linking verbs
"Be" and "seem"
Linking verbs connect a subject to a word that describes or identifies it, rather than expressing action.
The most common is *be* in its forms: She is tired, They were students.
Others include *seem*, *become*, *appear*, *feel*, *look*, *sound*, *taste*, and *smell*: The soup tastes delicious, He seems upset.
Many of these can also function as action verbs depending on context—compare She looked happy (linking) with She looked out the window (action).
Verb joining subject and complement
Give an impression
- appearBecome perceptible to sight
- lookDirect one's gaze
- feelPerceive by touch
- soundAudible wave phenomenon
taste · smell · strike · come across · register · present · manifest · resemble
Change into another state
copula
Verb joining subject and complement
are · was · were · been · being · seem · appear · become · remain · stay
seem
Give an impression
sound · taste · smell · strike · come across · register · present · manifest · resemble
become
Change into another state
go · come · fall · run · prove · wax · change · evolve · morph · convert
connect
Join or link
tie · bond · couple · relate · associate · interlink · concatenate · chain · mesh · web
be
Have actual existence
continue · keep · rest · lie · stand · sit · condition · status · presence · identity
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