Linking Verbs

 

Verbs are words we use daily to express physical actions like running, walking, talking, etc. Every sentence requires a verb in order to tell the reader what the subject is doing, e.g., He runs. There are also other types of verbs we use all of the time called linking verbs.

 

Linking verbs are verbs that describe the subject of the sentences rather than showing an action. They exist to explain what the subject is or how it looks. For example, “He is running” contains the linking verb “is.” The most common verb is the linking verb “be.”

 

Some examples include:

 

I am sad now.

 

They were so fast!

 

She smells like flowers.

 

Now, how do we use linking verbs? Linking verbs have subject complements that describe the subject rather than the action. They connect the subject of a sentence to a noun, adjective, or pronoun. For example, in the sentence “Mark became a teacher,” became is the linking verb that connects the subject (Mark) to the noun teacher. If the linking verb is followed by an adjective, it is called a predicate adjective. If the linking verb is followed by a noun, it is called a predicate nominative.

 

Here are some common linking verbs:

●       Am

●       Remain

●       Stand

●       Are

●       Taste

●       Look

●       Seem

●       Feel

●       Smell

●       Were

●       Was

●       Might be

●       Have been

●       Had been

●       Appear

●       Grow

●       Become

●       Should be

●       Sound

●       Could be

 

You will learn about and use linking verbs throughout our ESL program.  If you are interested in finding more information about enrolling in ESL courses in Los Angeles or Orange County, visit our website American English Language School or email info@aels.edu today!