Linking Verbs

What is a linking verb?

Linking verbs get their name because they link the subject of the sentence with information about it.

SUBJECT

PREDICATE

Some linking verbs are called state of being verbs.

There are 8 state of being verbs:am, are, iswas, were, be, being, been

You will need to remember all 8 state

of being verbs!

Forms of Be

am, is, are, was were am being is being are being was being were being

Jane is a great mom.

The dog is being taken to the vet.

The cake was delicious

The teacher is tall.

In the first sentence, is links the teacher to information about her-the fact that she is tall. That is her state of being.

Forms of Be can be could be may be might be must be shall be should be will be would be

I should be hungry.

We will be victorious!

You must be sad.

Forms of Be have been has been had been could have been may have been might have been must have been shall have been should have been will have been would have been

I could have been robbed!

She has been lost.

The cat may have been abandoned.

This candy tastes so sweet.

In the second sentence, tastes links candy to information about it—its sweetness.

Did you think taste was an action verb? Well, it is—when the subject is doing the tasting. But here, the candy isn't doing any tasting. The candy itself tastes sweet.

That is its state of being.

This candy tastes so sweet.

Ahhh…so there are more linking verbs than just the 8 state of being verbs.appear seembecome smell feel soundgrow stay look taste remain turn

Other Linking Verbs...

Hmm…some of these could be action verbs, too…we will need to know how to tell the difference!appear seembecome smell feel soundgrow stay look taste remain turn

Other Linking Verbs appear become feel grow look remain seem smell sound stay taste turn

My mom feels happy.

The candy tastes wonderful.

My dad sounds mad.

Here’s an easy way to tell!!

If you can replace with word with is, am, or are, and it still makes sense…it is a linking verb!

Let’s try:George felt sad.George is sad.

…Yep, it’s a linking verb!!!

Let’s try it again.

Remember, if you can replace with word with is, am, or are, and it still makes sense…it is a linking verb!

My dinner tastes yummy.My dinner is yummy.

…Yep, it’s a linking verb!!!

Let’s try it again – uno mas.

Remember, if you can replace with word with is, am, or are, and it still makes sense…it is a linking verb!

The girl smelled the pizza.The girl is the pizza.

…Nope, it’s NOT a linking verb!!!

Can you tell which are linking verbs?

were run will be jump

shine skip sing is

has drive draw

OOPS! That is an action verb.

Try again

Yes! That is a state of being verb.

Try

another!

Online Verb Games

2Be or Not to Bee Verb Game

Doing and Being Verb Sentence Sense

Doing and Being Verb Sentence Sense II

Online Verb Games

The Linking Verb

State of Being Verb Quiz

2Bee or Nottoobee Verb Game

Doing and Being Verb Sentence Sense

Doing and Being Verb Sentence Sense II

Linking Verbs