Linking Verbs
Linking verbs are connectors of the language. Their only job is to link a subject with a subject complement. Want to know how?
What Are Linking Verbs?
Linking verbs (also known as copula or copular verbs) simply link the subject of a sentence to a word or phrase that provides information about the subject (which is known as the subject complement.
Common English Linking Verbs
The most common English linking verbs are:
- be, become
- seem, look, look like, appear
- feel, sound, taste, smell, touch
- get, grow
- remain, stay
- turn, prove
Tip!
Most linking verbs cannot be used in continuous tenses. Look at the example below:
The cake tastes delicious. (not 'the cake is tasting delicious.')
What Is a Subject Complement?
A word or phrase that comes after a linking verb and modifies or describes the subject is called a subject complement. A subject complement can be:
- a predicative adjective
Mike is
In this example, 'handsome' is not an object to the verb 'is'. 'Handsome' is the subject complement to the subject 'he'. It means that 'he' and 'handsome' both refer to the same person.
Mike is
'A dentist' is the complement of the sentence and 'is' stands for a linking verb.
Mike is
Using the Linking Verb 'Be' in a Sentence
Adjectives
The adjectives that come alone and immediately after a linking verb is called a predicative postpositive adjective.
She seemed
Here, 'tired' is a predicative postpositive adjective.
Warning
Keep in mind that linking verbs are not followed by an object or an adverb.
He seems nicely')
Here, 'nice' is an adjective and you cannot use 'nicely' instead.
This pizza tastes deliciously')
Notice that you cannot say 'deliciously' because it comes after a linking verb.
Verbs 'Get' and 'Become'
Normally, linking verbs do not take the continuous tense (-ing form). However, the verb 'become' can be used in both simple and continuous forms.
Unlike other copula verbs that indicate an equivalence between the subject and the subject complement, 'become' suggests a change or transformation.
Mike
Here, 'married' is an adjective and it is the subject complement. Remember that here, we are referring to a situation not an action. If we wanted to refer to an action we'd have said 'Mike married Susan last fall'.
Mike is
Here, the sentence refers to a change in the situation in the future.
Review
- Linking verbs:
just link the subject of a sentence and the subject complement.
- Subject complement:
is a word or phrase that comes after a linking verb and modifies or describes the subject is called a subject complement.
English Linking Verbs
- be
- seem, look, look like, appear
- feel, sound, taste, smell :These verbs can be both state and action verbs.
- get, become: Normally a linking verb doesn't take a continuous tense (-ing form). But, the verbs 'get' and 'become' can take both the simple or continuous forms.
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Ergative Verbs
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Complex Transitive Verbs
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Dummy Verbs
Have you ever repeated a word too much that made you think How boring it got! You can use dummy verbs instead of repeated verbs.
