LoginLinking Verbs
Dive into linking verbs like 'remain' and 'feel'. Detailed explanations and a quiz to test your knowledge.
What Are Linking Verbs?
Linking verbs (also known as copula or copular verbs or complex intransitive 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). These verbs do not denote an action and do not take objects.
Common English Linking Verbs
The most common English linking verbs are:
be, become
seem, look, look like, appear
feel, sound, taste, smell
get, grow
remain, stay
turn, prove
The Continuous Tense
Normally, linking verbs are not used in the continuous tenses. However, a few of them can be used progressively to show a temporary or changing state, such as "be," "stay," "remain," "look," "feel," "become," "get," "grow," "turn," etc.
She's becoming more confident.
You're being mean.
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 handsome.
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.
'A dentist' is the complement of the sentence and 'is' stands for a linking verb.
The truth is that Mike is a good dentist.
The truth is whatever Mike says.
Mike is behind the curtain.
an adverb
Mike is here.
Warning
Keep in mind that only adverbs of place and adverbs of time can be used as subject complements. Other types of adverb are not used as complements.
He seems nice. (not 'nicely')
Here, 'nice' is an adjective and you cannot use 'nicely' instead.
This pizza tastes delicious. (not 'deliciously')
Notice that you cannot say 'deliciously' because it comes after a linking verb.
Linking Verbs vs. Stative Verbs
As mentioned at the beginning of the lesson, linking verbs do not denote an action. This makes them seem similar to stative verbs. However, bear in mind that while all linking verbs are stative verbs, not all stative verbs are linking verbs. What distinguishes the two is that linking verbs only take subject complements, while stative verbs can take objects. Compare the examples:
I feel sick.
This is a linking verb. The adjective "sick" is describing the subject "I."
I love chocolate.
This is a stative verb. The noun "chocolate" does not refer to the subject, but shows the subject's preference.
Review
Linking verbs just link the subject of a sentence to the subject complement, which is a word or phrase that modifies or describes the subject. The subject complement can be:
a noun (phrase)
a noun clause
an adjective (phrase)
an adverb (phrase)
a prepositional phrase
Common 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.
Quiz:
Which of the following sentences correctly uses a linking verb in the continuous tense?
She looking happy today.
They feel tired after the trip.
He is being very patient with the kids.
She is seeming excited about the news.
Sort the words to form a sentence with a noun clause as the subject complement.
Match each sentence to the correct type of subject complement.
Which sentence uses a linking verb correctly?
He tasted carefully the soup.
She is always on time for meetings.
We became happily after the news.
The cat smells quickly the fish.
Decide whether each sentence uses a linking verb or a stative verb.
He seems tired. | |
They own a big house. | |
We prefer tea over coffee. | |
She became an artist. | |
He believes her story. | |
The soup smells wonderful. |
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