Linking verb

also called copular verb

• copular = connecting
• = a verb that does not indicate an action
  • instead, it connects a subject to a modifier (adjective, prepositional phrase) or noun
• ex.
  • I am happy
  • She is a doctor

Linking verbs list

linking verb with subject complements

Linking (copular) verb	Subject complement adjective (predicate adjective)	Subject complement noun (predicate nominitive)	Subject complement prepositional phrase (modifier)
to be (am, are, is, was, were, etc.)	We are happy	We are a family	The book is on the table
* appear	They appear lost
* become, feel, get	I have become happy	She became the problem
feel	Velvet feels soft
* look	The team looks readyClowns look funny
* prove, remain, stay	The test proved difficultThe coach remains undecidedTraffic stayed bad all day
seem, sound	That clown seem unhappyThey sound reasonable
smell, taste	Rotten apples smell badRotten apples taste bad		It smells like roses

* note: many linking verbs can also be finite action verbs that take objects

• ex.
  • I got a new house << "got" = the action of acquiring
  • I looked at the horses << look here is an action of observing (as opposed to a state of "looking like")
  • The detective proved the theory << prove is the action of solving
  • The table stays there << stay is the action of remaining in place, so "there" is an adverb that modifies the finite action verb, "stays"

linking verbs with non-finite verb complements

Subject complement adjective (non-finite verb adjective) (participle adjectives)	Subject complement noun (non-finite verb noun) (gerund)	Subject complement noun (non-finite infinitive) (noun or adjective)
We were stokedWe felt spentHe got annoyingTraffic stayed stuck	He appears to be the real dealMy down time is watching sportsHis passion is traveling	We've got to go Her passion is to travel The dog seems to feel happy

Linking verb = not an action

• key to the linking or copular verb is that it does not indicate a specific action
• instead, the linking verb refers to a state, condition, or existence of the subject

Linking verbs have complements and not objects

• objects = the result of an action
• since linking verbs do not indicate a specific action, they have "subject complements"
  • subject complement = a noun or adjective

predicate adjective & predicate nominative

• = different terms for adjectives or nouns that act as the predicate for a linking verb

predicate nominative	= subject complement noun	Mr. Jones ia a farmer
predicate adjective	= subject complement adjective	Flowers are pretty
	subject complement prepositional phrase	Her performance is at the theater

• prepositional phrases are "subject complement modifiers" and not "predicate adjectives"