Identify a Linking Verb
There are three straightforward methods available to identify a linking verb.
- If you substitute the verb in the statement with either is or are, and the sentence maintains its meaning, then the word you are using is most likely a connecting verb. Consider the following illustration: Tony exudes a joyful air. If we change “looks” to “is,” we get the statement that Tony is pleased. Because the second statement is logical, “looks” can be interpreted as a connecting verb.
- Using the equals symbol (=) in place of the word is possible. If the statement does not have a strange rhythm, then the word in question is most likely a connecting verb.
Here is an illustration of that:
This song sounds amazing. In this, the song= amazing, meaning “sounds” is also a connecting word.
3. The concluding task is determining whether the word in question represents an activity or a condition of being. If the verb describes the subject’s state of being, then the verb is most likely functioning as a connecting word.
On the other hand, if the word describes an activity, then it most likely isn’t. Consider the following illustration: Daisy’s scent is delightful. Do flowers engage in any activity? No, they simply have a pleasant odor. This indicates that the word “smell” serves as a connecting verb in this statement.
- John Feels Tired.
- Johns tired. (wrong)
- Gloria seems stressed when she studies.
- Glorias stresses when she studies. (wrong)
- The sky looks cloudy.
- The sky is cloudy. (wrong)
Linking Verb – Definition, List and Examples
Linking Verb: You have undoubtedly observed by now that not all of them operate in the same manner within the many different kinds of statements that can be written in English. This is because there are a variety of kinds, such as action verbs, which describe activities; auxiliary verbs, which communicate a variety of morphological meanings; modal verbs, which express a variety of modalities; and connecting verbs, which characterize the subject of the sentence.
Table of Content
- What are Linking Verbs?
- Definition of a Linking Verb
- List of 30 Linking Verbs
- How to Use Linking Verbs?
- Identify a Linking Verb
- Linking Verb vs. an Action Verb
- Examples of Linking Verbs
- Linking verb and Helping Verb
- Linking Verbs Exercise