UNIT 14

LINKING VERB

ENGLISH GRAMMAR 1
 OBJECTIVE

For students, who learn English,

What is linking verb? How to identify linking verb? are not easy
• This unit will give fundamental knowledge about:

• Understanding linking verbs

=> Can identify sentence structure; therefore, you can realize your
sentence is
correct or not.

ENGLISH GRAMMAR 2
14.1 WHAT ARE LINKING VERBS?
 A linking verb is a verb that describes the subject by connecting it to a
predicate adjective or predicate noun
 They do not describe any direct action taken or controlled by the
subject
 Linking verbs include copulas such as the English verb be and its
various forms, as well as verbs of perception such as look, sound, or
taste and some other verbs that describe the subject, such as seem,
become, or remain

ENGLISH GRAMMAR 3
14.1 WHAT ARE LINKING VERBS?
 In addition to predicateadjectivesand predicatenouns, English allows
for predicate prepositional phrases as well: John is behind the cocktail
cabinet

Example:
Lan is a doctor.
She seemed unable to concentrate.
The house became Peter's in 1980

ENGLISH GRAMMAR 4
14.1 WHAT ARE LINKING VERBS?
 The most common linking verb is be

 Others are to do with

• ‘being’, e.g. keep, prove, remain, stay;
• ‘becoming’, e.g. become, come, end up, grow, turn out; and
• ‘seeming’, e.g. appear, look, seem, sound

 Most of these verbs can be followed by either an adjective or noun

phrase. However, when they are used as linking verbs, come and
grow can’t be followed by a noun phrase, and keep is only followed
by a noun if an adjective follows it

ENGLISH GRAMMAR 5
14.1 WHAT ARE LINKING VERBS?

PRACTICE:
Look at the sentences below then underline the linking verb:
1. Train fares are likely to remain unchanged.
• Train fares are likely to remain unchanged.

2. I feel sorry for his loss.

• I feel sorry for his loss.

3. He never stays angry for long.

• He never stays angry for long.

ENGLISH GRAMMAR 6
14.1 WHAT ARE LINKING VERBS?
PRACTICE:
Look at the sentences below then underline the linking verb:

4. He clean the floor because he stepped his muddy

shoes on.
• He clean the floor because he stepped his muddy
shoes on.

5. She sounded more confident than she felt.

• She sounded more confident than she felt.

ENGLISH GRAMMAR 7
14.2 LINKING VERBS VS. ACTION VERBS
 The verbs be, seem, and become are always used as linking verbs.

 However, the other linking verbs all have the capacity to behave as
action verbs
in a sentence
 Sometimes it is tricky to know whether a verb is functioning as a
linking verb or as an action verb, but there are ways that we can be
sure

ENGLISH GRAMMAR 8
14.2 LINKING VERBS VS. ACTION VERBS

A. Checking the predicate

• The predicate of a linking verb is, by definition, an adjective, noun, noun
phrase, or
pronoun that directly describes, renames, or re-identifies the subject of the
clause
• If we want to see if a verb is functioning as a linking verb, we can simply
check whether the predicate that follows is describing the subject
 If it is, then it is a linking verb
 if it is not, then it is functioning as an action verb

ENGLISH GRAMMAR 9
14.2 LINKING VERBS VS. ACTION VERBS

Example:
• “He looked unwell yesterday.”
(Linking verb—the predicate unwell yesterday describes the subject of the
clause, he.)
• “He looked quickly to the right.”
(Action verb—the predicate quickly to the right describes the action of the
verb.)
• “I hope you get better soon.”
(Linking verb—the predicate better soon describes the subject of the clause,
you.)
• “Would you please get a glass of water for me?”
ENGLISH GRAMMAR 10
(Action verb—the predicate a glass of water is the direct object of the verb.)
14.2 LINKING VERBS VS. ACTION VERBS

B. Replacing the verb with ‘be’

 If we are still not certain about the kind of verb we’re dealing with,
we can also try replacing the verb in question with be

 Let’s look at the two sets of examples above, this time replacing the
verb in each case with ‘be’

ENGLISH GRAMMAR 11
14.2 LINKING VERBS VS. ACTION VERBS

Example:
• “He looked unwell yesterday.”
• “He was unwell yesterday.”
• “He looked quickly to the right.”
• “He was quickly to the right.”
• “I hope you get better soon.”
• “I hope you are better soon.”
• “Would you please get a glass of water for
me?”
• “Would you please are a glass of water for
me?” ENGLISH GRAMMAR 12
14.2 LINKING VERBS VS. ACTION VERBS
PRACTICE:
Look at the sentences below then underline the linking verb in each sentence:

1. I have a cold and I feel miserable right now.

• I have a cold and I feel miserable right now.

