.

2. Can “become” be used in the continuous form?

Yes, but it is less common. “The weather is becoming colder” is acceptable and emphasises a gradual change. However, be and seem are rarely used in continuous forms (e.g., “He is being tired” is incorrect).

3. How do I know if a verb is linking or action?

Check if you can replace the verb with a form of be and the sentence still makes sense. For example, “She looks happy” → “She is happy” (works, so looks is linking). “She looks at the painting” → “She is at the painting” (does not work, so looks is action).

4. Why do we say “I feel bad” instead of “I feel badly”?

Because feel is a linking verb here, so it takes an adjective (bad) to describe the subject. Badly is an adverb that would mean “in a bad manner,” which changes the meaning. The same rule applies to look, smell, taste, and sound when used as linking verbs.