Master Linking Verbs: From Common to Powerful Examples

Linking verbs definition

A linking verb functions as a connection between a subject and the rest of the sentence. Rather than serving to show action themselves, they “link” the subject by connecting it to further information, usually an adjective, noun, or pronoun that describes it. In other words, linking verbs re-identify or to describe the subject, linking it to a subject complement.

To help you understand, consider the following examples:

• Farah looks beautiful in that dress. 

✏️ Here, “Farah” is the subject, “looks” represents the linking verb, and “beautiful (in that dress)” is the subject complement.

• The cat is hungry.

✏️ Here, “cat” is the subject, “is” represents the linking verb, and “hungry” is an adjective.

These verbs are not used to express an action but rather a condition or state of being. The most common linking verb is to be. However, here are many others, including all verbs related to the senses. These include is, am, are, was, were, be, been, being, seems, becomes, feels, and appears. 

Here are some examples of helping verbs in sentences: 

• My sister went to the Caribbean last year on vacation. 
• Angela felt very tired after a long day at work.
• Mohammed appears upset about the outcome of the football match. 
• She became suspicious when she noticed the lights were off. 
• I feel happy after spending time with my grandmother.
• He is fond of Japanese food. 
• The teacher seemed impressed by Rajeev’s poem recital.
• The cake she made tastes heavenly.
• They were ready to go on vacation after the long winter stuck indoors.

How to identify a linking verb

Sometimes it may be difficult to tell if a verb is a linking verb. However, you can always try replacing the verb with a form of “to be” as a simple test. You will know it is a linking verb if the sentence still makes sense and has almost the same meaning. 

Consider the following examples:

• Elizabeth feels tired./ Elizabeth is tired.

✏️ These two sentences have the same meaning, so you know “feels” is a linking verb.

• Manchester United appears to be the winner of the football match./ Manchester United is the winner of the football match.

✏️ These two sentences have the same meaning, so you know “appears” is a linking verb. 

List of common linking verbs:

Linking Verb	Linking Verb	Linking Verb	Linking Verb
act	acted	am	appear
appeared to be	are	are being	be
became	become	can be	come
could be	could have come	did	do
does	fall	feel	fell
felt	get	go	got
grew	grow	had	had become
had been	had seemed	has	has appeared
has become	has been	has seemed	have
have appeared	have become	have been	have seemed
indicate	is	is being	is getting
keep	look	looked	may be
might be	might have been	must	prove
remain	remained	seem	seemed
seeming	seems	shall be	shall have been
should be	should have appeared	should have been	smell
sound	stay	stayed	taste
tasted	turn	was	was being
wax	waxed	went	were
will be	will become	will have become	will have been