Linking Verbs

Verbs that connect subjects to descriptions: be, seem, become, appear

beginner

When to Use

•Describing states: She is happy. He seems tired.
•Changes: The weather became cold. She grew impatient.
•Appearances: You look great. That sounds interesting.
•Sensory descriptions: The food smells delicious. It tastes sweet.
•Remaining states: He stayed calm. The door remained open.

How to Form

Affirmative (+)

Subject + linking verb + adjective/noun

Negative (-)

Subject + linking verb + not + adjective/noun

Question (?)

Linking verb + subject + adjective/noun?

💡 Linking verbs are followed by adjectives (not adverbs) or nouns. They describe the subject, not an action.

Examples

✓She looks beautiful.

✗She looks beautifully.

Linking verbs take adjectives, not adverbs.

✓The soup tastes delicious.

✗The soup tastes deliciously.

Taste as a linking verb needs an adjective.

✓He became a doctor.

✗He became doctor.

Linking verbs can also be followed by nouns (with article if needed).

Common Mistakes

💡 Practice Tips

• Common linking verbs: be, seem, appear, become, get, grow, turn, remain, stay
• Sensory linking verbs: look, sound, smell, taste, feel
• Test: replace with 'be'—if it works, it's a linking verb
• Linking verb + adjective (describes subject)
• Action verb + adverb (describes how action is done)

adjectives-ed-ing adverbs-manner stative-verbs 📝 verbs-beginner 📝 linking-verbs-quiz

Linking Verbs

Verbs that connect subjects to descriptions: be, seem, become, appear

beginner

When to Use

•Describing states: She is happy. He seems tired.
•Changes: The weather became cold. She grew impatient.
•Appearances: You look great. That sounds interesting.
•Sensory descriptions: The food smells delicious. It tastes sweet.
•Remaining states: He stayed calm. The door remained open.

How to Form

Affirmative (+)

Subject + linking verb + adjective/noun

Negative (-)

Subject + linking verb + not + adjective/noun

Question (?)

Linking verb + subject + adjective/noun?

💡 Linking verbs are followed by adjectives (not adverbs) or nouns. They describe the subject, not an action.

Examples

✓She looks beautiful.

✗She looks beautifully.

Linking verbs take adjectives, not adverbs.

✓The soup tastes delicious.

✗The soup tastes deliciously.

Taste as a linking verb needs an adjective.

✓He became a doctor.

✗He became doctor.

Linking verbs can also be followed by nouns (with article if needed).

Common Mistakes

💡 Practice Tips

• Common linking verbs: be, seem, appear, become, get, grow, turn, remain, stay
• Sensory linking verbs: look, sound, smell, taste, feel
• Test: replace with 'be'—if it works, it's a linking verb
• Linking verb + adjective (describes subject)
• Action verb + adverb (describes how action is done)

adjectives-ed-ing adverbs-manner stative-verbs 📝 verbs-beginner 📝 linking-verbs-quiz

Linking Verbs

When to Use

How to Form

Examples

Common Mistakes

💡 Practice Tips

Related

Linking Verbs

When to Use

How to Form

Examples

Common Mistakes

💡 Practice Tips

Related

When to Use

How to Form

Examples

Common Mistakes

✗She seems happily.

✗The music sounds loudly.

✗He grew tiredly.

💡 Practice Tips

Related

When to Use

How to Form

Examples

Common Mistakes

✗She seems happily.

✗The music sounds loudly.

✗He grew tiredly.

💡 Practice Tips

Related