Linking verbs connect the subject of a sentence to a descriptive word or phrase and do not indicate any physical action. The two main types of linking verbs are forms of the verb "to be" like is, are, was, and been, as well as verbs that express a condition like seem, smell, feel, and look. Some verbs can function as either linking verbs or action verbs depending on how they are used in a sentence. Linking verbs must agree in number with the subject of the sentence rather than any nouns after the verb.

1. LINKING VERBS

2. What is a link?
 . Anything serving to connect one part or thing
with another; a bond or tie.

3. What is a Linking Verb?
 A linking verb links its subject to a word in the
predicate.

4. Two Types of Linking
Verbs
To be
Verbs that Express
Condition

5. is
wer
e
bein
g
are
bee
n
am was
be
Forms to
Be

6. Examples
Michael is a football fan.
The dogs are barking
angrily at the cat.
All the kittens were playful.

7. Verbs that Express
Condition
 Appear
 Become
 Feel
 Grow
 Look
 Remain
 Seem
 Smell
 Sound
 Taste

8. Example:
 Everybody remained silent for a
few minutes.
 She sounded very surprised
when she heard the news.
 The play seems absurd to me.

9. How can you tell when they are
action verbs and when they are
linking verbs?
 If you can substitute am, is, or are and the sentence still
sounds logical, you have a linking verb on your hands.
 Example:
My dog Oreo felt the wet grass beneath her paws
My dog Oreo feels depressed after seven straight days of rain.
The soup tasted good.
I tasted the food.

10.  The squid eyeball stew tasted good.
 Sylvia tasted the spicy squid eyeball stew .
 The eggs smell rotten.
 I smell the delightful aroma from the kitchen.
Linking Verb
Some verbs can serve as either action or linking
verbs.
Action Verb
Linking
Verb
Action Verb

11. .
to be
to become
to seem
Always Linking
Verbs

12. Example:
 He became suspicious when he saw the safe
was open.
 The test questions seemed simple as a result
of my studying.
 Lightning can be dangerous.

13. Subject Verb Agreement.
 Make the verb agree with the subject stated
before the linking verb, not with the noun
complement that follows the verb.
 Singular subject - Singular verb
 Plural subject - Plural verb
 Her passion is rare books.
 Rare books are her passion.
 The cat is brown.
 The cats are brown.

14. Let’s practice
 Linking Verbs: Underline the Linking Verb in each
sentence.
 The big computer is very fast.
 The orange block is at the bottom of the stack.
 The teacher seemed confused by the question.
 The brown suitcase looks heavy.
 My dog’s fur smells bad all the time.
 There are too many fish in this fish tank.
 There is an old tree in the back yard.
 These jeans are too small for me now.
 This software is not compatible with my computer.
 I was late for work today.

15. Lets practice
For each given sentence, you must fill in the blank with a linking
verb (is, was, were, are, am).
 Answer: were
 1. We ______________ going to the game tonight.
 5. You _________ talking too much in the class.
 10. They __________ going to the dance, but it got canceled.
 11. The bases ____________ full.
 12. The outfielder ________________ a great player.
 13. The three players ___________________ friends.
 14. The crowd _________________ very loudly.
 15. The students ___________________ happy