Compared to action verbs, linking verbs are lazy. Instead of action, they express a state or condition, connecting the subject of a sentence with a subject complement—a noun, pronoun, or adjective in the form of a single word or a phrase that identifies or describes the subject. Following are examples of linking verbs on the job:
You seem terribly curious. (The adjective phrase terribly curious serves as the subject complement.)
Cecie is the girl with the crying-heart tattoo. (Here the linking verb identifies Cecie as the girl with the crying-heart tattoo, a noun phrase serving as the subject complement.)
Ted isn’t himself when he has a migraine headache. (Here the linking verb isn’t connects Ted to the reflexive pronoun himself.)
Common linking verbs are all forms of be, including:
| am | been | was |
| are | being | were |
| be is |
Linking verbs also include verb phrases ending in be, being, or been, including can be, was being, and could have been.
Additional linking verbs to add to your stock include the following:
| appear | remain |
| become | seem |
| feel | smell |
| get | sound |
| grow | stay |
| look | taste |
| prove |