Linking Verbs
Linking verbs connect a subject to a noun or adjective. They do not
express an action. The most common linking verbs are the forms of the
verb to be:
is
are
was
were
been
am
Other linking verbs are those of the five senses:
smell
look
taste
feel
sound
Other linking verbs reflect a state of being:
appear
seem
become
grow
remain
A noun or adjective will follow these linking verbs in the sentence.
Identify It!
Circle the linking verb and underline the noun or adjective that is
linked in each sentence.
1. The crowd appears excited.
2. The crowd thought the play was good.
3. The lettuce tastes better.
4. The line seems long.
5. Syd, Mitzi and Deb were runners.
6. Mr. Thomas became successful after much hard work.
7. The runners feel great running in the fresh air.
8. The lights grew dim as the play began.
9. The singer’s voice sounds weak compared to the others.
10. Her future remains uncertain.
11. It was a long day.
12.Dinner sounds great.
13. They ate late.
14. I am hungry.
15.The snack is tasty.
Linking Verbs
Rewrite It!
Rewrite the paragraph, replacing the underlined linking verbs with
other linking verbs. Use the lists of linking verbs from the previous
lesson to help.
Don and Tina spent Saturday afternoon at the museum. The paintings
were thought-provoking the longer they looked at them. The sculptures
were tasteful. The artifacts were fascinating. The rooms were quiet as
they walked through each one. They stopped for a snack at the cafe.
The coffee was wonderful. The muffins were delicious. They stopped
at the gift shop before they left the museum. The post cards of some
the paintings were perfect for Don’s nieces. Don and Tina enjoyed the
afternoon. At the end of the day, they were tired and were ready to go
home. However, the museum is one of their favourite places to visit.
They are special when they go.
Try It!
Write a paragraph about a place you like to visit. Give information and
details about this place. Use at least 5 linking verbs in your paragraph.
More Examples of Linking Verbs
act
appeared to be
became
could be
does
felt
grew
had been
has become
have appeared
indicate
keep
might be
remain
seeming
should be
sound
tasted
wax
will be
will seem
acted
are
become
could have come
fall
get
grow
had seemed
has been
have become
is
look
might have been
remained
seems
should have
appeared
stay
turn
waxed
will become
am
are being
can be
did
feel
go
had
has
has seemed
have been
is being
looked
must
seem
shall be
should have been
appear
be
come
do
fell
got
had become
has appeared
have
have seemed
is getting
may be
prove
seemed
shall have been
smell
stayed
was
went
will have become
would be
taste
was being
were
will have been