Download Words That Are True Linking Verbs

SCHOOL OF WISDOM
Lesson: Linking verbs
There are two kinds of linking verbs: those that express a state and those that express a result.
Express a state
am, is, are, was, were, be, being, been (any any combination that ends with be or been: has been, have
been, had been, will be, shall be, may be, would have been, should have been, would be).
Express a result: These are called "resultative"
act, appear, be, feel, lie, look, remain, seem, smell, sound, stay, taste, become, get, grow, fall, prove,
run, turn
A resultative verb can function as either a linking verb or an action verb. Here's a test you can use to
help you decide: Replace the resultative verb with am, is, are, was, etc. For example, let's try the
verbs 'grow' and 'look':
The man grows flowers.
=> The man is flowers. (Not OK)
('grows' is not a linking verb here. It's an action verb)
The man grows tired.
=> The man is tired. (OK)
('grows' is a linking verb here.)
She is looking at the flowers.
=> She is at the flowers. (Not OK)
('is looking' is not a linking verb here. It's an action verb)
She is looking good.
=> She is good (i.e., looking). (OK)
('is looking' functions as a linking verb here.)
Here's a test to help you decide whether the word that come after the linking verb is a noun or an
adjective: Replace the linking verb with the verb seem. Only adjectives fit grammatically in the
position:
He is a doctor.
=> He seems a doctor. (Not OK)
('a doctor' is not an adjective)
He is happy.
=> He seems happy. (OK)
('happy' is an adjective)
Linking Verbs - A List & is it Used as Action or Linking
Linking verbs are verbs that do not show action; instead, the linking verb renames or describes the
subject. In this example sentence, "The kitten looked happy" the verb looked is used as a linking verb.
Many times the verb looked is an action verb because someone is looking for something, but in the
example sentence, looked describes the kitten in the predicate and that makes looked function as a
linking verb. If the word happy is used in the subject, then happy would have been an ordinary
adjective.
Subject | Predicate
The happy cat | looked for the ball. "Looked" functions as an action verb.
The cat | looked happy. "Looked" functions as a linking verb.
There are more examples below and suggestions about how to tell the difference between a linking
verb and an action verb. The table below lists some verbs that are commonly used as linking verbs.
Remember, the words in the list are not always used as linking verbs; it is the FUNCTION of the verb
in the sentence that determines its kind.
Words that may be used as Linking Verbs
Verbs that are sometimes used as linking verbs
[list may not be complete]
feel
taste
look
smell
appear
grow
remain
stay
turn
seem
sound
become
prove
Forms of to be are sometimes used as linking verbs
is
am
are
was
were
be
being
been
Linking Verbs continued ...
Many important verbs do not express action; some verbs can link a noun or an adjective to the subject.
This type of verb is called a linking verb. The linking verb connection between the subject to the noun
or adjective is something like an equal sign. She is tall. -- She = tall.
In grammar books the linked noun or linked adjective is sometimes called a predicate noun or a
predicate adjective. Sometimes either one is called a subjective complement.
A reminder of basic sentence structure
__subject__|__predicate__
The two diagrams below are the basic sentence structure of linking verbs.
_subject_|_linking verb_\_predicate noun_
_subject_|_linking verb_\_predicate adjective_
A predicate noun is located in the predicate and it renames the subject.
A predicate adjective is located in the predicate and it describes the subject.
Examples
1. I am calm.
The be verb am links I and calm. Calm describes my state of being.
2. George Washington became the first president.
Became links George Washington and president.
Check by saying, George = president, or President George Washington, or substitute the linking
verb with a form of "to be" as in: George Washington was president.
Helping Verb Confusion
The forms of to be can also be used as helping verbs such as in the following sentence:
Terry is looking.
In the sentence above, "is" does not function as a linking verb. "Is looking" tells what Terry is doing
(the action), not what Terry is being.
Is the Verb used as Linking or Action
State of being verbs can be used as linking verbs or action verbs. We need to be able to determine the
function of the verb to tell the difference. The following sentences contain verbs that are used as either
linking or action verbs. I have included checking methods.
1. Linking:
The monkey looked hungry.
(Hungry monkey or monkey is hungry) In this sentence looked is a linking verb.
2. Action:
The monkey looked for food.
"For food" is a prepositional phrase and it must be omitted before checking. The sentence
remaining after omitting the prepositional phrase is "The monkey looked". There is no noun
or adjective to link monkey to. Looked is an action verb in this sentence.
3. Linking: The soup tasted good.
Check: soup is good, good soup, soup = good
4. Action: I tasted the soup.
Check: I am the soup (no), soup am I (no) I = soup (no)
5. Linking: He grew tired of walking.
Of walking is a prepositional phrase and not included in the check. You should omit the
prepositional phrase to check: "He grew tired".
Check: He is tired, tired is he, he = tired.
6. Action: He grew into a tall man.
Omit the prepositional phrase into a tall man before checking. That leaves the sentence, "He
grew." There's no noun or adjective left to link to, so grew is used as an action verb in this
sentence.
7. Linking:
Mother appeared happy at her party. Omit the prepositional phrase, "at her party". Now the
sentence reads, "Mother appeared happy." Check: mother is happy, happy mother, mother =
happy.
8. Action: Mother appeared quietly in the room.
Omit the prepositional phrase, "in the room". The sentence now reads: Mother appeared
quietly. Quietly is an adverb, omit the adverb. "Mother appeared." There is no noun or
adjective to link mother to, so appeared is used as an action verb.
9. Linking:
The bugle sounds loud.
Check: bugle is loud, loud bugle, bugle = loud (yes, yes, and yes)
10.
Action:
The bugle sounded loudly.
Check: Bugle is loudly. (no)
Loudly describes the verb. It answers the question How? Loudly is an adverb, omit the adverb.
That leaves the
Verb Types: Linking
A linking verb implies a state of being or condition for the subject, not an action. It links the subject to
an equivalent word in the sentence.
[In the following examples, the linking verb is bold and the predicate nominative or predicate
adjective is underlined.]

The test indicates that Sarah is a genius.
The subject (SARAH) is linked to a noun that is, in a sense, standing in for her (GENIUS).

Toni Morrison was the first African-American woman to win the Nobel Prize in Literature.
The subject (TONI MORRISON) is linked to a noun that is of equal weight in terms of description.
(WOMAN).
A linking verb may connect the subject with a noun:

Roads were a slushy mess on Monday along parts of the East Coast.
ROADS is linked to MESS, which is equal in terms of description.

Smoking appeared to be the cause of the blaze.
SMOKING is linked to CAUSE, which restates the subject.

It was a sad day.
IT is linked to a noun DAY, which restates the subject.
A linking verb may connect the subject with a pronoun:

The book could be his.
The subject (BOOK) is linked with the pronoun indicating its state of being (HIS).

The robbery victim pointed and yelled, “That is he.”
THAT is linked with HE, which is equal in terms of description.
A linking verb may connect the subject with an adjective:

The writer was proudof her efforts.
The subject (WRITER) is linked with her state of being (PROUD).

Before the show, Malik seemed nervous.
MALIK is linked with NERVOUS, which is equal in terms of description.
Although the modifiers following linking verbs may answer the question “what?” as a direct
object does for a transitive verb, they do not receive any action.

In federal courts nowadays, every sentence is the same.
We can ask: Every sentence is what? and the answer is: THE SAME. But, the same is not receiving the
action of the verb as with a transitive verb. SAME is restating or indicating the state of being of
SENTENCE.

Female inmates are the fastest-growing subpopulation in prison.
INMATES are what? Answer: SUBPOPULATION. But, the SUBPOPULATION is not being acted
upon; it is restating or indicating the state of being of the WOMEN.
Typically, linking verbs are a form of the verb TO BE: IS, WAS, AM, ARE, WERE, BEEN
[In the following examples, the linking verb is bold and the modifier is underlined.]

The crew’s mission is to create the best topographic map of Earth.
The subject is MISSION. The linking verb is IS, and the descriptor—in this case a predicate
nominative—is TO CREATE.

The solution was judges who would mete out longer prison sentences.
The subject is SOLUTION. The linking verb is WAS, and the descriptor—in this case a predicate
nominative—is JUDGES.

