Page 580 - Wordsmith A Guide to College Writing
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Examples of Linking Verbs
The dog is hungry. (The verb is links the subject, dog, with an
adjective describing it.)
Ann has been a police officer for ten years. (The verb has been
links the subject, Ann, with a phrase, police officer, that tells more
about her.)
Tomorrow will be the last day to drop a class without penalty.
(The verb will be links the subject, tomorrow, with a noun, day, that
tells more about it.)
Other common linking verbs include the verbs to seem, to appear, to
grow, and to become. Verbs of the senses, such as to smell, to taste,
to look, to sound, and to feel, can be action or linking verbs,
depending on how they are used.
Examples of Verbs That Can Link or Show
Action
L The gym socks smelled terrible. (Smelled is a linking verb—the socks are
performing no action.)
A Monica smelled the perfume sample. (The verb smelled shows Monica’s physical
action.)
L The pumpkin pie looks tasty. (The verb links pie with the adjective tasty.)
