There are several different types of verbs, and each verb has a very different function in a sentence. For example, action verbs describe the action being done by the subject. Auxiliary verbs help other verbs by adding tense, mood, voice, or modality. 

Linking verbs do not do either of these things; instead, they provide a connection or “link” between the subject of the sentence and a noun or adjective that describes or identifies that subject. 

In this blog post, we will focus on learning how to recognize and use linking verbs, but you can learn more about the other types of verbs on Albert. 

To better understand how linking verbs work, it can be helpful to picture a chain-link fence. Hundreds of steel wires connect together to make a solid barrier to keep something in or out. Just one of these wires on its own cannot protect much of anything, but once it is linked to another wire and another, it becomes something much stronger. 

Similarly, when we use linking verbs to “link” or connect our subjects to other nouns or adjectives to help describe that subject, we make our subjects and overall sentences stronger. 

Think about the following sentence: 

• The girl walked down the street. 

This sentence uses an action verb to describe what the subject is doing, but the reader does not know much else about this girl who is walking. We do not know what she looks like, how she is feeling, or what she likes to do in her free time. All we can do is imagine a figure moving down a road. 

This is where linking verbs are essential. Linking verbs allow the writer to add descriptive details about the subject throughout the sentence. Here is the same sentence, but with linking verbs added: 

• The girl walking down the street had blonde hair tucked under a wide-brimmed straw hat and was delighted to see that her favorite ice cream shop had just opened for the day. 

Suddenly, an image of this girl begins to appear in our minds. We can see her smiling as she skips happily toward the ice cream shop. Linking verbs have the power to activate these images in readers’ minds by connecting descriptive nouns and adjectives to the subject. 

When you’re ready, test yourself with a quiz  and practice with our high-quality, standards-aligned questions here.

The Basics of Linking Verbs

What is a linking verb? 

Linking verbs connect or “link” the subject of a sentence with a noun or an adjective that describes that subject. 

For example: 

• He felt tired after the weekend baseball tournament. 

In this sentence, felt is a linking verb that connects the descriptive adjective, tired, to the subject, he. 

How are linking verbs different from action verbs? 

While linking verbs and action verbs are both able to connect the subject of the sentence to another noun in the sentence, their purpose is doing so is different. 

For example: 

• Lisa called her sister to reschedule their annual beach trip. 

In this sentence, called is an action verb because it describes the action performed by the subject. Even though the noun, sister, follows this verb, this noun does not describe the subject, Lisa. Therefore, called cannot be a linking verb and must be an action verb. 

Here is a different example: 

• Stephanie was Lisa’s sister. 

In this sentence, was is a linking verb because it connects the subject, Stephanie, to a noun that describes the subject.

How are linking verbs different from auxiliary verbs? 

It is easy to confuse linking verbs with auxiliary verbs since many auxiliary verbs look exactly the same as linking verbs; however, there is a way to quickly analyze whether a verb is linking or auxiliary. 

Auxiliary verbs cannot exist in a sentence without another verb, while linking verbs can stand on their own in a sentence. 

For example, the word have can be an auxiliary verb or a linking verb depending on how it is used in a sentence. 

• Have you ridden the new Flight of Passage ride at Animal Kingdom yet? 

In this sentence, have is an auxiliary verb because it is paired with the action verb, ridden. 

Now look at this sentence: 

• I have a collection of 300 silly bands from elementary school. 

In this sentence, have is a linking verb that describes the subject using another noun: collection. 

What is the relationship between these three types of verbs? 

• Action verbs and linking verbs are alike in that they can both stand alone in a sentence without the help of any other verbs.
• Action verbs and linking verbs are different in that action verbs show what action the subject is performing while linking verbs describe the noun by linking descriptors.
• Auxiliary verbs and linking verbs are alike in that many of the same words can be either auxiliary or linking verbs.
• Auxiliary verbs and linking verbs are different in that auxiliary verbs must connect to another verb in the sentence to make sense while linking verbs can stand on their own.
• Additionally, while auxiliary verbs help the verb show tense, mood, voice, or modality, linking verbs help describe the subject by connecting descriptive nouns or adjectives.

