Understanding the role of a linking verb is essential for mastering sentence structure and achieving clarity in writing. These verbs function as a bridge, connecting the subject of a sentence to a word that identifies or describes it. Unlike action verbs, they do not show what the subject is doing; instead, they express a state of being, a condition, or a sensory perception.
The Definition and Function of Linking Verbs
A linking verb, sometimes called a copula, joins the subject to a subject complement. This complement provides additional information, such as renaming the subject (predicate nominative) or describing its characteristics (predicate adjective). The most common example is the verb "to be" in all its forms, including am, is, are, was, and were. However, the category extends to other verbs that serve this descriptive purpose.
Identifying the Key Verbs
Beyond "to be," there are several verbs that consistently act as links in a sentence. These include verbs related to the five senses and verbs that denote a change of state. Common examples include appear, become, feel, grow, look, smell, sound, and taste. When used in this capacity, these words do not express action but rather a connection between the subject and its description.
Differentiating Action from Linking
One of the most frequent grammatical challenges is distinguishing a linking verb from an action verb. The key to identification lies in substituting the verb with a form of "to be." If the sentence remains logical and coherent, the original verb is likely a linking verb. For instance, in the sentence "The soup smells delicious," replacing "smells" with "is" results in "The soup is delicious," which retains the meaning. Conversely, an action verb like "run" would break this test: "The soup runs delicious" is nonsensical, confirming "smells" is acting as a link rather than an action.
Common Misconceptions and Tricky Cases
Not all verbs that describe sensory input function as linking verbs. The determining factor is whether the verb connects the subject to a description or if it denotes an actual physical action. For example, in the sentence "She looked through the microscope," the verb "looked" is an action because it represents the physical act of observing. However, in "She looked tired," "looked" serves as a link connecting "she" to the state of being "tired."
Another point of confusion arises with verbs like "to feel." When describing the physical texture of an object, such as "The fabric feels soft," the verb acts as a link connecting the subject to the adjective "soft." However, when referring to the emotional state of a person, as in "I feel anxious about the presentation," it also functions as a linking verb. The crucial distinction is that in both cases, the verb is describing a state or condition rather than an action the subject is performing.
