List of Linking Verbs: 20 Common Linking Verbs in English with Examples

Linking verbs don’t show action—they connect the subject of a sentence to a word that gives more detail about it, such as a noun or adjective. If you’ve ever written a sentence like The soup smells delicious or She is confident, you’ve used a linking verb.

This article provides a clear, categorized list of linking verbs used in English, along with sentence examples to show how they work. Whether you’re building vocabulary or reviewing for a grammar test, this reference will help you recognize and use linking verbs more confidently.

Complete List of Linking Verbs (Categorized)

Linking verbs are limited in number, but many of them are used frequently in everyday English. Below is a categorized list that makes it easier to learn and remember them. While some linking verbs are always used that way (like is or seem), others can act as action verbs in different contexts.

Forms of “Be” (Primary Linking Verbs)

These are the most common and consistent linking verbs. They always function as links between the subject and a complement.

• is
• am
• are
• was
• were
• be
• being
• been

Verbs of Change or Condition

These verbs describe a shift in the subject’s state, role, or condition.

• become
• get
• grow
• remain
• stay
• turn

Verbs of Appearance and Senses

These verbs often describe how something seems, looks, feels, or sounds, without showing an action.

• appear
• seem
• look
• feel
• sound
• smell
• taste

Some of these also act as stative verbs or action verbs, depending on how they’re used.

Linking Verbs Chart with Examples

This chart gives you a quick reference for commonly used linking verbs, showing how each one connects the subject to a subject complement, not to a direct object. Each verb is used in a real sentence to show how it works in context.

Dual-Use Verbs: Linking or Action?

Some verbs in English can function as either linking verbs or action verbs. The difference depends on whether the verb connects the subject to a description (linking) or shows what the subject is doing (action).

These flexible verbs include:

• look
• feel
• smell
• taste
• sound
• grow
• turn

Here’s how to tell the difference:

Linking Verb Use

• The rose smells lovely.
• He looks upset.
• The sky turned orange.

In these examples, the verb connects the subject to a description. You can replace the verb with is or was, and the sentence will still make sense:

• The rose is lovely.
• He is upset.
• The sky was orange.

Action Verb Use

• She smelled the rose.
• He looked through the window.
• They turned the doorknob.

In these sentences, the verbs describe what the subject is doing. Replacing the verb with is or was won’t work:

• ❌ She is the rose.
• ❌ He is through the window.

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