Linking verbs, also known as copular verbs, connect the subject of a sentence to a subject complement, which can be a noun, pronoun, or adjective that describes or identifies the subject. Linking verbs can be grouped into several categories based on their function and usage. Here are the main groups:
1. Primary Linking Verbs
These are the most common linking verbs and are often used to connect the subject to a subject complement.
Be (am, is, are, was, were, been, being)
Example: She is a teacher.
Example: They were happy.
2. Sensory Linking Verbs
These verbs relate to the senses and can function as linking verbs when they connect the subject to a description or state.
Appear
Example: He appears tired.
Feel
Example: She feels cold.
Look
Example: The cake looks delicious.
Smell
Example: The flowers smell sweet.
Sound
Example: The music sounds beautiful.
Taste
Example: The soup tastes salty.
3. Conditional or State-of-Being Linking Verbs
These verbs indicate a state of being or a condition and can function as linking verbs.
Seem
Example: They seem happy.
Become
Example: She became a doctor.
Grow
Example: The child grew tired.
Remain
Example: He remained silent.
Stay
Example: The weather stayed warm.
Turn
Example: The leaves turned yellow.
4. Other Linking Verbs
Some verbs can function as either linking verbs or action verbs, depending on the context. When they are used as linking verbs, they connect the subject to a description or state.
Prove
Example: The experiment proved successful.
Get
Example: She got angry.
Go
Example: The milk went sour.
Fall
Example: He fell ill.
Run
Example: The river runs dry.
Summary of Linking Verb Groups:
- Primary Linking Verbs: Be (am, is, are, was, were, been, being).
- Sensory Linking Verbs: Appear, feel, look, smell, sound, taste.
- Conditional/State-of-Being Linking Verbs: Seem, become, grow, remain, stay, turn.
- Other Linking Verbs: Prove, get, go, fall, run.
These groups cover the main types of linking verbs in English.
All Linking Verbs
Other Common Linking Verbs
These verbs can function as either linking verbs or action verbs, depending on the context. When used as linking verbs, they connect the subject to a description or state.
Appear
Example: The sky appears cloudy.
Appears links “the sky” to the subject complement “cloudy.”
Become
Example: She became a doctor.
Became links “she” to the subject complement “a doctor.”
Feel √
Example: The fabric feels soft.
Feels links “the fabric” to the subject complement “soft.”
Grow
Example: The plants grow tall.
Grow links “the plants” to the subject complement “tall.”
Look √
Example: He looks tired.
Looks links “he” to the subject complement “tired.”
Remain
Example: The situation remains unchanged.
Remains links “the situation” to the subject complement “unchanged.”
Seem √
Example: The plan seems perfect.
Seems links “the plan” to the subject complement “perfect.”
Smell √
Example: The flowers smell sweet.
Smell links “the flowers” to the subject complement “sweet.”
Sound
Example: The idea sounds interesting.
Sounds links “the idea” to the subject complement “interesting.”
Stay
Example: The weather stayed warm all week.
Stayed links “the weather” to the subject complement “warm.”
Taste
Example: The soup tastes delicious.
Tastes links “the soup” to the subject complement “delicious.”
Turn
Example: The leaves turned yellow in autumn.
Turned links “the leaves” to the subject complement “yellow.”
Prove
Example: The theory proved correct.
Proved links “the theory” to the subject complement “correct.”
Get
Example: She got angry at the news.
Got links “she” to the subject complement “angry.”
Go
Example: The milk went sour.
Went links “the milk” to the subject complement “sour.”
Fall
Example: He fell silent during the meeting.
Fell links “he” to the subject complement “silent.”
Run
Example: The river runs dry in summer.
Runs links “the river” to the subject complement “dry.”
Come
Example: Her dream came true.
Came links “her dream” to the subject complement “true.”
Stand
Example: The decision stands firm.
Stands links “the decision” to the subject complement “firm.”
Lie
Example: The book lies open on the table.
Lies links “the book” to the subject complement “open.”