Linking verbs are an essential part of the English language. They connect the subject of a sentence to additional information about it, such as a state of being or condition. Unlike action verbs, linking verbs do not show any action. Instead, they describe the subject.
Common examples of linking verbs include “be,” “seem,” “appear,” “look,” “feel,” “smell,” and “sound.” These verbs are often followed by a subject complement, which provides more information about the subject. Subject complements can be nouns, adjectives, or even other verbs.
Understanding linking verbs is crucial for proper subject-verb agreement and sentence structure. By learning the rules and proper usage of linking verbs, writers can effectively convey their message and keep their writing clear and concise. In this article, we will explore the definition of linking verbs, provide examples, and discuss their importance in the English language.
Linking Verbs – Picture
Contents
What are Linking Verbs?
Linking verbs are a type of verb that connects the subject of a sentence to a noun or adjective that describes or identifies it. They do not show any action but rather describe a state of being or link the subject to a predicate noun or predicate adjective.
The most common linking verb is “be” which includes forms like am, is, are, was, were, being, and been. Other common linking verbs include “seem,” “appear,” “become,” “feel,” and “look.”
When using linking verbs, the subject of the sentence is linked to a predicate noun or predicate adjective. The predicate noun renames the subject, while the predicate adjective describes it.
Here are some examples of sentences that use linking verbs:
- The cat is black. (In this sentence, “is” is the linking verb that connects the subject “cat” to the predicate adjective “black.”)
- She seems happy. (In this sentence, “seems” is the linking verb that connects the subject “she” to the predicate adjective “happy.”)
- They became friends. (In this sentence, “became” is the linking verb that connects the subject “they” to the predicate noun “friends.”)
It is important to note that not all verbs that appear to link the subject to a predicate noun or predicate adjective are linking verbs. Action verbs can also be used in this way, but they show action rather than a state of being.
In summary, linking verbs are verbs that connect the subject of a sentence to a predicate noun or predicate adjective. They do not show any action but rather describe a state of being or link the subject to a description. “Be” is the most common linking verb, but there are other verbs that can also function as linking verbs.
Types of Linking Verbs
Linking verbs are verbs that connect the subject of a sentence to a noun or adjective that describes or renames it. There are two types of linking verbs: primary and secondary.
Primary Linking Verbs
Primary linking verbs are also known as “to be” verbs. They include:
- Be (am, is, are, was, were, been, being)
- Become
- Seem
- Appear
- Grow
- Remain
- Smell
- Sound
- Taste
- Look
- Feel
Primary linking verbs do not show action, but rather describe the subject or connect it to a noun or adjective that describes it. For example:
- She is a doctor. (The linking verb “is” connects the subject “she” to the noun “doctor.”)
- The flowers smell sweet. (The linking verb “smell” connects the subject “flowers” to the adjective “sweet.”)
Secondary Linking Verbs
Secondary linking verbs are verbs that can be both linking and action verbs, depending on how they are used in a sentence. They include:
- Go
- Get
- Turn
- Grow
- Come
- Remain
- Look
- Seem
- Feel
- Appear
Secondary linking verbs can be used in sentences to show action or to connect the subject to a noun or adjective that describes it. For example:
- He turned the corner. (The verb “turned” is an action verb.)
- The cake tasted delicious. (The verb “tasted” is a linking verb that connects the subject “cake” to the adjective “delicious.”)
In conclusion, linking verbs are an important part of the English language, connecting the subject of a sentence to a noun or adjective that describes it. Primary linking verbs, such as “to be” verbs, do not show action but rather describe the subject. Secondary linking verbs can be both action and linking verbs, depending on how they are used in a sentence.
Subject Complements
A subject complement is a word or phrase that follows a linking verb and identifies or describes the subject. It provides additional information about the subject and can be a noun, adjective, or pronoun. A subject complement can also be a phrase or clause that functions as a noun or adjective.