Leonardo said, “I am the king of the world.”
The subject is I. The linking verb is AM, and the descriptor—in this case a predicate nominative—is
KING.

The number of minor children with one or both parents behind bars is 1.5 million.
The subject is NUMBER. The linking verb is IS, and the descriptor—in this case a predicate
adjective—is 1.5 MILLION.

Law-abiding Americans were far less safe in 1980 than in 1960.
The subject is AMERICANS. The linking verb is WERE, and the descriptor—in this case a predicate
adjective—is SAFE.

Some see this as a societal commitment to imprisonment on a scale that would have been
unthinkable a quarter of a century ago in this, or any other, country.
The subject is THAT. The linking verb is WOULD HAVE BEEN, and the descriptor—in this case a
predicate adjective—is UNTHINKABLE
BUT, the verb “to be” does not always mean a linking verb.
Forms of the verb TO BE can act as auxiliary verbs for transitive, intransitive and linking verb.
The auxiliary verb is not linking but rather helping the main verb.
[In the following examples, the auxiliary verb is bold and the lexical verb is underlined.]

Juvenile crime has been plummeting since 1995.
auxiliary verb to the lexical verb plummeting (intransitive verb)

Nyoko was crossing a bridge when the earthquake hit.
auxiliary verb to the lexical verb crossing. (transitive verb)

Margaret Ann was feeling tired.
auxiliary verb to the lexical verb feeling. (linking verb)
The verb TO BE can act as an intransitive verb when what follows it indicates location rather
than state of being. This intransitive form of the verb TO BE is easily identified by the prepositional
phrase that follows it.

Changes in the criminal statutes are behind the staggering increase in the incarceration rate
BEHIND signifies location, not state of being. Therefore, the verb is intransitive.

Professor Freelove has been in a coma since the car accident
IN A COMA indicates a location, not state of being. Although COMATOSE is a state of being, being
IN A COMA is not. Therefore, the verb is intransitive.

Lucia’s books are on the refrigerator
ON THE REFRIGERATOR indicates a location, not state of being. Therefore, the verb is intransitive.
The verb TO BE is not a linking verb when it acts as part of a verb presented in passive voice. It
is part of a transitive verb.

When Clinton was elected president, some groups had high hopes he would champion their
cause.
ELECTED is the main verb. It is weakened by the use of WAS and the failure to make a subject do the
action, but WAS is not a linking verb. It is part of a transitive verb.

Umberto is coached by a former Olympic champion.
COACHED is the main verb. It is weakened by the use of IS and by not making the mysterious
champion coach Umberto. Still IS is part of a transitive verb
Other common linking verbs: APPEAR, BECOME, FEEL, GET, GROW, SIT, LOOK, PROVE,
REMAIN, SEEM, SMELL, SOUND, TASTE, TURN.

Even with the nomination out of reach, he appears unwilling to concede.
Nothing is appearing as in: The ghost appeared from behind the piano. APPEARS simply links HE
with his state of being, UNWILLING.

Liberals became indistinguishable from conservatives on the issue.
There is no real action in BECAME. To test this, replace BECAME with the correct form of the verb
TO BE: WERE. The sentence meaning is virtually unchanged.

He feels certain that any mandatory minimum needs an escape clause.
The subject is not engaged in the action of feeling as in: He felt the wall looking for a light switch.
FEELS links HE and his state of being: CERTAIN.

“We got tough on crime,” he said.
Once again GOT is not an action as in: He got the kite out of the tree. To test this, replace GOT with
WERE. The sentence meaning is unchanged.

He grew discouraged with the number of low-level drug offenders doing 15- and 20-year
stretches.
The subject is not engaged in the action of growing as in: She grew a garden. GREW links HE with his
state of being DISCOURAGED.

Proactive policing entails rousting people who look suspicious.
The subject is not engaged in the action of looking as in: The people looked through the hole in the
fence. LOOK links WHO (people) and their state of being: SUSPICIOUS.

