Here's a breakdown of how to use linking verbs:
1. Identifying Linking Verbs
The most common linking verbs are forms of "to be":
* am, is, are, was, were, be, been, being
Other linking verbs include:
* appear, become, feel, grow, look, remain, seem, smell, sound, taste, turn
2. Structure of Sentences with Linking Verbs
The basic structure is:
* Subject + Linking Verb + Complement
The complement is the word or phrase that renames or describes the subject.
Examples:
* Subject + Linking Verb + Noun (Renaming the subject)
* She is a doctor. (Doctor renames She)
* My favorite animal is a cat. (Cat renames animal)
* Subject + Linking Verb + Adjective (Describing the subject)
* The sky is blue. (Blue describes sky)
* He feels happy. (Happy describes He)
* Subject + Linking Verb + Pronoun (Renaming the subject)
* The winner is she. (She renames winner)
* Subject + Linking Verb + Phrase (Describing the subject)
* He became a successful entrepreneur. (Entrepreneur describes He)
* The house looks like a castle. (Like a castle describes house)
3. Differentiating Linking Verbs from Action Verbs
Action verbs describe an action performed by the subject. You can usually replace a linking verb with a form of "to be".
* Action Verb: The dog barked loudly.
* Linking Verb: The dog is loud. (You can replace "is" with "was")
Key Point: The complement after a linking verb will never be the direct object of an action verb.
Examples:
* Action Verb: He painted the house red. (House is the direct object)
* Linking Verb: The house is red. (Red describes house)
By understanding how linking verbs work, you can use them effectively to create clear and concise sentences that convey meaning accurately.