Linking verbs (also called copular verbs) are verbs that connect the subject of a sentence to a subject complement, such as an adjective, noun, or phrase that describes or identifies the subject. They do not show action but instead express a state or condition.
Linking Verbs Expressing State (Continuous Condition)
These verbs indicate a state or condition that continues over time.
- be: to exist or to be in a particular state (am, is, are, was, were)
- feel: to experience an emotion or physical sensation
- seem: to appear to be or give the impression of being
- appear: to become visible or to seem
- stand: to be in an upright position or to remain in a state
- run: to continue in a particular state (e.g., “The river runs dry in summer.”)
- remain: to stay in the same state or condition
- stay: to continue to be in a particular place or state
- hold: to keep in a particular state (e.g., “The theory holds true.”)
- continue: to persist in a state or activity
- keep: to maintain a state or condition
- live: to exist in a particular way or state
Linking Verbs Expressing Change of State
These verbs indicate a transition from one state to another.
- become: to start to be
- get: to begin to be or to change into
- grow: to become gradually
- turn: to change into something else
- come: to reach a particular state (e.g., “come true”)
- fall: to change into a state, often negative (e.g., “fall ill”)
- make: to cause to become (e.g., “make someone happy”)
Sensory Linking Verbs
These verbs relate to the senses and link the subject to a description of how it is perceived.
- feel: to experience a sensation
- taste: to have a particular flavor
- sound: to have a particular auditory quality
- smell: to have a particular scent
Examples
- She is happy. (
islinks the subject “she” to the adjective “happy”) - The soup tastes delicious. (
tasteslinks “soup” to “delicious”) - He became a doctor. (
becamelinks “he” to the noun “doctor”) - The weather seems nice today. (
seemslinks “weather” to “nice”)