Linking Verb:
* The roses smell sweet. (Here, "smell" connects the subject "roses" to the adjective "sweet," describing the roses' scent.)
* That old book smells musty. ("Smell" links the book to the adjective "musty," describing its odor.)
Action Verb:
* Can you smell the smoke from the fire? (Here, "smell" indicates the action of using the sense of smell.)
* I smelled the cookies baking in the oven. ("Smelled" describes the past action of perceiving the cookies' aroma.)
Key Differences:
* Linking verbs connect a subject to a noun or adjective that renames or describes the subject.
* Action verbs express an action or activity performed by the subject.
In summary, "smell" can be used to describe a state of being (linking verb) or an action (action verb) depending on the context.