If an approach proves faulty, laws can be changed.
There is no real action in PROVES. To test this, replace PROVES with the correct form of the verb TO
BE: IS. The sentence meaning is virtually unchanged.

The chairman remains confused about how to vote on these policies.
Nothing is happening either physically or intellectually. REMAINS simply links HE with his state of
being: CONFUSED.

In the current contentious climate, the political system seems locked in place.
There is no real action in SEEMS. To test this, replace SEEMS with the correct form of the verb TO
BE: IS. The sentence meaning is virtually unchanged.

If you leave that spoiled meat on the counter, the room will smell terrible.
The subject is not engaged in the action of smelling as in: Allyson smelled the milk. SMELL links
ROOM and a state of being: TERRIBLE.

For decades Democrats have sounded more concerned about criminals than victims.
The subject is not engaged in the action of sounding as in: The sentry sounded the alarm. To test this,
replace SOUNDED with the correct form of the verb TO BE: BEEN. The sentence meaning is virtually
unchanged.

Shari doesn’t like anything that tastes spicy.
The subject is not engaged in the action of tasting as in: The child tasted the ice cream. To test this,
replace TASTES with the correct form of the verb TO BE: IS. The sentence meaning is virtually
unchanged
Many verbs may be linking, transitive or intransitive depending on their function.
1. LINKING: The nation’s mood turned sour.
o The subject is not engaged in an action. TURNED links MOOD and a state of being: SOUR.
2. TRANSITIVE: The judge turned the pages quickly.
o The subject was engaged in an action (TURNED) and that action transferred to an object
(PAGES).
3. INTRANSITIVE: The lawyer turned suddenly toward the back of the courtroom.
o The subject was engaged in an action (TURNED) and that action was done in a particular
way (SUDDENLY) but not to someone or something
The Linking Verb
Recognize a linking verb when you see one.
Linking verbs do not express action. Instead, they connect the subject of the verb to additional
information about the subject. Look at the examples below:
Keila is a shopaholic.
Ising isn't something that Keila can do. Is connects the subject, Keila, to additional information about
her, that she will soon have a huge credit card bill to pay.
During the afternoon, my cats are content to nap on the couch.
Areing isn't something that cats can do. Are is connecting the subject, cats, to something said about
them, that they enjoy sleeping on the furniture.
After drinking the old milk, Bladimiro turned green.
Turned connects the subject, Bladimiro, to something said about him, that he was needing Pepto
Bismol.
A ten-item quiz seems impossibly long after a night of no studying.
Seems connects the subject, a ten-item quiz, with something said about it, that its difficulty depends on
preparation, not length.
Irene always feels sleepy after pigging out on pizza from Antonio's.
Feels connects the subject, Irene, to her state of being, sleepiness.
The following verbs are true linking verbs: any form of the verb be [am, is, are, was, were, has been,
are being, might have been, etc.], become, and seem. These true linking verbs are always linking verbs.
Then you have a list of verbs with multiple personalities: appear, feel, grow, look, prove, remain,
smell, sound, taste, and turn. Sometimes these verbs are linking verbs; sometimes they are action verbs.
How do you tell when they are action verbs and when they are linking verbs?
If you can substitute am, is, or are and the sentence still sounds logical, you have a linking verb on your
hands.
If, after the substitution, the sentence makes no sense, you are dealing with an action verb instead. Here
are some examples:
Sylvia tasted the spicy squid eyeball stew.
Sylvia is the stew? I don't think so! Tasted, therefore, is an action verb in this sentence, something
Sylvia is doing.
The squid eyeball stew tasted good.
The stew is good? You bet. Make your own!
I smell the delicious aroma of a mushroom and papaya pizza baking in the oven.
I am the aroma? No way! Smell, in this sentence, is an action verb, something I am doing.
The mushroom and papaya pizza smells heavenly.
The pizza is heavenly? Definitely! Try a slice!
When my dog Oreo felt the wet grass beneath her paws, she bolted up the stairs and curled up on the
couch.
Oreo is the wet grass? Of course not! Here, then, felt is an action verb, something Oreo is doing.
My dog Oreo feels depressed after seven straight days of rain.
Oreo is depressed? Without a doubt! Oreo hates the wet.
This substitution will not work for appear. With appear, you have to analyze the function of the verb.
Swooping out of the clear blue sky, the blue jay appeared on the branch.
Appear is something a blue jay can do—especially when food is near.
The blue jay appeared happy to see the bird feeder.
Here, appeared is connecting the subject, the blue jay, to its state of mind, happiness.
Linking Verbs
Since linking verbs, also referred to as copulas or copular verbs, don't function in the same way as
typical verbs in showing action, it can sometimes be tricky to recognize them. These types of verbs
show a relationship between the subject and the sentence complement, the part of the sentence
following the verb. They connect or link the subject with more information – words that further
identify or describe the subject. While standard verbs are indicative of action, linking verbs identify a
relationship or existing condition. These are sometimes described as performing the function of an
equal sign because they provide the connection between a subject and a certain state.
Words That Are True Linking Verbs
Some words are always linking verbs. These are considered "true." They do not describe the action, but
always connect the subject to additional information. The most common true linking verbs are forms of
"to be," "to become" and "to seem."
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Am
Is
Is being
Are
Are being
Was
Was being
Were
Has
Has been
Have been
Will have been
Had been
Are being
Might have been
Forms of "to become"
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Become
Becomes
Became
Has become
Have become
Had become
Will become
Will have become
Forms of "to seem"

