1. The great equals sign of sentences
Linking Verbs
The great equals sign of sentences

2. Let’s Review Action verbs tell us what the subject is doing
Action verbs can be found by asking the question, “Can I…?”

3. What Are Linking Verbs?
Linking verbs act as an equals (=) sign in the sentence.
The subject is not doing anything. Instead, it is or is like something else in the sentence

4. Examples of Linking Verbs
Linking verbs include the forms of the verb to be
is, am , was, were, are, be, being, been
Linking verbs are also related to the senses
tastes, smells, looks, feels, sounds
Other Verbs
– seems, appears, becomes, remains, proves, etc.

5. Linking Verbs in Action
In each, I’ll add arrows that show which words are linked, or equal, in the sentence

6. Linking Verbs in Action
Mr. Childers is the subject
Mr. Childers is the nicest teacher in the school.
Here is the linking verb

7. Linking Verbs in Action
Mr. Childers is the nicest teacher in the school.
Think of the linking verb as an equals (=) sign

8. Linking Verbs in Action
Mr. Childers is the nicest teacher in the school.
Mr. Childers equals what?
Teacher is a noun in the predicate that renames the subject, so we call it a predicate nominative

9. Let’s Practice!
Let’s see how linking verbs work in some sentences

10. Linking Verbs in Action
Predicate Adjective
Subject
The trees are beautiful in the fall.
Linking Verb
The verb are links an adjective in the predicate with the subject

11. Linking Verbs in Action
Predicate Adjective
Subject
The play was exciting.
Linking Verb
The verb was links an adjective in the predicate with the subject

12. Linking Verbs in Action
Predicate Adjective
Subject
It seemed like a good idea at the time.
Linking Verb
The verb seemed links a noun in the predicate with the subject

13. You Try It! I’ll give you a sentence and you find the linking verb
Ready?
Go!

14. Ice cream is my favorite dessert.
You Try It!
Ice cream is my favorite dessert.

15. This water tastes funny.
You Try It!
This water tastes funny.

16. The report cards were terrible.
You Try It!
The report cards were terrible.

17. That couple seems pleasant.
You Try It!
That couple seems pleasant.

18. We were delirious with joy!
You Try It!
We were delirious with joy!

19. Need Another Clue
There is a way to find out if the word you are looking at is a linking verb or not
Are you ready to find out what it is?
It’s kind of sneaky
Sure you’re ready?

20. Use these words as substitutes:
Substitution
Use these words as substitutes:
is, am, or are
for the word you think is a linking
Verb. If the sentence still makes
sense…you are probably right!
Let’s try that before we quit…

21. The pie smells delicious
Is, Am, Are
Here is a sentence
The pie smells delicious
If we think smells is a linking verb, let’s substitute one of our words and see if it still makes sense.

22. Is, Am, Are Here is a sentence The pie is delicious
The sentence still makes sense, so smells is a linking verb

23. The meatloaf smells like it is overcooked.
Is, Am, Are
Now let’s try one that doesn’t work
The meatloaf smells like it is overcooked.
We still have smells as a verb
Let’s substitute, again.

24. The meatloaf is like it is overcooked.
Is, Am, Are
The meatloaf is like it is overcooked.
This time is doesn’t make sense, so the verb is not a linking verb

25. Let’s Re-Cap
Linking verbs act as equal (=) signs between a noun in the subject and a noun or adjective
Linking verbs do NOT show action
Linking verbs tell us that something is or is like something else
We can substitute is, am, or are to see if a verb is linking

26. Try It Online
To further check your understanding of linking verbs click here to take an online quiz.
To study more about linking verbs, check out this website.