List of Linking Verbs: 20 Common Linking Verbs in English

List of Linking Verbs: Linking verbs are verbs that work like connectors in sentences, making them work smoothly. They help us describe things, show what’s happening, or talk about how something feels. Instead of showing actions like “run” or “eat,” they help describe what something is like or how it feels. They show how a subject connects to something else, like an adjective or another noun, painting a clearer picture of what we want to say.

For instance, when we say, “She is happy,” the word “is” links “she” to “happy,” describing her state of happiness. Or when we say, “The cake tastes delicious,” the word “tastes” shows us how the cake is (or isn’t!) delicious. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the “List of Linking Verbs,” featuring the 20 Common Linking Verbs in English with simple examples and easy-to-understand explanations.

List of Linking Verbs in English

1. Be (am, is, are, was, were, being, been)
2. Become
3. Seem
4. Look
5. Feel
6. Taste
7. Smell
8. Sound
9. Appear
10. Grow
11. Remain
12. Stay
13. Turn
14. Prove
15. Get (when used in the sense of “to become”)
16. Keep
17. Lie (as in “to be situated or located”)
18. Stand
19. Go (when used in the sense of “to become”)
20. Run (when used in the sense of “to become”)

List of Linking Verbs: Explanations and Examples

Below you will find explanations and examples for each linking verb from the list. These explanations and examples aim to simplify the understanding of each linking verb, allowing you to grasp their usage and relevance in sentences more easily.

1. Be (am, is, are, was, were, being, been)

• Explanation: Used to describe identity, existence, or condition.
• Example:
  • She is a talented musician. (describing identity)
  • The flowers were beautiful. (describing condition/state)

2. Become

• Explanation: Indicates a change or transition from one state to another.
• Example:
  • The caterpillar becomes a butterfly. (describing a change)
  • Over time, he became more confident. (showing transition)

3. Seem

• Explanation: Expresses an impression or opinion based on appearances.
• Example:
  • The movie seems interesting. (expressing an impression)
  • The situation seems complicated. (expressing an opinion)

4. Look

• Explanation: Describes the way something appears.
• Example:
  • Emily looks happy. (describing appearance)
  • They looked confused. (depicting appearance)

5. Feel

• Explanation: Relates to physical sensations or emotional states.
• Example:
  • The fabric feels soft. (relating to physical sensation)
  • She feels anxious before exams. (relating to emotional state)

6. Taste

• Explanation: Describes the flavor experienced by the taste buds.
• Example:
  • The soup tastes spicy. (describing flavor)              

7. Smell

• Explanation: Relates to the sense of smell.
• Example:
  • The flowers smell lovely. (relating to smell)
  • The bakery smells delicious. (noting a pleasant smell)

8. Sound

• Explanation: Refers to auditory perception or how something is heard.
• Example:
  • The music sounds great. (relating to sound)
  • His voice sounds familiar. (depicting auditory perception)

9. Appear

• Explanation: Refers to how something looks or seems visually.
• Example:
  • She appeared tired. (depicting visual impression)

10. Grow

• Explanation: Signifies an increase or development.
• Example:
  • Plants grow in sunlight. (describing growth)
  • The city grew rapidly. (showing development)

11. Remain

• Explanation: Indicates staying or continuing without change.
• Example:
  • His opinion remains unchanged despite the new information. (staying in the same state)

12. Stay

• Explanation: Describes ongoing state or position.
• Example:
  • The weather stays sunny throughout the week. (describing ongoing state)

13. Turn

• Explanation: Represents transformation or change.
• Example:
  • The leaves turn yellow in autumn. (describing change)

14. Prove

• Explanation: Demonstrates or confirms the truth or validity of something.
• Example:
  • His actions proved his loyalty. (confirming truth)

15. Get (when used in the sense of “to become”)

• Explanation: Indicates a transition or change into a particular state.
• Example:
  • He gets upset easily. (indicating a quick transition)

16. Keep

• Explanation: Denotes maintaining or retaining a particular state or condition.
• Example:
  • They keep quiet during the movie. (maintaining a state)

17. Lie (as in “to be situated or located”)

• Explanation: Indicates placement or positioning of something.
• Example:
  • The book lies on the table. (indicating position)

18. Stand

• Explanation: Refers to maintaining an upright or fixed position.
• Example:
  • He stands near the door. (indicating position)
  • The statue stands tall in the park. (maintaining position)

19. Go (when used in the sense of “to become”)

• Explanation: Indicates a change or transition.
• Example:
  • She goes crazy when excited. (indicating change)
  • The milk goes sour if left out. (indicating transition)

20. Run (when used in the sense of “to become”)

• Explanation: Refers to the process of transitioning into a state.
• Example:
  • The water runs cold in winter. (indicating transition)