Linking Verb: Definition and Examples
Mục Lục
Linking Verbs
by Craig Shrives
What Are Linking Verbs? (with Examples)
A linking verb is a verb used to re-identify or to describe its
- Jack
is
a teacher.
- Jack
seems
disappointed.
(In this example, the linking verb is “is.” It links the subject “Jack” to “a teacher,” which re-identifies the subject.)
(Here, the linking verb is “seems.” It links the subject to “disappointed,” which describes the subject.)
Table of Contents
- Why Is It Called a Linking Verb?
- Easy Examples of Linking Verbs
- Linking the Subject to a Subject Complement
- Video Lesson
- Real-Life Examples of Linking Verbs
- Linking Verbs Are Not Action Verbs
- Why Linking Verbs Are Important
- Printable Test
Why Is It Called a Linking Verb?
A linking verb is called a linking verb because it links the subject to a
“Linking verb” is a relatively new term. In traditional grammar, linking verbs were called
Easy Examples of Linking Verbs
In each example, the linking verb is highlighted and the subject is bold.
- Alan
is
a vampire.
- Alan
is
thirsty.
(Here, the subject is re-identified as a vampire.)
(Here, the subject is described as thirsty.)
Linking the Subject to a Subject Complement
The word, phrase, or clause that follows a linking verb to re-identify or describe the subject is called the
- He
seems
drunk.
- The soup
tastes
too garlicky to eat.
- His proposal
is
madness.
- Jenny
is
a star of the future.
(Here, the subject complement describes. It is an adjective.)
(Here, the subject complement describes. It is an adjective phrase.)
(Here, the subject complement re-identifies. It is a noun.)
(Here, the subject complement re-identifies. It is a noun phrase.)
A linking verb is a verb used to re-identify or to describe its subject . For example:A linking verb is called a linking verb because it links the subject to a subject complement “Linking verb” is a relatively new term. In traditional grammar, linking verbs were called copular verbs . (This comes from the word “copula,” which means anything that serves as a link.)In each example, the linking verb is highlighted and the subject is bold.The word, phrase, or clause that follows a linking verb to re-identify or describe the subject is called the subject complement . In these next four examples, everything after the linking verb is the subject complement. Also note that a subject complement functions as either an adjective (when it describes) or a noun (when it re-identifies).
Here is a short video explaining what we mean by linking verbs.
Real-Life Examples of Linking Verbs
The most common linking verb is the verb “
- She got her looks from her father. He
is
a plastic surgeon. (Comedian Groucho Marx)
- Lawyers
were
children once. (Poet Charles Lamb)
Other common linking verbs relate to the five senses (“to look,” “to feel,” “to smell,” “to sound,” and “to taste”).
- A new book
smells
great. An old book
smells
even better. An old book
smells
like ancient Egypt. (American author Ray Bradbury)
- It
sounds
really corny but inner beautiful shows on the outside, for sure. (Model Kate Moss)
“To appear,” “to become,” and “to seem” are common linking verbs too.
- Once made equal to man, woman
becomes
his superior. (Greek philosopher Socrates)
- It always
seems
impossible until it’s done. (President of South Africa Nelson Mandela)
Linking Verbs Are Not Action Verbs
Linking verbs do not express actions. Bear in mind that some verbs can be linking verbs or non-linking verbs depending on the context.
- Tony always
smells
like the soup.
- Tony always smells the soup.
- He
felt
sick when he felt the heat.
(Here, “smells” is a linking verb. It describes “Tony,” the subject.)
(Here, “smells” is not a linking verb. Remember that a linking verb does not express an action.)
(Here, the first “felt” is a linking verb, but the second “felt” isn’t.)
Here is a good way to think about linking verbs:
A Clear Thought
A linking verb tells us what the subject is, not what the subject is doing.
Here is a short video explaining what we mean by linking verbs.The most common linking verb is the verb ” to be ” (in all of its forms, e.g., “am,” “is,” “are,” “was,” “were,” “will be,” “was being,” “has been”).Other common linking verbs relate to the five senses (“to look,” “to feel,” “to smell,” “to sound,” and “to taste”).”To appear,” “to become,” and “to seem” are common linking verbs too.Linking verbs do not express actions. Bear in mind that some verbs can be linking verbs or non-linking verbs depending on the context.Here is a good way to think about linking verbs:
Linking verbs do not cause serious problems for native English speakers, but here are two noteworthy issues.
(Issue 1) Don’t use an adverb for your subject complement.
Occasionally when speaking, you will hear someone (usually someone who is quite grammar savvy) use an adverb instead of an adjective after a linking verb.
- Your hair
smells
amazingly.
- Your dog smells badly. My dog
smells
bad.
(This error occurs because speakers know that adverbs (here, “amazingly”) modify verbs, and – having had that thought – they can’t correct themselves before they’ve blurted the adverb. The subject complement (the thing that follows a linking verb to re-identify or describe the subject) will always be a noun or an adjective. In this example, the speaker should have used the adjective “amazing.”)
(Here, the first “smells” is not a linking verb, and it is correctly modified by the adverb “badly.” It means the dog has a poor sense of smell. The second “smells” is a linking verb, and it is correctly followed by the adjective “bad.” It means the dog stinks. This difference is used in the old joke “My dog has no nose.” “How does he smell?” “Terrible.” When speakers mistakenly use an adverb after a linking verb, they are confusing the first structure with the second.)
Mistakenly using an adverb instead of adjective is quite rare. It is far more common the other way around.
- The process is working fantastic.
(It should be “fantastically.” This is covered more in adverbs.)
(Issue 2) You can say “It was I” or “It was me.”
A common question related to linking verbs is whether to say “It
was
me” or “It
was
I”. Here’s the quick answer. You can say either because the “It was me” version is what everyone says (and so acceptable), and the “It was I” version fits the ruling that subject complements are in the
However, to most, the so-called correct “It was I” version sounds pretentious or wrong. Here’s the final advice: If you’re speaking, do whatever comes naturally to you. If you’re writing, restructure your sentence to avoid both versions.
- “It
was
her/she” could become “She
was
the one.”
Read more about subject complements.
Linking verbs do not cause serious problems for native English speakers, but here are two noteworthy issues.Occasionally when speaking, you will hear someone (usually someone who is quite grammar savvy) use an adverb instead of an adjective after a linking verb.Mistakenly using an adverb instead of adjective is quite rare. It is far more common the other way around.A common question related to linking verbs is whether to say “me” or “I”. Here’s the quick answer. You can say either because the “It was me” version is what everyone says (and so acceptable), and the “It was I” version fits the ruling that subject complements are in the subjective case However, to most, the so-called correct “It was I” version sounds pretentious or wrong. Here’s the final advice: If you’re speaking, do whatever comes naturally to you. If you’re writing, restructure your sentence to avoid both versions.
- Use an adjective (definitely not an adverb) after a linking verb to describe your subject.
- This chilli tastes wonderfully.
- “It was me” is acceptable, but some grammar-savvy types won’t like it. “It was I” is grammatically pure, but some will think it sounds pretentious. Either reword your sentence to avoid this issue or pick the version that suits you and then defend it like a dog if questioned.
(Should be “wonderful”)
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