Linking verbs connect a subject to a complement or an adverbial, helping to describe or identify the subject without expressing a direct physical action. Understanding linking verbs is essential for mastering English sentence structure, syntax, and grammar rules.
1 Linking verb + complement
A complement is an adjective phrase or a noun phrase. A complement relates to the subject: it describes the subject or identifies it (says who or what it is). Between the subject and complement is a linking verb, e.g. be.
- The hotel was quiet.
- The thief seemed depressed.
- The book has become a best-seller.
- It's getting dark.
- A week in the Lake District would make a nice break.
These are the most common verbs in this pattern.
- adjective or noun phrase: appear, be, become, look, prove, remain, seem, sound, stay
- adjective: feel, get, go, grow, smell, taste, turn
- noun phrase: make
There are also some idiomatic expressions which are a linking verb + complement, e.g. burn low, come good, come true, fall asleep, fall ill, fall silent, ring true, run dry, run wild, wear thin.
We can use some linking verbs in other patterns.
| Verb Pattern | Example |
|---|---|
| Linking | Your garden looks nice. |
| Intransitive | We looked at the exhibition. |
NOTE
- After seem, appear, look and sound, we use to be when the complement is a noun phrase identifying the subject.
- The woman seemed to be Lord Melbury's secretary.
- NOT The woman seemed Lord Melbury's secretary.
- But we can leave out to be when the noun phrase gives other kinds of information.
- The woman seemed (to be) a real expert.
- There is a special pattern where a complement occurs with an action verb, not a linking verb.
- We arrived exhausted.
- He walked away a free man.
- I came home really tired one evening.
2 Linking verb + adverbial
An adverbial can be an adverb phrase, prepositional phrase or noun phrase. An adverbial after a linking verb relates to the subject. It often expresses place or time, but it can have other meanings.
- The coat was here.
- The conference is every year.
- The drawings lay on the table.
- I'm on a diet.
- Joan Collins lives in style.
- The parcel went by air.
Linking verbs with adverbials are be, go, lie, live, sit, stand and stay.
Key Takeaways
- Linking verbs connect a subject to a descriptive adjective phrase, noun phrase, or adverbial.
- Common linking verbs include be, become, seem, look, and stay.
- Certain linking verbs like seem require to be when followed by a noun phrase identifying the subject.
- Adverbials following linking verbs frequently express place or time relative to the subject.
Quick Practice
1. Identify whether the verb in this sentence is a linking verb or an action verb: "The soup smells delicious."
2. Fill in the blank using the correct pattern rule discussed above: "The manager seemed _______ the new team leader."
Write your answers in the comments below!
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a linking verb?
A linking verb connects the subject of a sentence to a complement, which can be an adjective phrase or noun phrase that describes or identifies the subject.
How do linking verbs differ from action verbs?
While action verbs show what the subject is doing, linking verbs simply describe or link the subject to further information about its state of being.
When should we use "to be" after a linking verb?
After verbs like seem, appear, look, and sound, we use to be when the following noun phrase directly identifies the subject.