Linking Verbs

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Some verbs can be action or linking.

Mark suddenly appeared from behind the bush.

Mark appeared lonely at the dance.

Lora smelled the flowers.

The flowers smelled sweet.

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Action or Linking? Here’s a trick:

If you aren’t sure if the verb is linking or not, try substituting a linking “be” verb in
its place

Lora smelled the flowers.

Lora is the flowers. (doesn’t work, so it must be an action verb)

The flowers smelled sweet.

The flowers are sweet. (it works! So this is a linking verb)

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Become and get can be used to describe changes of emotional or physical state,
or situation. We use become in formal cases.

● He wants to become/get involved in politics.

● She became/got pregnant after two months.

We use get with adjectives such as old, cold or dark to describe natural changes.

● It gets dark very early in the winter.

● We're all getting older every day.

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Go is used especially to describe changes that are not desirable

● My grandfather is going deaf.

● He went blind in one eye.

● He went crazy and started to scream.

● The milk has gone/turned sour.

● The bananas are starting to go rotten.

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Linking or action? Use the trick and identify each verb as action or linking?

The pie tasted so good after dinner.

The flowers grow well in my yard.

He grew tired as the speech went on.

Kiah looked everywhere for her jacket.

Tony sounded the alarm as the fire spread.

Shirah looked surprised at the party.

The speakers sounded broken.

She seemed worried all afternoon.

The weather turned nasty at dark. 10

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