Linking Verbs

B1 · IntermediateVerbs

Some verbs don't show an action at all — they just link the subject to a word that describes it. That word needs to be an adjective, not an adverb.

What you'll learn

  • Linking verbs connect the subject to a description: be, seem, become, appear, get, grow, turn
  • Sense verbs can also link: look, feel, taste, sound, smell
  • A linking verb is followed by an adjective describing the subject, not an adverb describing the verb
  • Some sense verbs can also be action verbs — the adjective/adverb choice depends on which use is meant

What a linking verb does

A linking verb doesn't show the subject doing something — it connects the subject to a word or phrase that renames or describes it. Because the description belongs to the subject, not to an action, it takes the form of an adjective.

"She looks tired. (tired describes she, not the verb)"
"The milk smells bad. (bad describes the milk)"

Common linking verbs

Be is the most basic linking verb. Others describe a change of state (become, get, grow, turn) or an impression (seem, appear). All of them connect the subject to a following adjective or noun.

"He became a doctor."
"It's getting dark."
"She seems confident."

Sense verbs: linking or action?

Look, feel, taste, sound, and smell can work as linking verbs (describing the subject) or as ordinary action verbs (describing how something is done). Use an adjective after the linking use, and an adverb after the action use.

"She looks happy. (linking — describes her)"
"She looked at the photo carefully. (action — describes how she looked)"

Real English

"Everything sounds fine so far."
"He got really upset about the news."
"This bread tastes stale."
"The plan seems reasonable to me."

Watch out

✗She looks beautifully.
✓She looks beautiful.

Look here links to the subject's appearance — it needs an adjective, not an adverb.

✗This soup tastes deliciously.
✓This soup tastes delicious.

Taste as a linking verb describes the soup itself, so it takes an adjective.

✗She looked at the painting careful.
✓She looked at the painting carefully.

Here look is an action verb (looking at something), so it needs an adverb to describe how she looked.

Real life — Checking in on someone

"You look exhausted. Are you okay?"

"I feel a bit off today, actually."

"That sounds rough. Do you want to talk about it?"

"Maybe later — I just need some rest right now."

Practice

Exercise 1 · Choose the correct sentence

Choose the correct sentence.

Exercise 2 · Choose the correct sentence

Choose the correct sentence.

Exercise 3 · Choose the correct sentence

Choose the correct sentence.

Exercise 4 · Choose the correct sentence

Choose the correct sentence — describing how she looked AT something, not her appearance.

Exercise 5 · Choose the correct answer

Which word is a linking verb, connecting the subject to a description?

Exercise 6 · Choose the correct sentence

Choose the correct sentence.

Exercise 7 · Choose the correct sentence

Choose the correct sentence.

Exercise 8 · Choose the correct sentence

Choose the correct sentence.

Exercise 9 · Complete the sentence

Complete: 'She felt ___ (nervous) before the interview.' (adjective, not adverb)

Exercise 10 · Complete the sentence

Complete: 'The leaves turned ___ (bright) in autumn.' (adjective, not adverb)

Exercise 11 · Sort into groups

seem
run
become
write
appear
eat

0 / 6 sorted

Quick challenge

Five quick questions to check what stuck.

Question 1 / 5

Score: 0/0

Choose the correct sentence.

You learned

  • Linking verbs connect the subject to a description rather than showing an action.
  • A linking verb is followed by an adjective, not an adverb.
  • Sense verbs (look, feel, taste, sound, smell) can be linking or action verbs.
  • Check whether the word describes the subject (adjective) or the action (adverb).

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