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When I first started teaching English grammar, I noticed my students often struggled with one concept in particular: they could repeat the definition of a linking verb by heart, but when I asked them to identify one in a real sentence, they froze. The problem wasn’t their memory — it was that they were trying to match the verb to an action. Once I showed them that linking verbs do the opposite (they describe a state, not an action), the lightbulb switched on. Linking verbs are bridges between the subject and what’s being said about it, and mastering them is a game-changer for writing and speaking accuracy.
You’ll explore 17 linking verbs you’ll encounter most often, their three-form conjugations, real-world examples in different tenses, and the mistakes I see learners make repeatedly. Whether you’re confused about “feel,” trying to distinguish linking from action verbs, or just want to solidify your understanding, you’ll find what you need here.
Key Takeaways
- Linking verbs do not show action — they connect the subject to a description (noun, pronoun, or adjective) of the subject.
- The “be” family (am, is, are, was, were) are the most common linking verbs; all other linking verbs are less frequent but equally important.
- Sense verbs as linking verbs — feel, look, smell, sound, and taste can be linking verbs when they describe a state, not an action.
- Subject complement rule — always use an adjective (not an adverb) after a linking verb: “She looks happy” not “She looks happily“.
- Some verbs are dual-natured — verbs like “feel,” “look,” and “turn” can be linking OR action verbs depending on context.
What Are Linking Verbs?
Definition: A linking verb is a verb that does not describe an action. Instead, it connects (or “links”) the subject of a sentence to a noun, pronoun, or adjective that renames or describes it. Linking verbs are also called copular verbs.
Think of a linking verb as an equals sign (=). In the sentence “She is a teacher,” the verb “is” places an equals sign between the subject (“she”) and the complement (“a teacher”).
Example: The flowers smell sweet.
In this sentence, the linking verb “smell” connects the subject “flowers” to the adjective “sweet” that describes them. The verb does not say that the flowers are performing the action of smelling; it says they have the quality of sweetness.
The 17 Most Common Linking Verbs
| Linking Verb | Example | Type/Note |
|---|---|---|
| Be | He is tall. | Most common linking verb; all forms (am, is, are, was, were, be, being, been) |
| Seem | The plan seems reasonable. | Expresses appearance or assumption |
| Appear | She appears confident. | Similar to “seem”; expresses how something looks |
| Become | He became a doctor. | Shows change or transformation |
| Look | The sky looks threatening. | Sense verb; what the subject appears to be |
| Feel | The blanket feels soft. | Sense verb; touch sensation |
| Smell | The coffee smells strong. | Sense verb; odour perception |
| Taste | The soup tastes salty. | Sense verb; flavour perception |
| Sound | Her voice sounds familiar. | Sense verb; auditory perception |
| Remain | The situation remained tense. | Shows continuity of state |
| Stay | He stayed calm. | Shows continuity of state |
| Grow | The child grew tall. | Shows gradual change (as linking verb) |
| Turn | The leaves turned red. | Shows change, especially colour/state |
| Prove | The theory proved correct. | Shows result or discovery |
| Keep | She kept quiet during the meeting. | Shows continuity of state |
| Get | He got tired after the run. | Shows change of state (less formal) |
| Go | The music went quiet. | Shows change (specific contexts only) |
Conjugation of Linking Verbs
Most linking verbs follow regular conjugation patterns. Here’s a complete conjugation table for the most important linking verbs in the pillar:
| Verb | Base Form | Present (3rd sing.) | Past Simple | Past Participle | Present Participle (-ing) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Be | be | is | was | been | being |
| Seem | seem | seems | seemed | seemed | seeming |
| Appear | appear | appears | appeared | appeared | appearing |
| Become | become | becomes | became | become | becoming |
| Look | look | looks | looked | looked | looking |
| Feel | feel | feels | felt | felt | feeling |
| Smell | smell | smells | smelled/smelt | smelled/smelt | smelling |
| Taste | taste | tastes | tasted | tasted | tasting |
| Sound | sound | sounds | sounded | sounded | sounding |
| Remain | remain | remains | remained | remained | remaining |
Formula for linking verbs: Subject + Linking Verb + Subject Complement (adjective/noun/pronoun)
Example: The cake + tastes + delicious.
Linking Verbs in Different Tenses
Present Tense
Example 1: She is a talented musician.
Example 2: The music sounds beautiful right now.
Example 3: They seem happy with the decision.
Past Tense
Example 1: He was nervous during the interview yesterday.
Example 2: The situation became tense after the announcement.
Example 3: The room felt cold when we walked in.
Future Tense
Example 1: She will be the team captain next season.
Example 2: The weather will appear clearer by tomorrow.
Example 3: The project will remain incomplete without your help.
Perfect Tenses
Example 1: They have been very supportive throughout this ordeal.
Example 2: She had become fluent in three languages by age fifteen.
Example 3: The water has felt warmer since yesterday’s heatwave.
