Linking verbs connect the subject of a sentence to a word that describes or identifies it. The most common linking verbs are "be," "seem," "look," and "feel."
1. Be: Used to show existence or identity.
- Example: She is a doctor.
2. Seem: Indicates a perception or impression.
- Example: He seems tired.
3. Look: Describes appearance.
- Example: They look happy.
4. Feel: Expresses a state of emotion or physical condition.
- Example: I feel excited.
Conditions:
- Linking verbs are often followed by adjectives, not adverbs. For example, "She is happy" (adjective) vs. "She runs quickly" (adverb).
- They can also be followed by nouns or pronouns. For example, "He is a teacher."
- "Be" can be used in various tenses (am, is, are, was, were). Other linking verbs like "seem," "look," and "feel" remain in their base form regardless of tense.
Remember, linking verbs do not show action; they connect the subject to more information about it.