Seemed
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Seeming
Seems
Has seemed
Have seemed
Had seemed
Will seem
Any time you see these words in a sentence, you know they are performing a linking or connective
function in showing a relationship or describing a state. For example:
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"I am glad it is Friday." Here the linking verb "am" connects the subject (I) to the state of being
glad.
"Laura is excited about her new bike." Here "is" describes Laura's emotional state of
excitement.
"My birds are hungry." The word "are" identifies that the birds currently exist in a physical state
of hunger.
Determining Other Linking Verbs
In addition to true linking verbs, there are also many verbs that can exist either as action verbs or
linking verbs. These are also called resultative verbs. Verbs related to the five senses often function
in this way.
Common verbs that can exist as either action verbs or linking verbs include:
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Grow
Look
Prove
Remain
Smell
Sound
Taste
Turn
Stay
Get
Appear
Feel
Since these verbs can function as either action verbs or copular verbs, how do you make the
distinction? A common test is to replace the verb you suspect in the sentence with an appropriate form
of a true linking verb. If it makes sense, it is linking. If it isn't logical with the substitution, it's an
action verb.
For example, take these two sentences:


"The flowers looked wilted."
"She looked for wildflowers"
Substitute the copular verb "are" for the word "looked" in both sentences. In the first sentence, it
makes sense: "The flowers are wilted." In the second sentence, however, it doesn't make sense: "She
are for wildflowers."


"The spaghetti sauce tasted delicious."
"She tasted the delicious spaghetti sauce."
The sentence: "The spaghettis sauce is delicious" works, but "She is the delicious spaghetti sauce" is
illogical. The verb in the first sentence is copular, and in the second sentence it is not.
Additional Resources
Teachers in upper elementary and middle school may need to include lessons on linking verbs in their
curriculum. ESL students may also be learning about distinguishing this verb type. Along with
repetition, identification worksheets and quizzes work well for many teachers. There are many online
grammar exercises and resources available for teaching, learning, and understanding copular verbs,
including:
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Grammar Bytes gives quick tips and examples on identifying verb forms. Interactive exercises
are also available.
Quia offers an interactive online quiz to identify linking and action verbs.
Lesson Tutor has simple hints for verbs and assignment to test your knowledge.
Using English, a site designed for ESL students, has a short section on linking verbs. You can also
use their forum to ask questions.
Katrien Vanassche's Verb Page includes sentence breakdowns and charts.
The Verb Song, submitted by Sara Jordan on Songs for Teaching, is a fun way for younger
students to learn this concept.
“School of Wisdom is the best way for you all to get the brilliant Future”
Some Proverbs of SOW for you all
1. “The more you learn, the more you know”
2. “The more you know, the more you change”
3. “The more you change, the more you success”
Researched and Prepared by Mr. RITH Saratt, B.A