Subject complements are used to complete the meaning of the linking verb. They can be used to describe the state or condition of the subject, or to rename or identify the subject. For example, in the sentence “She is a doctor,” the subject complement “doctor” renames or identifies the subject “she.”
Subject complements are often used with linking verbs such as “to be,” “to become,” “to seem,” “to feel,” “to look,” and “to sound.” These verbs do not indicate an action but rather describe the state or condition of the subject.
Subject complements can be nouns, adjectives, or pronouns. When used as a noun, the subject complement is also known as a predicate noun or predicate nominative. When used as an adjective, it is known as a predicate adjective.
Examples of subject complements include:
- The cake smells delicious. (adjective)
- She seems happy. (adjective)
- He became a teacher. (noun)
- She is my sister. (noun)
- They feel tired. (adjective)
- The flowers look beautiful. (adjective)
In summary, a subject complement is a word or phrase that follows a linking verb and identifies or describes the subject. It can be a noun, adjective, or pronoun and is used to complete the meaning of the linking verb.
Linking Verbs vs. Action Verbs
Linking verbs and action verbs are two types of verbs that are used in English grammar. While linking verbs connect the subject of a sentence to a noun, pronoun, or adjective that describes or identifies it, action verbs describe an action or movement performed by the subject.
Linking Verbs
Linking verbs are verbs that connect the subject of a sentence to a predicate noun or predicate adjective. They are also known as copulas. Some common linking verbs include:
- Am, is, are, was, were
- Be, being, been
- Become, became
- Seem, appear, look, sound, taste, feel
Examples of sentences that use linking verbs:
- The flowers in the garden are beautiful. (predicate adjective)
- She became a doctor. (predicate noun)
- The soup tastes salty. (predicate adjective)
Action Verbs
Action verbs are verbs that describe an action or movement performed by the subject of a sentence. They can be either dynamic or stative. Dynamic verbs describe actions that can be seen or heard, while stative verbs describe states of being or existing.
Examples of dynamic action verbs:
- Run, jump, dance, sing, shout
- Cook, drive, write, paint, play
Examples of stative action verbs:
- Believe, know, like, hate, love
- Have, own, possess, resemble, seem
Examples of sentences that use action verbs:
- She runs every morning. (dynamic)
- He owns a big house. (stative)
- They hate spicy food. (stative)
Differences between Linking Verbs and Action Verbs
The main difference between linking verbs and action verbs is the type of information they convey. Linking verbs connect the subject of a sentence to a predicate noun or predicate adjective, while action verbs describe an action or movement performed by the subject.
Here are some additional differences:
Linking Verbs | Action Verbs |
---|---|
Connect the subject to a predicate noun or predicate adjective | Describe an action or movement performed by the subject |
Do not indicate any physical action | Indicate physical action |
Can be used with adjectives and nouns | Can be used with adverbs and nouns |
Examples: am, is, are, was, were, become, seem | Examples: run, jump, cook, write, have |
In summary, linking verbs and action verbs are two important types of verbs in English grammar. While linking verbs connect the subject of a sentence to a noun, pronoun, or adjective that describes or identifies it, action verbs describe an action or movement performed by the subject. Understanding the differences between these two types of verbs can help you use them correctly in your writing and communication.
Examples of Linking Verbs in Sentences
Linking verbs are used to connect the subject of a sentence to a predicate noun or predicate adjective. Some of the most common linking verbs include “be,” “seem,” “appear,” “taste,” and “smell.” Here are some examples of linking verbs used in sentences:
- The soup smells delicious.
- The flowers appear wilted.
- The cake tastes sweet.
- The weather seems perfect for a picnic.
- The music sounds soothing.
In each of these examples, the linking verb connects the subject of the sentence (soup, flowers, cake, weather, music) to a predicate adjective (delicious, wilted, sweet, perfect, soothing).
Linking verbs can also connect the subject to a predicate noun. Here are some examples:
- She is a doctor.
- He became a teacher.
- They seem like good friends.
