Mastering Linking Verbs: A Complete Lesson with Examples and Practice

What Are Linking Verbs?

Linking verbs connect the subject of a sentence to additional information about that subject. Instead of showing action, they link the subject to a state of being or description.

🔹 Common Linking Verbs:

• Forms of to be: am, is, are, was, were, be, being, been

• Seem, become, appear, feel, look, sound, taste, smell, remain

🔹 Rule Notes:

• Linking verbs do not show action. They describe what something is or how it seems.

  • Example: The soup smells delicious. (No one is “smelling” — it describes the soup.)

• If you can replace the verb with “is” and the sentence still makes sense, it’s likely a linking verb.

  • Example: The sky looks blue. → The sky is blue. ✅

Practice Together

Instructions: Write out the linking verb in each sentence. 

1. The soup tastes spicy.

2. She is my best friend.

3. The flowers look beautiful.

4. He became angry after the game.

5. This cake feels soft and fluffy.

6. The sky turned dark before the storm.

7. The teacher is patient with her students.

8. My cat seems tired today.

Answer Key 

1. tastes – links “soup” to “spicy”

2. is – links “she” to “my best friend”

3. look – links “flowers” to “beautiful”

4. became – links “he” to “angry”

5. feels – links “cake” to “soft and fluffy”

6. turned – links “sky” to “dark”

7. is – links “teacher” to “patient with her students”

8. seems – links “cat” to “tired”

Linking Verbs Quiz

Now it’s your turn!