The Linking Verb : In grammar, a linking verb is a verb that connects the subject of a sentence to a noun, pronoun, or adjective that describes or renames it. Unlike action verbs that show a physical or mental action, linking verbs act as an equal sign between the subject and the complement.
The most common linking verb is “to be,” which includes forms such as am, is, are, was, were, be, being, and been. Other linking verbs include seem, become, appear, feel, and taste.
Linking verbs do not show action in the traditional sense but instead link the subject to a state of being or condition. For example, in the sentence “She is happy,” the linking verb “is” connects the subject “she” to the adjective “happy,” which describes her state of being.
Linking verbs are also used to create predicate nominatives or predicate adjectives. A predicate nominative is a noun or pronoun that follows a linking verb and renames or identifies the subject. For example, in the sentence “The winner is Sarah,” the linking verb “is” connects the subject “winner” to the predicate nominative “Sarah.”
A predicate adjective is an adjective that follows a linking verb and describes or modifies the subject. For example, in the sentence “The soup tastes salty,” the linking verb “tastes” connects the subject “soup” to the predicate adjective “salty.”
It’s important to note that not all verbs that may appear to link the subject to the complement are actually linking verbs. Some action verbs can also be used intransitively and function as linking verbs, such as “seem,” “look,” and “feel.”
Linking verbs play an important role in connecting the subject to the complement and describing the state of being or condition. Understanding and identifying linking verbs can help improve sentence structure and grammar in writing and communication.
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