2. That song sounds good, we should play it again.

• That song sounds good, we should play it again.

3. “Little Women” is my favorite movie, I have seen it five times.

• “Little Women” is my favorite movie, I have seen it five times.

ENGLISH GRAMMAR 13
14.2 LINKING VERBS VS. ACTION VERBS
PRACTICE:
Look at the sentences below then underline the linking verb in each sentence:

4. These oranges look very bright and taste really sweet.

• These oranges look very bright and taste really sweet.

5. These jeans feel too tight, they must belong to my little sister.
• These jeans feel too tight, they must belong to my little sister.

6. Lan’s car was blue until she damaged it and had it repainted.
• Lan’s car was blue until she damaged it and had it repainted.

ENGLISH GRAMMAR 14
14.2 LINKING VERBS VS. ACTION VERBS
PRACTICE:
Look at the sentences below then underline the linking verb in each sentence:

7. Did it sound natural?.

• Did it sound natural?

8. She appeared to be in her late forties.

• She appeared to be in her late forties.

ENGLISH GRAMMAR 15
14.2 LINKING VERBS VS. ACTION VERBS

PRACTICE:
Look at the sentences below then underline the
linking verb in each sentence:

9. She becomes suspicious of everything they say.

• She becomes suspicious of everything they say

10.She seems happy after hearing the news

• She seems happy after hearing the news.

ENGLISH GRAMMAR 16
14.3 LINKING VERB ‘APPEAR’, ‘LOOK’, ‘PROVE’, ‘SEEM’ AND ‘TURN OUT’

 After the verbs appear (= seems true), look (= seem), prove, seem,
and turn out we can often either include or omit to be:
Example:
• The room appears (to be) brighter than when I last saw it
• She proved (to be) an extremely enthusiastic teacher
 However, following these verbs to be is usually included before the
adjectives
alive, alone, asleep, and awake, and before the -ing forms of verbs:
Example:
• I didn’t go in because she appeared to be asleep.
(not ...she appeared asleep.)
• The roads seem to be getting icy so drive
ENGLISH GRAMMAR 17
carefully. (not The roads seem getting...)
14.3 LINKING VERB ‘APPEAR’, ‘LOOK’, ‘PROVE’, ‘SEEM’ AND ‘TURN OUT’

 Before a noun we include to be when the noun tells us what the

subject is, but can often leave it out when we give our opinion of
the person or thing in the subject.

 We tend to leave out to be in more formal English. Compare:

• He walked into what seemed to be a cave. (not ...what seemed a cave.)
And
• She seems (to be) a very efficient salesperson.

ENGLISH GRAMMAR 18
PRACTICE:

Fill the given words in suitable blank (there are some extra words)
appear look prove seem turn out
alive along asleep awake
1. She …………… absolutely glamourous in that
gown.
• She looks absolutely glamourous in that
gown
2. It ………………. difficult to overcome this
period.
• It seems difficult to overcome this period.
ENGLISH GRAMMAR 19
14.3 LINKING VERB ‘APPEAR’, ‘LOOK’, ‘PROVE’, ‘SEEM’ AND ‘TURN OUT’

PRACTICE:
Fill the given words in suitable blank (there are some extra words)
appear look prove seem turn out
alive along asleep awake

3. He always ……………… to be smart every time.

• He always proves to be smart every time

4. I didn’t go in because she appeared to be

………………..
• I didn’t go in because she appeared to be
asleep.

