Linking verbs connect the subject of a sentence to its object, with the most common being forms of “to be.” Verbs like “appear” and “seem” are also linking verbs. Some verbs can be both action and linking verbs, but a simple test is to see if a form of “to be” can replace the verb.
Have you been feeling sad, euphoric, or been a good friend lately? If so, a sentence that describes you would be referring to your state of being, or linking you directly to the thing that you were. Such a sentence includes what is called a copulating verb or a linking verb. When the subject of a sentence is directly related to its object, the verb used to form that connection is a linking verb.
The most common linking verb occurs in the forms of the verb to be. The sentence Fred is a good father connects Fred, the subject, with the predicate nominative of the sentence, good father. The verb is provides the essential link. Verbs like appear and appear are other common linking verbs.
While a linking verb can often come in the form of the verb forms mentioned above, there are a variety of verbs that can be either action verbs or linking verbs, depending on the context in which they are used. The key difference in determining whether you’re dealing with a link verb or an action verb is whether or not you can substitute a form of being or sometimes seeming for the verb you’re using.
Consider these examples of verb linking:
It looked terrible this morning.
He felt overjoyed at the prospect of a new job.
The lemon meringue pie tastes delicious.
The perfume smelled heavenly.
All of these verbs above (look, feel, taste, smell) can be used in action contexts, meaning that each can serve double duty as both an action and a linking verb. Here are the same verbs used as action verbs:
He leafed through the book and decided not to buy it.
He felt the touch of the cat’s tongue on the back of his hand.
The chef tastes all the food before it leaves the kitchen.
He smelled a terrible smell coming from the back of the room.
These examples can show how difficult it is sometimes to determine whether a verb in question is an action or a linking verb. There is a simple test that can be done to check, as mentioned above. Check if a form of the verbs to appear or to be will replace. In the first four examples, you can easily substitute such verbs in each sentence: It sounded terrible; he was delighted; the lemon cake is delicious; the scent is heavenly. In the second group, other connecting verb forms will not work.
Instead the substitution with other link words makes the sentences look ridiculous:
He is a book.
She is the tongue of the cat.
The chef is all about food.
It’s a terrible smell.
Remember that the direct connection between subject and object and a specific relationship is almost always implied when a linking verb is used in any form.
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