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3 Tips for Understanding Linking Verbs

Here are some important tips to help you understand linking verbs: 

Tip #1. The most common linking verb is any form of the verb “to be”

• For example, if a writer wanted to say that “I am quick-witted” or that “he is good at math” or that “we are going to the movies later”, these are all examples of different members of the “to be” linking verb family. 

Tip #2. Other common linking verbs are “sense” verbs

• For example, many verbs such as feel, seem, smell, taste, look, appear, or sound can act as linking verbs. 
• However, writers must be very careful! These same verbs can be action verbs, so you must make sure to use these correctly. 
• For example: 
  • The bald eagle in the zoo looked unamused with his current environment. 
• In this sentence, looked is a linking verb that “links” the adjective, unamused, with the subject, the bald eagle. 
• Here is a different example: 
  • The bald eagle looked across the cold, dark water for his next meal. 
• In this sentence, looked is an action verb because it describes the action being performed by the subject. 

Tip #3. Linking verbs are a useful descriptive tool for writers

• Especially when you are writing creatively, it can be difficult to develop your characters and settings while still moving along the plot. 
• Linking verbs are a great tool for describing physical details about both characters and settings as well as emotional and psychological details about characters. 
• For example, if the main character of a story was Miles Morales, the writer could say:
  • Miles Morales was bitten by a radioactive spider. 
• That sentence gives the reader a sense of the action of the story, but the reader still cannot picture Miles in their head or understand when and how he was bitten. 
• Instead, if the writer chose to use linking verbs, the sentence could go more like this: 
  • Miles Morales was the son of a police officer, and Miles was an artist creating neon-colored murals beneath a bustling city when he was bitten by a radioactive spider. 
• Now, thanks to the linking verb, was, the writer has been able to give context for both Miles’ character and the setting of the story. The reader is likely to be more engaged now that they are more fully informed. 

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Applying the Basics: Linking Verb Review & Practice

Now that you understand how linking verbs function in sentences, review the anchor chart below and complete the review to fully understand how to use and recognize linking verbs. 

The Ultimate List of Linking Verbs

Refer to the graphic below to learn the different types of linking verbs:

This list, obviously, does not include all possible linking verbs; however, it is meant to be used as a guide while identifying this type of verb.

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Linking Verb Exercises and Review 

Now that you know some common linking verbs, test your ability to find these verbs.

Select the linking verb(s) in the sentences below. Remember, the purpose of the verbs is to connect or “link” nouns or adjectives to the subject in order to describe it. 

1. Eleven was unsure if she could trust Mike after he lied to her. 

• In this sentence, was is a linking verb because it helps describe how Eleven felt when she was betrayed by her friend. 

2. Billy felt sick after being possessed by the Mind Flayer. 

• In this sentence, felt is a linking verb that connects the subject, Billy, to the description of how he feels after his encounter with the Mind Flayer. 

3. Steve’s mom exclaimed that her son smelled stinky and needed an immediate shower. 

•  In this sentence, smelled is a linking verb that describes Steve and how badly he needed a shower. 

4. Will’s mother was determined to find her son and bring him back from the Upside Down. 

• In this sentence, was is a linking verb that describes Will’s mother by connecting to a descriptive adjective, determined. 

5. As Alexei tasted the cherry slush, he felt much more willing to divulge important information. 

• In this sentence, there is only one linking verb! While it seems like tasted should be a linking verb, it is not. Remember, the noun after the verb has to give a description of the subject. Since it does not and instead describes what Alexei tasted, it is an action verb. 
• Therefore, the only linking verb in this sentence is felt. Since we can ask, “how did Alexei feel?” and find that the answer is the adjective, “willing”, we know that felt is a linking verb connecting willing to the subject, he (Alexei). 

Pro tip: When evaluating whether a verb is a linking verb, ask yourself these questions: 

1. Is the verb connecting or linking a noun or adjective to the subject? 
2. Does the noun or adjective describe the subject? 
3. If the answer to both of these questions is “yes”, then the verb is linking.

For additional practice, check out our Linking Verb practice content on Albert.

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Try for Yourself: Linking Verbs Quiz

Feeling confident in your understanding of linking verbs? 