5. It ……………… that she struggled with depression.

• It appears that she struggled depression.
withGRAMMAR
ENGLISH 20
14.3 LINKING VERB ‘APPEAR’, ‘LOOK’, ‘PROVE’, ‘SEEM’ AND ‘TURN OUT’

PRACTICE:
Fill the given words in suitable blank (there are some extra words)
appear look prove seem turn out
alive along asleep awake

6. The truth ……………… to be stranger than we had

expected.
• The truth turned out to be stranger than we had
expected

7. John’s family and doctors turn to happy because he

seem to be ……………….
ENGLISH GRAMMAR 21
• John’s family and doctors turn to happy because
14.4 LINKING VERB ‘BECOME’
 We use the linking verb become to describe a process of change. A
number of other linking verbs can be used instead of become, including
come, get, go, grow, turn (into)
 We use get rather than become: in informal speech and writing before
difficult, ill, interested, pregnant, suspicious, unhappy, and worried; in
imperatives; and in phrases such as get changed (clothes), get
dressed, get married/divorced
• I first got suspicious when he looked into all
the cars. (more formally ...became
suspicious...)
• Don't get upset about it!
• Where did you live before ENGLISH
you got married?
GRAMMAR 22
14.4 LINKING VERB ‘BECOME’
 We prefer become to talk about a more abstract or technical process
of change with words such as adapted, apparent, aware, convinced,
infected, irrelevant, obvious, and recognized:
• He became recognized as an expert.
• Their bodies have become adapted to high altitudes

 We use become, not get, if there is a noun phrase after the linking
verb:
• Dr Smith became an adviser to the government
• She became a good tennis player

ENGLISH GRAMMAR 23
14.4 LINKING VERB ‘BECOME’

PRACTICE:
Fill BECOME or GET with suitable form in each blank:
1. He ………….. better than the previous
time.
• He became better than the previous time

2. Because of walking in the rain, she

………….. ill.
• Because of walking in the rain, she
got ill.
3. She ………….. a good teacher.
ENGLISH GRAMMAR 24
14.4 LINKING VERB ‘BECOME’

PRACTICE:
Fill BECOME or GET with suitable form in each blank:

4.After a year separate, they finally …………..

divorced.
• After a year separate, they finally get divorced

5. He ………….. adapted with new position.

• He became adapted with new position.

ENGLISH GRAMMAR 25
14.5 LINKING VERB ‘GO’, ‘TURN’
 We use go or turn, not usuallyget or become, when we talk about
colours changing:

The traffic lights turned / went green and I pulled away

 We often use go to talk about changes, particularly to unwanted

situations.

ENGLISH GRAMMAR 26
14.5 LINKING VERB ‘GO’, ‘TURN’
 We use go, not turn or get, with deaf, blind, bald, or to say that
someone behaves in a mad or excited way;
 And also with go bad/ off/ mouldy/ rotten (about old food), go
bust (= a company closes because it has run out of money), go dead
(= when a telephone stops working), go missing, and go wrong:
• The children went completely crazy at the party.
• My computer’s gone wrong again

ENGLISH GRAMMAR 27
14.5 LINKING VERB ‘GO’, ‘TURN’
 Notice, however, some common exceptions: get ill, get old, get tired

 After the verbs come, get, and grow (but not after become) we can
use a /o-
infinitive. Come and grow are often used to talk about gradual change :
• I eventually came/grew to appreciate his
work. (not ...became to
appreciate his work.)
• I soon got to know their names.
(not ...became to know their
names.)

ENGLISH GRAMMAR 28
14.5 LINKING VERB ‘GO’, ‘TURN’
PRACTICE:
Fill GO, TURN or GET with suitable form in each blank:

1. Everything …………….. wrong

• Everything goes wrong

2. Turn to 40, women …………….. t ill easily

• Turn to 40, women get ill easily

3. Opening the gift, Anna ……………..

completely crazy?
• Opening the gift, Anna went completely crazy.

ENGLISH GRAMMAR 29
14.5 LINKING VERB ‘GO’, ‘TURN’

PRACTICE:
Fill GO, TURN or GET with suitable form in each blank:

4. When he said ‘I love you’, her face …………….. red

• When he said ‘I love you’, her face turned red

5.At a party, he soon …………….. to know lady-in-

red’s name
• At a party, he soon got to know lady-in-red’s name

ENGLISH GRAMMAR 30