Linking Verbs
Linking verbs connect the subject of a sentence with information about it.
Linking verbs do not describe action. A linking verb is a verb that links (connects) the subject of the sentence to information about that subject. The sentence structure using linking verbs will be: SUBJECT—>LINKING VERB—> INFORMATION ABOUT THE SUBJECT (noun) (verb) (adjective, noun, or complement)
Linking Verb – He is a student. (is links he to student)
Here are some examples of linking verbs that are ALWAYS linking verbs in sentences:
“The ball is red.” ‘Is‘ is a linking verb that connects the subject, ball, to information about that subject (that it is red).
“The children are smart.” ‘Are‘ is a linking verb that connects the subject, children, to information about that subject (that they are smart).
Kathy is shy. ‘Is’ connects the subject “Kathy” to the object “shy”.
My cats are afraid of dogs. Are connects the subject cats to the adjective afraid
Bob has been a good student.
Some verbs are ALWAYS linking verbs because they NEVER describe an action. Other verbs can be linking verbs in some sentences and action verbs in other sentences.
The following three verbs are ALWAYS linking verbs:
to be (is, am, are, are being, was, were, has been, have been, had been, is being, are being, might, 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)
Other common linking verbs are: appear, feel, get, go, grow, look, prove, remain, smell, sound, taste, turn, but these verbs can also act as action verbs.
“The child will be tall three years from now.” ‘Will be ‘ is the linking verb connecting ‘child’ to the fact that he will be ‘tall’ tall years from now.
“The cat seems fine.” ‘Seems‘ links the subject, cat, with information about the cat (that it is fine).
“The horse became thin after his surgery.” ‘Became’ links the subject, the horse, with information about him (that he became thin).
