Linking Verbs
Linking verbs DO NOT EXPRESS ACTION. Instead, they connect the subject of the verb
to additional information about the subject. Lets Look at the examples below:
Keira is a shopaholic
"is-ing" is not an action that a person can do or perform. Rather the word 'is' helps to
connect the subject - Kiera - to the additional information about her i.e that she likes to
shop a great deal.
(More technically the word 'is' suggests a state of being that is on going, hence making the
word 'is', a verb)
Next example:
During the day, my cats are happy to nap on the couch.
Once again "are-ing" is not an action that one can do or perform, but rather, the word 'are'
connects the subject of the sentence - my cats - to the extra information that they like to
nap on the couch in the day.
(More technically once more the word 'are', again suggests a state of being that is on going, hence making the word 'are', a verb)
'Is' and 'are' are two of the most commonly used linking verbs along with
'was', 'were', 'been' and 'am'.
There are however other words that serve the same function
for example:
Eve seems to have made it through her exam.
the word 'seems' helps connect the information of making it through an exam to Eve who
was able to do such.
Watch the video for a neat summary!
Linking verbs DO NOT EXPRESS ACTION. Instead, they connect the subject of the verb
to additional information about the subject. Lets Look at the examples below:
Keira is a shopaholic
"is-ing" is not an action that a person can do or perform. Rather the word 'is' helps to
connect the subject - Kiera - to the additional information about her i.e that she likes to
shop a great deal.
(More technically the word 'is' suggests a state of being that is on going, hence making the
word 'is', a verb)
Next example:
During the day, my cats are happy to nap on the couch.
Once again "are-ing" is not an action that one can do or perform, but rather, the word 'are'
connects the subject of the sentence - my cats - to the extra information that they like to
nap on the couch in the day.
(More technically once more the word 'are', again suggests a state of being that is on going, hence making the word 'are', a verb)
'Is' and 'are' are two of the most commonly used linking verbs along with
'was', 'were', 'been' and 'am'.
There are however other words that serve the same function
for example:
Eve seems to have made it through her exam.
the word 'seems' helps connect the information of making it through an exam to Eve who
was able to do such.
Watch the video for a neat summary!