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
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?
- The chef tastes the sauce. → Action
- The sauce tastes too salty. → Linking
- He looked under the bed. → Action
- She looked stunning in that dress. → Linking
- The crowd grew quiet. → Linking
- 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!
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