Verbos copulativos For Intermediate learners

In Spanish, linking verbs (verbos copulativos) are verbs that connect the subject to a description, state, or condition. They do not show an action, but rather a state.

Linking verbs are followed by a noun or an adjective that renames or describes the subject. The word that follows the linking verb is called a subject complement. This word is not the object of the verb, since the verb does not denote an action; rather, it is called a subject complement which must agree with the subject in terms of gender and number. Here are some examples:

The three most important Spanish linking verbs are:

The verb "ser" corresponds with the English "to be" and is used when the subject complement specifies inherent and stable qualities of the subject, such as an object's shape or size, or a person's nationality or profession. For example:

This linking verb also corresponds with the English "to be," but is used when the subject complement specifies a temporary condition, state, or location of the subject. For example:

This verb means "to seem" and is used to express ideas about appearance or impression of someone or something. For example:

A linking verb does not denote any action and accordingly the word that follows it does not receive any action. The verb is only connecting a subject to its description. An action verb, however, connects the doer of an action to the person or thing that is receiving that action. Compare the examples: