linking verb: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples

Yes, the verb 'to be' is the primary and most common linking verb. It almost always functions to link the subject to a complement (e.g., She is a painter).

Yes, many verbs can function both ways. For example, 'grow' ('Plants grow' - action vs. 'He grew angry' - linking), 'feel' ('Feel this texture' - action vs. 'I feel ill' - linking), 'smell' ('She smelled the flower' - action vs. 'The flower smells sweet' - linking). The meaning and sentence structure determine the function.

A subject complement, which is either a noun/noun phrase (e.g., He is my brother) or an adjective/adjectival phrase (e.g., She seems intelligent). It describes or renames the subject, not the verb.

Recognizing linking verbs is crucial for correct adjective/adverb usage (e.g., 'I feel bad' not 'I feel badly'), for understanding sentence structure in writing and analysis, and for mastering more advanced grammatical concepts like predicate nouns and adjectives.

A verb that connects the subject of a sentence with a word or phrase that describes or identifies the subject.

Linking verb is usually technical / educational in register.

Linking verb: in British English it is pronounced /ˈlɪŋkɪŋ vɜːb/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈlɪŋkɪŋ vɜːrb/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.