Here's a breakdown:
* Subject: The person, place, thing, or idea that the sentence is about.
* Linking verb: A verb that connects the subject to the predicate nominative or predicate adjective. Common linking verbs include "be," "seem," "appear," "become," "feel," "look," "sound," "smell," "taste," and "remain."
* Predicate nominative: A noun or pronoun that renames the subject.
* Predicate adjective: An adjective that describes the subject.
Examples:
* She is a doctor. ("is" is the linking verb, "doctor" is the predicate nominative)
* The sky looks blue. ("looks" is the linking verb, "blue" is the predicate adjective)
* He feels happy. ("feels" is the linking verb, "happy" is the predicate adjective)
In essence, a linking verb acts as a bridge between the subject and a word or phrase that renames or describes it.