Linking Verbs in English

Linking Verbs in English: Meaning, Use & Common Mistakes (B1–C1)

Hello English learners, and welcome to a new lesson. Today we’re looking at linking verbs in English — a small grammar topic with a surprisingly big impact on accuracy, especially in Cambridge exams, IELTS, and advanced writing.

Many learners use linking verbs correctly without realising why they are correct. This lesson will help you understand what linking verbs are, how they work, and how to avoid common mistakes.

What are Linking Verbs?

Linking verbs do not describe an action.

Instead, they connect the subject of a sentence to information about that subject.

In other words, a linking verb acts like a bridge between:

• the subject, and
• a description or identity of that subject.

Compare these sentences:

• He is swimming in the sea.
  → Swimming is an action verb.
• The sea looks calm today.
  → Looks is a linking verb because it describes the subject (the sea).

Linking verbs tell us what something is like, what it becomes, or what state it is in.

What Comes after a Linking Verb?

Linking verbs are followed by:

• an adjective, or
• a noun / noun phrase

They are not followed by a direct object.

✔️ You look tired.

✔️ The dinner smells delicious.

✔️ She became a teacher.

❌ You look tiredness.

❌ She became quickly.

This is a key exam point.

The Most Common Linking Verbs

1. The Verb BE

The verb be (am, is, are, was, were, been, being) is the most important linking verb in English.

• I am pleased to hear the good news.
• The children were silent during the performance.
• Peter is a reliable colleague.

2. Linking Verbs of Appearance, Feeling & the Senses

These verbs describe how something appears, feels, or is perceived.

Look – feel – smell – taste – sound

• You look exhausted.
• This wine tastes sour.
• The plan sounds reasonable.
• Her coat feels soft.
• The kitchen smells wonderful.

Important:

These verbs can also be action verbs in other contexts.

• She looked at me angrily. (action)
• She looked angry. (linking)

Context is everything.

3. Linking Verbs Showing Change or Development

These verbs show that the subject changes state.

Become – get – grow – turn – remain – stay – prove – seem – appear

• Sara became fed up with her job.
• His face turned red.
• The children got bored.
• His hopes remained unfulfilled.
• Tara’s expectations proved correct.
• He seemed nervous before the interview.
• The woman appeared calm.

These verbs are extremely useful in formal writing and descriptions.

Linking Verbs vs Action Verbs

Some verbs can be linking or action verbs, depending on meaning.

Compare:

• The chef tasted the soup. (action – he did something)
• The soup tasted strange. (linking – description)
• She felt the fabric. (action)
• She felt confident. (linking)

A good test:

If you can replace the verb with is / was and the sentence still makes sense, it’s probably a linking verb.

A Note about Auxiliary (Helping) Verbs

You may see sentences like:

• It does seem cold today.
• We will be tired after the journey.

Here’s the key point:

• does / will / have are auxiliary verbs
• The linking verb is seem or be

Auxiliary verbs help with tense, emphasis, or modality, but they are not linking verbs themselves.

Common Learner Mistakes

❌ Using an adverb instead of an adjective

• She looks beautifully. → ✔️ She looks beautiful.

❌ Treating linking verbs like action verbs

• The soup tasted the chef. → ✔️ The chef tasted the soup.

❌ Confusing sense verbs

• I am smelling the flowers. (action)
• The flowers smell lovely. (linking)

Final Tip

Linking verbs:

• do not show action
• connect the subject to information about it
• are usually followed by adjectives or nouns
• are essential for accurate descriptions and high-level writing

Mastering linking verbs in English will instantly make your English sound clearer, calmer, and more natural — exactly what examiners like.

Learn about verbs of the senses here

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