We learned that verbs are an essential component of any sentence. Verbs present action done by the subject. Verbs can also connect or link the subject to additional information about this subject. Such verbs are called linking verbs. For example:
- My mother is a great cook.
The verb “is” does not denote an action word. But it connects the subject of the sentence – “My mother” – to some additional information about her.
- Richard seems sad today.
The verb “seems” does not denote any action word but it connects the subject of the sentence “Richard” with the additional information that he looks sad.
- After getting the news that she had made it to her dream college, Rachael became very happy.
The verb “become” again does not denote any action but it connects “Rachael”, the subject of the sentence, with the remaining information in the same.
How to recognize linking verb?
If you can replace a verb in the sentence with is, am, or are and the sentence still makes sense, then those verbs are linking verbs. For example:
- The question looked difficult to everybody in the class.
Let’s replace “looked” with is – The question is difficult. This makes all sense. Hence “looked” is a linking verb in this sentence. Furthermore, it will not make sense to consider the question actually performing the action of “looking”. The sense of the sentence here is that the question actually appeared difficult to everyone in the class.
- Josh looked at the question until he solved it in his brain.
So can we say, Josh is the question? Not at all. Hence, “looked” in this sentence is an action verb. Josh is actually performing the action of “looking”.
Now verbs assume different tenses depending on the time frame of the action.
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