What is a Linking Verb?

S2-SA1-0024

Grade Level:

Class 1

NLP, Law, History, Social Sciences, Literature, Journalism, Communication

Definition

What is it?

A linking verb connects the subject of a sentence to more information about the subject. It doesn't show action, but instead describes a state of being or condition. Think of it like an 'equal sign' (=) between the subject and what describes it.

Simple Example

Quick Example

Imagine you say, 'This samosa tastes delicious.' Here, 'tastes' is the linking verb. It connects 'samosa' (the subject) to 'delicious' (the word describing the samosa), without the samosa actually 'tasting' something with its mouth. It just *is* delicious.

Worked Example

Step-by-Step

Let's find the linking verb in the sentence: 'My friend Rahul is happy today.'

Step 1: Identify the subject of the sentence. Who or what is the sentence about? It's about 'My friend Rahul'.
---Step 2: Look for a verb that doesn't show an action being performed by Rahul. Does Rahul 'is' something? No, 'is' describes his state.
---Step 3: See if the verb connects the subject to a word that describes or renames the subject. 'Is' connects 'Rahul' to 'happy', which describes Rahul's feeling.
---Step 4: Confirm it's not an action verb. Rahul isn't *doing* 'is'. He *is* happy.
---Answer: The linking verb is 'is'.

Why It Matters

Understanding linking verbs helps you write clear and accurate descriptions, which is vital in journalism for reporting facts, in law for stating conditions, and in literature for creating vivid characters. Good writing skills are useful in almost any career, from being a news anchor to a lawyer or a storyteller.

Common Mistakes

MISTAKE: Thinking all verbs are action verbs. | CORRECTION: Remember that some verbs, like 'is', 'am', 'are', 'was', 'were', 'seem', 'feel', 'become', 'look', 'sound', 'taste', 'smell', can be linking verbs that describe a state, not an action.

MISTAKE: Confusing a linking verb with an action verb when the same word can be both. | CORRECTION: Check if the verb is connecting the subject to a description (linking) or if the subject is actively performing the verb (action). Example: 'She *looks* tired' (linking) vs. 'She *looks* at the sky' (action).

MISTAKE: Not identifying the word that the linking verb connects to the subject. | CORRECTION: Always find the word or phrase after the linking verb that describes or renames the subject. This helps confirm it's a linking verb.

Practice Questions

Try It Yourself

QUESTION: Identify the linking verb: 'The weather feels warm.' | ANSWER: feels

QUESTION: Which word is the linking verb in: 'My elder sister became a doctor last year.' | ANSWER: became

QUESTION: Circle the linking verb in the sentence: 'That old fort looks ancient and mysterious.' | ANSWER: looks

MCQ

Quick Quiz

Which of these sentences contains a linking verb?

The children play cricket.

My bicycle is red.

He runs very fast.

She eats an apple.

The Correct Answer Is:

In option B, 'is' connects 'bicycle' to 'red', which describes the bicycle. The other options have action verbs: 'play', 'runs', 'eats'.

Real World Connection

In the Real World

When a news reporter describes the current situation of a city, like 'The traffic *is* heavy this morning' or 'The new flyover *looks* impressive', they are using linking verbs to present facts and observations clearly. Similarly, weather apps often use linking verbs to state conditions, like 'Today's temperature *is* 30 degrees Celsius'.

Key Vocabulary

Key Terms

VERB: A word that describes an action, state, or occurrence. | SUBJECT: The person, place, thing, or idea that is doing or being something in a sentence. | ACTION VERB: A verb that describes an action performed by the subject. | STATE OF BEING: The condition or existence of something, rather than an action.

What's Next

What to Learn Next

Great job learning about linking verbs! Next, you can explore 'Action Verbs' and 'Helping Verbs'. Understanding these will give you a complete picture of how verbs work and help you build even stronger sentences.