Linking Verb

LINGKING VERB

A.       DEFINITIONS AND EXAMPLES

Ø Linking verbs are verbs that do not express action.

Example, "My cat looked happy" the verb looked is used as a linking verb. Many times the verb looked is an action verb because someone is looking for something, but in the example sentence, looked describes my cat in the predicate and that makes looked function as a linking verb. If the word happy is used in the subject, then happy would have been an ordinary adjective.

Mr. Muhyi ask, “What word as linking verb in these sentence she is beautiful looking?”

Explanation :

There is no she is looking beautiful in the grammar (based on Mr. Dhafir’s explanation). In the sentence she is beautiful looking, is as linking verb because looking as noun. Understand?  

Ø Linking verbs have function as subject connector and its complement. Linking verbs are usually followed by adjective. (Mr. Syafi’i).

• You look so confused.
• The movie seems exciting.

Ø The linking verb connection between the subject to the noun or adjective is something like an equal sign. She is tall. -- She = tall.

1.         Linking:
The monkey looked hungry.
(Hungry monkey or monkey is hungry) In this sentence looked is a linking verb.

2.         Action:
The monkey looked for food.
"For food" is a prepositional phrase and it must be omitted before checking. The sentence remaining after omitting the prepositional phrase is "The monkey looked". There is no noun or adjective to link monkey to. Looked is an action verb in this sentence.

3.         Linking: The soup tasted good.
Check: soup is good, good soup, soup = good

4.         Action: I tasted the soup.
Check: I am the soup (no), soup am I (no) I = soup (no)

5.         Linking: He grew tired of walking.
Of walking is a prepositional phrase and not included in the check. You should omit the prepositional phrase to check: "He grew tired".
Check: He is tired, tired is he, he = tired.

6.         Action: He grew into a tall man.
Omit the prepositional phrase into a tall man before checking. That leaves the sentence, "He grew." There's no noun or adjective left to link to, so grew is used as an action verb in this sentence.

7.         Linking:
Mother appeared happy at her party. Omit the prepositional phrase, "at her party". Now the sentence reads, "Mother appeared happy." Check: mother is happy, happy mother, mother = happy.

8.         Action: Mother appeared quietly in the room.
Omit the prepositional phrase, "in the room". The sentence now reads: Mother appeared quietly. Quietly is an adverb, omit the adverb. "Mother appeared." There is no noun or adjective to link mother to, so appeared is used as an action verb.

9.         Linking:
The bugle sounds loud.
Check: bugle is loud, loud bugle, bugle = loud (yes, yes, and yes)

10.     Action:
The bugle sounded loudly.
Check: Bugle is loudly. (no)
Loudly describes the verb. It answers the question How? Loudly is an adverb, omit the adverb. That leaves the sentence "The bugle sounded."

B.        WORDS THAT MAY BE USED AS LINKING VERBS

1.         Verbs that are sometimes used as linking verbs

• Feel
• Taste
• Look
• Smell
• Appear
• Grow
• Remain
• Seem
• Sound
• Become

2.         Forms of to be are sometimes used as linking verbs

• Is
• Am
• Are
• Was
• Were
• Be
• Being
• Been

Presented By Mr. Abd. Wahid Ghafur on April, 8^th 2012.