The most common linking verbs are
auxillary verbs.
intransitive verbs.
various forms of be.

The most common linking verbs are various forms of be. The various forms of the verb 'to be' are am, is, are, was, were, be, been, being.

Linking Verbs

Linking verbs are verbs that 'link' a subject to it's description. For example, He is sad. In this sentence 'is' links the subject, He, to the description, sad. The most basic structure of a sentence with a linking verb is noun/pronoun + linking verb + adjective or noun. As sentences with linking verbs become more complex the only thing that changes is the subject and the description.

Other linking verbs to become, to seem. Some action verbs can also be used as linking verbs: look, touch, smell, appear, feel, sound, and taste. Notice that these are all sense words. The sentence "I feel sad" uses feel as a linking verb. The sentence "I feel the board under my feet" uses feel as an action verb. In the second sentence my feet are touching the board whereas the first sentence is describing my state of being. Often when an action verb is used as a linking verb, it can be substituted with the correct form of 'to be' as in "I am sad."

Other Types of Verbs

All sentences must contain a verb to be considered a complete sentence. Verbs can be either linking, action or helping. The main verb phrase of a sentence must contain either an action verb or a linking verb. Helping verbs are not required to create a complete sentence, but they are important for verb tense. Linking verbs and helping verbs are often confused since common helping verbs are also various forms of 'to be'. However, helping verbs are always followed by another verb; linking verbs and action verbs are not.

Level: High School

Subject: English

Topic: Grammar

helping verbs, linking verbs, action verbs, verb usage, to be verbs

Types of Verbs: link

What is a linking verb?: link

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