Here's a breakdown:
* Subject: The person, place, thing, or idea the sentence is about.
* Linking Verb: Connects the subject to its description or renaming.
* Complement: The word or phrase that describes or renames the subject.
Common Linking Verbs:
* Be Verbs: am, is, are, was, were, be, being, been
* Other Linking Verbs: appear, become, feel, grow, look, seem, smell, sound, taste, remain, stay, turn
Examples:
* The sky is blue. ("is" links the subject "sky" to the description "blue")
* She feels happy. ("feels" links the subject "she" to the description "happy")
* He became a doctor. ("became" links the subject "he" to the renaming "a doctor")
* The music sounds beautiful. ("sounds" links the subject "music" to the description "beautiful")
Important Note:
Linking verbs are different from action verbs, which describe an action being performed. For example, "She ran" is an action verb because "ran" describes the action of running.
How to identify a linking verb:
1. Find the subject of the sentence.
2. Look for a verb that connects the subject to a description or renaming.
3. Ask yourself: "Does the verb describe an action being performed?" If not, it's likely a linking verb.
Let me know if you'd like more examples or want to explore a specific type of linking verb!