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English Verbs - Linking Verbs

Learning English online with English verb lessons for ESL learners

English Adjective with Linking Verbs

A special category of verbs connects or links the subject with the subject complement(predicate adjective). Unlike most verbs, these do not show action. They must be modified by adjectives, not adverbs.

The following words are common linking verbs:

Let's study the Linking Verbs examples:

• Mary feel bad about her test grade.
• Children become tired quite easily.
• Lucy will look radient in her new dress.
• They were sorry to see us leave.
• The flowers smell sweet.
• The soup tastes good.

Be, become, and remain can be followed by noun phrases as well as adjectives.

Examples:
• They remained sad even though I tried to cheer them up.
• Dough remained chairman of the board despite the opposition.
• Children often become bored at meetings.
• Christine became class president after a long, hard campaign.
• Sally will be happy when she hears the good news.
• Ted will be prom king this year.

Feel, look, smell, and taste may also be transitive verbs and take a direct object. When they function in this way, they become active and are modified by adverbs. Notice the following pairs of sentences. Those which take object are active, and those which do not are linking.

Examples:
• The doctor felt the leg carefully to see if there were any broken bone.
  ( the leg=>object, carefully=>adverb)
• Professor Ingells looked at the exams happily.
  ( the exams => object, happily => adverb).
• The lady is smelling the flowers gingerly.
  ( the flowers => object, gingerly => adverb).
• After being closed up for so long, the house smells musty.
  ( musty => Adjective).
• The chef tasted the meat cautiously before presenting it to the king.
  (the meat => object, cautiously => adverb)
• Your chocolate cake tastes delicious.
  (delicious => adjective)

Back to English Grammar - Parts of speech

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