Linking Verbs vs. Action Verbs
The most common confusion learners face is distinguishing linking verbs from action verbs. Here’s the core difference:
| Linking Verbs | Action Verbs |
|---|---|
| Describe a state or condition | Describe what the subject does |
| Connect subject to a complement | Stand alone or take a direct object |
| Followed by adjective or noun | Often followed by an adverb |
| Example: “He is happy.” | Example: “He runs quickly.” |
Comparison in action:
Linking: The baby feels cold. (state — the baby has a cold feeling)
Action: I feel the soft fabric. (action — I am touching something)
Quick test: Can you replace the verb with “is” or “equals”? If yes, it’s a linking verb. Example: “The soup tastes salty” = “The soup is salty.” Both work, so “tastes” is a linking verb here.
Common Mistakes with Linking Verbs
✗ Incorrect: She looks happily at the sunset.
✓ Correct: She looks happy at the sunset.
Why: After a linking verb, use an adjective, not an adverb. “Happy” describes the subject (she); “happily” would modify an action verb.
✗ Incorrect: The soup is taste good.
✓ Correct: The soup tastes good.
Why: “Is taste” is redundant. Use only one linking verb. Choose “tastes” (sense verb) for a more natural, specific description.
✗ Incorrect: He became tired slowly.
✓ Correct: He slowly became tired.
Why: The adverb “slowly” modifies the verb “became,” so it comes before the verb or at the start of the clause, not between the verb and the adjective.
✗ Incorrect: The sky looks blue — it run fast.
✓ Correct: The sky looks blue — it runs fast.
Why: Subject-verb agreement: “it” (singular) requires “runs” (singular), not “run.”
✗ Incorrect: After two hours, I got boring.
✓ Correct: After two hours, I got bored. OR After two hours, the movie was boring.
Why: Use “bored” (past participle, adjective) to describe how you felt; use “boring” to describe the movie that caused boredom. This is a common confusable-adjective error.
Dialogue: Understanding Linking Verbs in Conversation
Ana: Hey Leo, why do you keep saying “The music sounds good” instead of “The music sounds well”?
Leo: Because “sounds” is a linking verb — it needs an adjective after it, not an adverb. “Sounds good” describes the music itself.
Ana: So if I say “She looks tired,” that’s correct?
Leo: Exactly. “Looks” is linking the subject “she” to the adjective “tired.” But if you say “She looks at me tiredly,” then “looks” is an action verb, and you use an adverb.
Ana: Ah, same verb, but two completely different jobs. That makes sense now.
Leo: Right. Context is everything. Once you spot the linking verb, the adjective rule clicks into place.
Practice Quiz
Quick Quiz: Test Your Understanding
- Fill in the blank: The coffee ________ hot. (tastes / tastes like)
Answer: “tastes” (linking verb + adjective). - Is “feel” a linking or action verb in this sentence? “I feel happy.”
Answer: Linking verb (connects subject to adjective “happy”). - Correct the sentence: “He became quickly successful.”
Answer: “He quickly became successful.” OR “He became successful quickly.” (Move the adverb away from the linking verb + adjective pair.) - Choose the correct option: The room ________ cold and dark.
(appeared / appeared to be)
Answer: Either works, but “appeared” is simpler and more direct. - Is “grow” a linking verb in “The tree grows very tall”?
Answer: Yes, it’s a linking verb here (= becomes/turns tall). But in “The tree grows leaves,” it’s an action verb.
Answers: 1. tastes · 2. Linking verb · 3. He quickly became successful · 4. appeared · 5. Yes (linking in first example; action in second)
Related Verb Resources
- Irregular Verbs: Master the Tricky Forms — complements this guide with past-tense focus
- Types of Verbs in English: Action, Auxiliary, Modal — broader verb taxonomy
- Auxiliary Verbs: Complete Guide to Helping Verbs — master “be,” “have,” “do” in their auxiliary roles
- Phrasal Verbs: Comprehensive Guide + 50+ Examples — extend your verb vocabulary
- Action Verbs: Examples and How to Use Them — contrast with linking verbs
- ↑ Back to pillar: English Verbs (Pillar)
Frequently Asked Questions
Can the same verb be both linking and action?
Yes. Verbs like “feel,” “look,” “smell,” “taste,” “grow,” and “turn” can function as both. The context determines their role. Example: “The soup smells delicious” (linking) vs. “I smell gas in the kitchen” (action).
Why do I use an adjective after a linking verb, not an adverb?
Because linking verbs describe the subject itself, not the action. Adjectives modify nouns (the subject); adverbs modify verbs (the action). Since linking verbs don’t express action, you pair them with adjectives.
Is “am/is/are” the only form of the linking verb “be”?
No. “Be” has eight forms: be, am, is, are, was, were, being, been. Use the correct form based on tense and subject: “I am,” “she is,” “they are,” “I was,” etc.
How do I know if “appear” is a linking verb?
Check if you can replace it with “is/seems.” Example: “She appears confident” ≈ “She seems confident.” Yes, it’s linking. But “She appears on stage at 8 pm” cannot be rephrased that way, so here it’s an action verb.
What’s the difference between “become” and “turn” as linking verbs?
“Become” is more general and formal (“He became angry”); “turn” is often used for colour or rapid change (“The leaves turned red,” “She turned pale”). Both are linking verbs, but “turn” is more vivid and physical in its connotation.
Should I use “become” or “get” in formal writing?
“Become” is formal and preferred in academic or professional writing. “Get” is informal but widely understood: “become tired” (formal) vs. “get tired” (casual). Use “become” in essays, reports, and formal communication.
Related
- ↑ Master Pillar: English Grammar
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