Name____________________
Date_____________________
Period __________Table_____
L 7.1 I can identify and explain the function of the parts of speech.
Linking Verbs:
The most commonly used linking verb are forms of the verb be. Learn the verbs in the following list:
Be
Being
Am
Is
Are
Was
Were
Shall be
Will be
Has been
Have been
Had been
Shall have been
Will have been
Should be
Would be
Can be
Could be
Should have been
Would have been
Could have been
Any verb ending in be or been is a form of the verb be.
Here are some other frequently used linking verbs:
appear
look
become
remain
feel
seem
grow
smell
sound
stay
taste
turn
Notice in the following sentences how each verb is a link between some words on either side of it. The
noun, pronoun, or adjective that follows the linking verb fills out or completes the meaning of the verb
and refers to a noun or pronoun preceding the verb.
The answer is three. [ answer = three ]
Rhonda will be the captain. [ Rhonda = captain]
The casserole tasted strange. [ strange = casserole ]
The worker looked tired. [ tired worker ]
NOTE: Many linking verbs listed can be used as action (non-linking) verbs as well.
The wet dog smelled horrible. [linking verb – horrible dog]
The dog smelled the thawing roast. [action verb]
The motor sounded good. [ linking verb – good motor]
The engineer sounded the horn. [action verb]
Even be is not always a linking verb. It is sometimes followed by certain adverbs: I was there. To be a
linking verb, the verb must be followed by a noun or pronoun that names the subject or an adjective
that describes it.
RCMS – ELA 7
taken from Warriner’s English Composition and Grammar, Third Course
p. 357
rev 11/15
kmh