Ever sat there staring at a sentence, wondering why it feels... You’ve checked the spelling. Day to day, you’ve checked the punctuation. off? You know the feeling. But something about the way the words connect just feels clunky, like a gear that doesn't quite mesh.
Often, the culprit isn't the noun or the adjective. It's the glue.
In the world of grammar, that glue is the verb. But not every verb is built to move action forward. Some verbs are just there to act as a bridge. If you've ever been confused about whether a word is an action or just a connector, you've stumbled into the territory of the linking verb.
What Is a Linking Verb
Let's keep this simple. Most verbs are "action" verbs. They describe something you do—run, jump, eat, think, scream. They carry the momentum of the sentence.
A linking verb is different. It doesn't describe an action. Instead, it connects the subject of your sentence to more information about that subject. It’s a bridge between the "who" or "what" and the "description" or "state of being. Turns out it matters.
Think of it like an equals sign in math.
If I say, "The chef prepared the meal," the verb prepared* is an action. But the chef is doing something to the meal. But if I say, "The chef is talented," the verb is isn't something the chef is performing. Here's the thing — it’s just stating a fact about him. The word is links "the chef" to the description "talented.
The "Equals Sign" Test
Here is a trick I use when I'm editing my own work: try replacing the verb with an equals sign (=).
- "She seems happy" $\rightarrow$ "She = happy." (Makes sense. It's a linking verb.)
- "She runs fast" $\rightarrow$ "She = fast." (Wait, that changes the meaning entirely. Runs* is an action here.)
If the sentence still makes sense (even if it sounds a bit robotic) when you swap the verb for an equals sign, you're looking at a linking verb.
The Heavy Hitters
The most common linking verb is the verb to be*. This includes am, is, are, was, were, be, being,* and been*. They are the backbone of the English language. Beyond those, we have "sensory" verbs like look, feel, smell, sound,* and taste*. These are the ones that trip people up the most because they can act as both actions and links depending on the context.
Why It Matters
You might be thinking, "I've been speaking English my whole life; why do I need to know this?"
Real talk: understanding the distinction between an action verb and a linking verb is the secret to fixing "broken" sentences. Most grammatical errors involving verbs happen because people treat a linking verb like an action verb, or vice versa.
When you understand how these bridges work, your writing becomes much more precise. You stop confusing your reader about what is actually happening* versus what is simply being*. It helps you master the use of adjectives versus adverbs—a struggle that even professional writers face more often than they'd like to admit.
If you get this wrong, your sentences lose their clarity. And in writing, clarity is everything.
How It Works
To really master this, you have to look at the relationship between the subject and the word that follows the verb. We call the word following the linking verb a subject complement. It’s the part that completes the thought.
The Role of the Subject Complement
A subject complement usually takes one of two forms: an adjective or a noun.
If you say, "The ocean looks blue," blue* is an adjective describing the ocean. If you say, "The ocean is a mystery," mystery* is a noun describing the ocean.
In both cases, the verb looks* or is is just the bridge. It isn't "looking" in the sense of using eyes; it's just stating the condition of the ocean.
The Sensory Trap
This is where things get interesting. As I mentioned earlier, verbs like smell, taste, feel, sound,* and look* are chameleons. They can be action verbs or linking verbs.
Let's look at the difference:
- Action: "The baker tasted the soup." (The baker is performing the action of tasting.)
- Linking: "The soup tastes salty." (The soup isn't performing an action; it just has the quality of being salty.)
How do you tell them apart? Use that equals sign test again. "The soup = salty.But " It works. Which means, it's a linking verb.
The State of Being
Then there are the "stative" verbs. These describe a state of being rather than an action. Words like become, seem, appear,* and remain* fall into this category. They don't require a physical movement to function. They are purely about existence and perception.
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Common Mistakes / What Most People Get Wrong
I've seen this error in everything from student essays to professional journalism. It's a subtle one, but it's everywhere.
The Adverb vs. Adjective Confusion
This is the big one. Because linking verbs connect a subject to a description*, that description must be an adjective, not an adverb.
Think about the verb feel*. You are describing how you perform the action of feeling. If you say, "I feel badly," you are actually saying that your sense of touch is impaired. So naturally, if you want to say you are unhappy or unwell, you should say, "I feel bad. " You are describing your state of being.
It's a tiny distinction, but it's the difference between being a person with a physical ailment and a person who is just having a rough day.
Treating Every Verb as an Action
Many people assume that if a word is a verb, it must involve movement or mental effort. They struggle with "is" and "was" because they feel "empty." But these verbs aren't empty; they are foundational. When you try to force an action onto a linking verb, the sentence becomes clunky and unnatural.
Practical Tips / What Actually Works
If you want to sharpen your writing and avoid these pitfalls, here is what I recommend in practice.
- Use the "Substitution Trick" constantly. Whenever you see a verb that feels a bit "soft" (like seems* or appears*), try replacing it with is. If the sentence still holds its logical weight, you've identified a linking verb.
- Watch your sensory verbs. Before you add an "-ly" to a word following smell, taste,* or look*, stop. Ask yourself: "Am I describing the action of the subject, or am I describing the subject itself?" If it's the subject, use an adjective.
- Don't over-rely on "is." While "is" is the king of linking verbs, using it too much can make your writing feel flat and repetitive. If you find your paragraph is just a string of "Subject is... Subject is...", try using more descriptive linking verbs like remains, becomes,* or appears* to add flavor without turning them into action verbs.
- Read it out loud. Your ears are often better at catching grammatical errors than your eyes. If a sentence feels "heavy" or "weirdly phrased," it's often because you've used an adverb where an adjective should be.
FAQ
Can a sentence have more than one verb?
Yes. A sentence can have many verbs, but they must be used correctly. You might have an action verb and a linking verb in the same sentence, such as: "He is (linking) happy because he won (action) the race."
Are there any verbs that are always* linking verbs?
Not strictly speaking, but the forms of "to be" (am, is, are, was, were, be, being, been*) are almost exclusively used as linking verbs or auxiliary verbs. They rarely function as pure action verbs.
What is the difference between a linking verb and
What is the difference between a linking verb and an action verb?
A linking verb connects the subject of a sentence to a subject complement (an adjective or noun) that describes or identifies the subject. For example: "The sky is cloudy" (linking verb is connects sky to the adjective cloudy*). An action verb, on the other hand, describes an action the subject is performing or a state of being caused by the subject. Example: "She writes daily" (action verb writes* shows what she does). Linking verbs often include forms of be (is, are, was) or seem*, become*, or remain*, while action verbs depict movement, activity, or occurrence.
Final Thoughts
Mastering the distinction between linking and action verbs isn’t just about grammar—it’s about clarity and precision in communication. When you misuse a verb, your message becomes muddled. Overusing action verbs where a linking verb is needed can strain the reader’s understanding, while defaulting to is too often risks monotony. The key is to let the sentence’s logic dictate the verb. By practicing the substitution trick, questioning your sensory descriptions, and reading aloud, you’ll train your ear and eye to spot these nuances.
Remember, language is a tool for expression, not a puzzle to solve. In practice, these guidelines are meant to sharpen your instincts, not constrain them. With time, you’ll find yourself naturally choosing the right verb at the right time, crafting sentences that flow with purpose and precision.
So go ahead—write with intention, and let your verbs do the heavy lifting.
