Linking Verbs
Identify the function, not just the word. Forms of “be” are central linking verbs, and verbs such as “seem,” “become,” “feel,” “look,” “smell,” and “taste” can link a subject to a complement. The same lexical verb may behave differently in another sentence.
A linking verb connects the subject with a subject complement that identifies or describes it, as in “The room is quiet” or “The soup tastes salty.” Many verbs can be linking in one context and action/event verbs in another.
Key details
Further guidance
Context Check
Compare “The soup tastes good” (linking) with “She tasted the soup” (main/action verb with an object). The word alone does not settle the classification.
Diagnostic
Look for a complement that describes or identifies the subject rather than an object receiving the action. “The sky became dark” links “sky” to “dark.”
Function
With a linking verb, the following noun/adjective/adverb/prepositional phrase supplies information about the subject.
Worked Example
In “The plan seems practical,” “seems” links “plan” with the adjective complement “practical.”
Sources and evidence
Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.
- Verbs: types (opens in a new tab)Cambridge University Press · Defines linking or copular verbs as main verbs followed by subject-complement information rather than objects and lists common linking verbs.
- Linking verb (opens in a new tab)Cambridge University Press · Defines the term as a verb connecting the subject with properties expressed in the predicate, supporting a distinct identification-and-use guide.