Linking Verbs Explained: How to Identify and Use Them Correctly (With Examples & Quiz)

 

Linking Verbs Explained: How to Identify and Use Them Correctly

Do your sentences sometimes feel flat or awkward? The problem might not be your vocabulary — it might be your linking verbs.

Linking verbs are the quiet superheroes of English grammar. They connect a subject to more information about that subject, helping you describe, rename, or identify it. Master them, and your writing instantly becomes clearer and more vivid.

What Exactly Is a Linking Verb?

A linking verb (also called a copula) connects the subject of a sentence to a word or phrase that renames or describes the subject.

Unlike action verbs (run, jump, write), linking verbs do not show action. They show a state of being, condition, or perception.

The word or phrase after the linking verb is called the subject complement. It can be:

• A predicate nominative (noun/pronoun that renames the subject)
  → Maria is a doctor.
• A predicate adjective (adjective that describes the subject)
  → The cake smells delicious.

How to Identify a Linking Verb (The Substitution Test)

The fastest way to spot a linking verb: replace it with a form of “to be” (is, am, are, was, were). If the sentence still makes sense and keeps roughly the same meaning, you’ve got a linking verb.

Original Sentence	Substitution Test	Result
The soup tastes salty.	The soup is salty.	✔️ Linking verb
She tasted the soup carefully.	She was the soup carefully.	❌ Action verb
He seems tired.	He is tired.	✔️ Linking verb

Complete List of Common Linking Verbs

1. Forms of “to be” (the classics)

am • is • are • was • were • be • being • been

2. Sense verbs (when they describe the subject)

feel • look • smell • sound • taste

3. State/change of state verbs

appear • become • get • grow • prove • remain • seem • stay • turn

Verb	Example as Linking Verb
appear	She appears confident.
become	It became clear that we were lost.
grow	The days grow shorter in winter.
remain	He remains calm under pressure.
seem	You seem happy today.
turn	The leaves turn red in autumn.
prove	Her prediction proved correct.

Some Verbs Can Be BOTH Action and Linking

The exact same verb can change roles depending on context:

• Linking: The roses smell wonderful. (describes the roses → use adjective)
• Action: She smelled the roses carefully. (action performed → use adverb)

Common dual-purpose verbs: look, feel, taste, smell, sound, appear, grow, turn

The #1 Mistake: Adjective vs. Adverb After Linking Verbs

Because linking verbs describe the subject (a noun), you need an adjective, not an adverb.

Correct (Adjective)	Incorrect (Adverb)
I feel bad about the mistake.	I feel badly about the mistake. ❌
The music sounds amazing.	The music sounds amazingly. ❌
This soup tastes spicy.	This soup tastes spicily. ❌
She looks gorgeous.	She looks gorgeously. ❌

Use the adverb only when the verb is showing action:

• She looked carefully at the contract. (action)
• He felt confidently about the exam. (action)

Key Takeaway – Think of Linking Verbs as Equal Signs

Subject + Linking Verb = Subject Complement

If you can swap the verb for “is/are/was/were” and the sentence still works, you’re dealing with a linking verb — and you need an adjective (or noun) after it, not an adverb.

Quick Quiz: Linking or Action Verb?

1. The chef tastes the sauce. → Action
2. The sauce tastes too salty. → Linking
3. He looked under the bed. → Action
4. She looked stunning in that dress. → Linking
5. The crowd grew quiet. → Linking
6. The plants grew quickly this year. → Action

Master these simple rules, and you’ll never again write “The cake smells deliciously” or “I feel badly” (unless you really mean your sense of touch is impaired!).

Happy writing!