Here, Tamara is the subject, the person who does the action, and went to the store is the predicate. With normal verbs, the predicate describes the action done by the subject, as with this example: The subject is a noun that performs the action of the verb and typically comes at the beginning of a sentence. (We explain more on how to tell the difference below.) How do you use linking verbs?Įvery sentence has two parts: a subject and a predicate. While the verbs be, become, and seem are always linking verbs, some other verbs have one or two particular contexts where they act as linking verbs. That means sensory verbs like appear, look, feel, smell, sound, or taste can act as linking verbs when they describe the subject.

Linking verbs define the subject or add more details about it. However, sometimes a verb can be either, depending on how it’s used. In fact, you can categorize all verbs into two groups, action verbs and linking verbs. This makes linking verbs different from other types of verbs like ditransitive verbs, phrasal verbs, or impersonal verbs, which all describe specific actions. Linking verbs simply explain the state of the subject, such as what it is or how it looks. Unlike other verbs, linking verbs do not show an action-or more accurately, the only action they show is merely existing. Grammarly helps you communicate confidently Write with Grammarly What is a linking verb?

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