Linking Verbs
Connect the subject to a description with be, seem, look, feel, become and more.
What Is It?
A linking verb connects the subject to a word that describes or identifies it. It doesn’t show an action. Common ones: be, seem, look, feel, sound, taste, smell, become, get.
Why Do English Speakers Use It?
They let you describe people and things: how they look, feel or seem. And they are followed by adjectives, not adverbs.
When to Use It
- State or identity: She is a nurse. They are tired.
- Senses: The soup smells delicious. You sound happy.
- Change: It’s getting dark. He became famous.
- Appearance: You look great. It seems easy.
When NOT to Use It
Don’t follow a linking verb with an adverb: “The cake tastes good”, not “tastes well”; “I feel bad”, not “I feel badly”.
Sentence Structure
| Subject | Linking verb | Complement |
|---|---|---|
| The food | smells | amazing (adjective) |
| Joe | became | a teacher (noun) |
| You | look | tired (adjective) |
Grammar Rules
- Follow linking verbs with an adjective or a noun.
- Some verbs can be linking or action verbs: She looks happy (linking). She looks carefully (action, adverb).
- Test: replace the verb with “is”. If the sentence still makes sense, it’s linking.
- “Feel good” = happy/healthy. “Feel well” = not sick (well is an adjective here).
Real-Life Examples
- This coffee tastes bitter.
- Monica seems nervous today.
- The weather is getting colder.
- That idea sounds interesting.
Common Learner Mistakes
- The flowers smell nicely.The flowers smell nice.
- She looks beautifully.She looks beautiful.
- I feel badly about it.I feel bad about it.
Quick Memory Tip
The “is” test: “The soup tastes salty” → “The soup is salty”. Works? Then use an adjective.
Real Conversation
Joe: Wow, this biryani smells incredible.
Monica: Thanks! Taste it. Does it seem too spicy?
Joe: No, it tastes perfect.
Interactive Practice
Pick an answer to check your understanding.
You look ___ today. Did you sleep well?
Final Mini Quiz
One last check before you mark the lesson complete.
In which sentence is “feel” a linking verb?
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