- The dog appears to be a mixed breed.
In these examples, the linking verb connects the subject (she, he, they, dog) to a predicate noun (doctor, teacher, friends, mixed breed).
Adjectives and adverbs can also be used as complements to linking verbs. Here are some examples:
- The movie was boring.
- The book seems interesting.
- The car looks expensive.
- The food tastes terrible.
In these examples, the linking verb connects the subject to a predicate adjective (boring, interesting, expensive, terrible) or adverb (well, badly).
Overall, linking verbs are an important part of English grammar, helping to connect the subject of a sentence to a state or condition.
Subject-Verb Agreement with Linking Verbs
When using linking verbs, subject-verb agreement is important to ensure that the sentence is grammatically correct. A linking verb connects the subject of a sentence to a complement, which can be a noun, pronoun, or adjective. It is important to note that linking verbs do not show action, but rather describe a state of being.
In subject-verb agreement with linking verbs, the verb must match the subject in number and person. For example, in the sentence “She is happy,” the linking verb “is” matches the singular subject “she.” Similarly, in the sentence “They are tired,” the linking verb “are” matches the plural subject “they.”
It is important to note that when using linking verbs, the complement of the verb does not affect subject-verb agreement. For example, in the sentence “He seems happy,” the linking verb “seems” still matches the singular subject “he,” even though the complement “happy” is an adjective.
When dealing with stative verbs, which describe a state of being rather than an action, subject-verb agreement is especially important. Stative verbs include linking verbs, as well as other verbs such as “seem,” “appear,” and “become.” In these cases, the verb must match the subject in number and person, even if the complement is plural or singular.
Auxiliary verbs, which are used to form tenses and moods, also follow subject-verb agreement rules. For example, in the sentence “She has been studying,” the auxiliary verb “has been” matches the singular subject “she.”
In contrast, dynamic verbs, which show action, have different subject-verb agreement rules. In these cases, the verb must match the subject in number and person, but also in tense. For example, in the sentence “She runs every morning,” the dynamic verb “runs” matches the singular subject “she” in present tense.
In summary, subject-verb agreement with linking verbs is crucial for grammatically correct sentences. The verb must match the subject in number and person, regardless of the complement. This rule also applies to stative verbs and auxiliary verbs, while dynamic verbs have additional tense requirements.
Common Mistakes with Linking Verbs
When it comes to using linking verbs, there are some common mistakes that people make. Here are some of the most frequent mistakes people make and how to avoid them:
Using Adverbs as Subject Complements
One common mistake people make with linking verbs is using adverbs as subject complements. As a reminder, subject complements describe the subject of the sentence and should be adjectives, not adverbs. For example, instead of saying “The cake tastes deliciously,” you should say “The cake tastes delicious.”
Confusing Action Verbs with Linking Verbs
Another mistake people make with linking verbs is confusing them with action verbs. While some verbs can be both linking and action verbs depending on how they are used in a sentence, it’s important to understand the difference. Linking verbs connect the subject of the sentence to a noun or adjective that describes it. For example, “She is a doctor” uses the linking verb “is” to connect “she” to “doctor.” In contrast, action verbs describe an action the subject is performing. For example, “She helps people” uses the action verb “helps” to describe what “she” is doing.
Misusing Helping Verbs with Linking Verbs
Helping verbs are used to form verb tenses and add emphasis to a sentence. However, they should not be used with linking verbs. For example, instead of saying “The cake is being delicious,” you should say “The cake is delicious.”
Using Incorrect Forms of Linking Verbs
Finally, people sometimes use the incorrect forms of linking verbs. For example, instead of saying “The cake exists delicious,” you should say “The cake is delicious.” Similarly, instead of saying “The cake keeps delicious,” you should say “The cake remains delicious.” And instead of saying “The cake proofs delicious,” you should say “The cake proves delicious.”
By avoiding these common mistakes, you can use linking verbs correctly and clearly in your writing.
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