Linking Linking VerbsVerbs

Linking verbsLinking verbs do not do not express action. express action. Instead, they Instead, they connect connect the subject of the the subject of the verb to additional verb to additional information about information about the subjectthe subject. .

EXAMPLE: EXAMPLE: Keila Keila isis a a shopaholic. shopaholic.

EXPLANATION: EXPLANATION: IsingIsing isn't something that Keila isn't something that Keila can do. can do. IsIs connects the connects the subject, subject, KeilaKeila, to , to additional information additional information about her.about her.

EXAMPLE: EXAMPLE: After drinking After drinking the old milk, Blake the old milk, Blake turnedturned green. green.

EXPLANATION: EXPLANATION: TurnedTurned connects the subject, connects the subject, BlakeBlake, to something said , to something said about him, that he was about him, that he was needing Pepto Bismol. needing Pepto Bismol.

EXAMPLE: EXAMPLE: Irene always Irene always feelsfeels sleepy after pigging out on sleepy after pigging out on pizza from Antonio's pizza from Antonio's Ristorante. Ristorante.

EXPLANATION: EXPLANATION: FeelsFeels connects the subject, connects the subject, IreneIrene, to , to her state of being, sleepiness. her state of being, sleepiness.

The following verbs are The following verbs are truetrue linking verbs: linking verbs:

any form of the verb any form of the verb bebe [[amam, , isis, , areare, , waswas, , werewere, , has beenhas been, , are are beingbeing, , might have might have beenbeen], ], becomebecome, and , and seemseem. .

Irregular Linking VerbsIrregular Linking Verbsappearappear, , feelfeel, , growgrow, , looklook, ,

proveprove, , remainremain, , smellsmell, , soundsound, , tastetaste, and , and turnturn..

Sometimes these verbs are Sometimes these verbs are linking verbs; sometimes they are linking verbs; sometimes they are action verbs. Their function in action verbs. Their function in every individual sentence every individual sentence determines what you call them. determines what you call them.

EXAMPLE: Sylvia EXAMPLE: Sylvia tastedtasted the spicy squid the spicy squid eyeball stew.eyeball stew.

EXPLANATION: EXPLANATION: Sylvia Sylvia isis the stew? Of course not! the stew? Of course not! TastedTasted, therefore, is an , therefore, is an action verb in this action verb in this sentence. sentence.

EXAMPLE: The EXAMPLE: The vegetable stew vegetable stew tastedtasted good. good.

EXPLANATION: EXPLANATION: The The stew stew isis good? Yes! good? Yes! TastedTasted is a linking is a linking verb in this sentence. verb in this sentence.

EXAMPLE: I EXAMPLE: I smellsmell the the delicious aroma of a delicious aroma of a mushroom and papaya mushroom and papaya pizza baking in the pizza baking in the oven.oven.

EXPLANATION: EXPLANATION: I I amam the the aroma? No way! aroma? No way! SmellSmell, in , in this sentence, is an action this sentence, is an action verb. verb.

Action or Linking?Action or Linking?

ItIt appears appears that that the only solution the only solution to this problem to this problem is starting over. is starting over.

Answer: Answer: ActionAction

Action or Linking?Action or Linking?

The group The group appearsappears dismayed at dismayed at that prospect. that prospect.

Answer: Answer: LinkingLinking

Action or Linking?Action or Linking?Dennis was asked Dennis was asked to to proveprove beyond a beyond a shadow of a doubt shadow of a doubt that the butler did that the butler did it.it.

Answer: Answer: ActionAction

Action or Linking?Action or Linking?There was no doubt There was no doubt in his adversary's in his adversary's mind that his mind that his argument would argument would proveprove faulty. faulty.

Answer: Answer: LinkingLinking

Action or Linking?Action or Linking?

The sign says to The sign says to staystay behind the behind the line when viewing line when viewing the work of art.the work of art.

Answer: Answer: ActionAction

Action or Linking?Action or Linking?

We We stayedstayed quiet quiet while the tour while the tour guide explained guide explained the painting.the painting.

Answer: Answer: LinkingLinking

Action or Linking?Action or Linking?We We tastedtasted the the

cookies and cream cookies and cream ice cream and ice cream and ordered a pint to ordered a pint to take home.take home.

Answer: Answer: ActionAction

Action or Linking?Action or Linking?

We decided that it tasted delicious.

Answer: Answer: LinkingLinking