Take this short six-question quiz to see what you’ve learned:

1. Can a linking verb connect two nouns in a sentence? 

• Answer: Yes 
• Correct Explanation: That’s right! A linking verb can connect two nouns in a sentence as long as the second noun describes the first. 
• Incorrect Explanation: Sorry, that’s not right! Remember, a linking verb connects a noun or an adjective to the subject of the sentence in order to describe it. 

2. Can linking verbs and auxiliary verbs be used in the same way in a sentence? 

• Answer: No  
• Correct Explanation: That’s right! Linking verbs and auxiliary verbs have very different functions. While linking verbs connect a noun or an adjective to the subject of the sentence in order to describe it, auxiliary verbs attach to other verbs to add tense, mood, voice, or modality. 
• Incorrect Explanation: Sorry, that’s not right! Remember, linking verbs connect a noun or an adjective to the subject of the sentence in order to describe it, while auxiliary verbs attach to other verbs to add tense, mood, voice, or modality. 

3. In this sentence, is the word, “was” a linking verb or an auxiliary verb? 

The cat was asleep before being awakened suddenly by the hyper dog. 

• Answer: Linking Verb
• Correct Explanation: That’s right! The verb was is a linking verb in this sentence because it connects the descriptive adjective, asleep, to the subject, cat. 
• Incorrect Explanation: Sorry, that’s not right! Remember, linking verbs connect a noun or an adjective to the subject of the sentence in order to describe it, while auxiliary verbs attach to other verbs to add tense, mood, voice, or modality. 

4. In this sentence, is the word, “sounds” a linking verb or an action verb? 

The fire engine sounds an alarm for all traffic to move aside. 

• Answer: Action
• Correct Explanation: That’s right! The action verb sounds is being used to describe the action performed by the subject, fire engine. 
• Incorrect Explanation: Sorry, that’s not right! Remember, a linking verb connects a descriptive noun or adjective to the subject, while an action verb describes the action being performed by the subject. 

5. In this sentence, is the word, “have” a linking verb or an auxiliary verb? 

I have not completed my Biology homework yet. 

• Answer: Auxiliary
• Correct Explanation: That’s right! In this sentence, the word have is an auxiliary verb because it connects to the main verb, completed, in order to express tense. 
• Incorrect Explanation: Sorry, that’s not right! Remember, linking verbs connect a noun or an adjective to the subject of the sentence in order to describe it, while auxiliary verbs attach to other verbs to add tense, mood, voice, or modality.

6. In this sentence, is the word, “felt”, a linking verb or an action verb? 

It felt drafty and eerie in the old, abandoned house. 

• Answer: Linking
• Correct Explanation: That’s right! Felt is a linking verb that connects the subject, it, to the descriptive adjectives, drafty and eerie. 
• Incorrect Explanation: Sorry, that’s not right! Remember, a linking verb connects a descriptive noun or adjective to the subject, while an action verb describes the action being performed by the subject. 

For additional practice with linking verbs, check out our practice on Albert: Linking Verbs.

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Teacher’s Corner for Linking Verbs

As teachers, we know that student comprehension of grammatical concepts is crucial in developing confident writers, readers, and speakers. Even though students may learn these concepts early on in Elementary school, the Common Core English Language Progressive Skills Chart shows that students should continue practicing these concepts to achieve true mastery. 

For specific standards on the different types of verbs including linking verbs, check out the Common Core State Standards site. 

Albert’s Linking Verb Practice provides a large bank of review questions that can be used as a bellwork exercise or as a homework assignment. Our assessments can be personalized by educators to test student comprehension of hand-selected grammatical topics.

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Summary for Linking Verbs

Linking Verbs connect or” link” nouns or adjectives to the subject of the sentence in order to describe that subject. 

Linking Verbs are always followed by a descriptive noun or adjective, while auxiliary verbs are always followed by another verb. 

Linking Verbs help to show the subject’s state of being, while action verbs show the subject’s action. 

Be sure to check out our grammar course for more linking verb practice. 

You can also access over 3,400 high-quality questions that address nearly every grammatical concept.

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