Linking Verbs

​Linking Verbs

​What do linking verbs do?

​Linking verbs join the SUBJECT (usually on the left side of the verb) to another word (on the right side of the verb) that DESCRIBES or RENAMES the subject.

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Linking verbs do not show ACTION.

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Think of the linking verb as an =.​

For example . . .

New York is a city​. New York = city

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The best swimmers were Margie and Pam. ​ swimmers=Margie & Pam

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Lucy seems unhappy.​ Lucy = unhappy

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The pie smells good. pie = good​

​The BE Forms (the most common LV)

am, can be, have been,

are, could be, has been,

is, may be, had been,

was, might be, could have been,

were, must be, may have been,

am being, shall be, might have been,

are being, should be, must have been,

is being, will be, shall have been,

was being, would be, should have been,

were being, will have been, would have been

Open Ended

Ellis Island was the busiest immigrant processing center in the U.S.

Open Ended

Citizenship may have been open to people of all origins.

Open Ended

The Immigration Service determines whether immigrants will be citizens.

Other Linking Verbs

​appear, look, sound, become, remain, stay,

feel, seem, taste, grow, smell, turn

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She later became a citizen.

The cream tastes sour.

The food stayed fresh.

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Open Ended

The atmosphere on the ship seemed exciting.

Open Ended

Everyone stayed quiet at the beginning of the voyage.

Open Ended

The waves sounded rough and frightening to the passengers.