Linking Verbs

The great equal sign of sentences!

The Verb• A verb

expresses action

OR

a state of being

Action Verbs• Expresses either a physical

or mental activity

• Tells what the subject is doing

• Can be found by asking

“Can I ______?”

Linking Verbs• A verb that expresses a “state

of being”

To be:

I am We are

You are You are

He/she is They are

was were

be, being, been

What Are Linking Verbs?

• Linking verbs act as an equals (=) sign in the sentence.

• The subject is not doing anything.

Function of a Linking Verb

• Linking verbs link a word in the subject to a word in the predicate

that renames it or describes it.

(a noun) (an adjective)

• In other words, they are equal!

Examples of Linking Verbs

• Linking verbs include the forms of the verb to be– is, am , was, were, are, be, being, been

• These also express “being”taste sound growsmell seem staylook appear remain

feel become turn

Review A and Exercise 4 on pages 48- 49! Please complete!

Linking Verbs in Action

Mrs. C is a language arts’ teacher.

Here is the linking verb.

Mrs. Cochren is the subject.

Linking Verbs in Action

Mrs. C is a language arts’ teacher.

Think of the linking verb as an equals (=) sign

Linking Verbs in Action

Mrs.C is a language arts’ teacher .

Mrs. C equals what?

Teacher is a noun in the predicate that renames the subject, so we call it a predicate nominative

Important Note!

• A linking verb will always have a word in the predicate that it links to the subject.

• Always!

• Yes, always!

Linking Verbs in Action

The trees turn beautiful in the fall.

Linking Verb

SubjectPredicate Adjective

The trees are beautiful.

Turn is used as a state of being!

Linking Verbs in Action

The play seems exciting.

Linking Verb

SubjectPredicate Adjective

The play is exciting.

Seems is a state of being!

Linking Verbs in Action

She became the president of the club .

Linking Verb

SubjectPredicate

Noun

She was the president!

You Try It!

• Find the linking verbs in the

upcoming sentences

• Use your mouse pointer to click on the word of your choice.

You Try It!

Ice cream is my favorite dessert.

YES!

Oh NO!

You Try It!

This water tastes funny.

YES!

Oh NO!

You Try It!

The report cards were terrible.

YES!

Oh NO!

You Try It!

That couple seems pleasant.

YES!

Oh NO!

You Try It!

We were delirious with joy!

YES!

Oh NO!

Need Another Clue

• There is a way to find out if the word you are looking at is a linking verb or not.

• Are you ready to find out what it is?

Substitution

• If you can substitute is, am, or are for the word you think is a linking verb, and the sentence still makes sense…you are probably right!

• Let’s experiment!

Is, Am, Are

• Here is a sentence

The pie smells delicious

If we think smells is a linking verb, let’s substitute one of our words and see if it still makes sense!

Is, Am, Are

• Here is a sentence

The pie is delicious

The sentence still makes sense, so smells is a linking verb!

Is, Am, Are

• Now let’s try one that doesn’t work

The meatloaf appears overcooked.

We have appears as a verb. Is makes sense!

Let’s substitute again.

Let’s Review!

• Linking verbs act as equal (=) signs between a noun in the subject and a noun or adjective .

• Linking verbs link a word in the subject to a word in the predicate.

• Linking verbs do NOT show action.

• Linking verbs tell us that something is or is like something else.

• We can substitute is, am, or are to see if a verb is linking.