##  [Linking verbs](/hypergrammar-2/linking-verbs)

##  Avertissement

Ce contenu est offert en anglais seulement.

A <a id="linkingverb">linking verb</a> connects a [subject](subject-and-predicate#subject) to a [subject complement](objects-and-complements#scmplmnt) that identifies or describes the subject.

| Example | Explanation |
|---|---|
| The play *is* *Waiting for Godot*. | The linking verb *is* links the [noun phrase](the-function-of-phrases#phrsubj) *the play* to its [subject complement](objects-and-complements#scmplmnt) *Waiting for Godot*, which identifies the subject. |
| Some of us thought that the play *was* very good. | The [verb](what-is-a-verb#whatisverb) *was* links the subject complement *very good* to the subject *the play*. |
| Others thought it *became* tedious after the first fifteen minutes. | The linking verb *became* links the subject *it* to the subject complement *tedious*. The phrase *after the first fifteen minutes* functions as an [adverb](what-is-an-adverb#whatisadv) modifying the clause *it became tedious*. |
| The cast *appears* disorganized and confused; perhaps Beckett intended this. | *Appears* functions as a linking verb that connects the subject *the cast* to its subject complement *disorganized and confused*. |
| The play *seems* absurd to me. | The subject *the play* is joined to its subject complement *absurd* by the linking verb *seems*. |

Linking verbs are either verbs of sensation (*feel*, *look*, *smell*, *sound*, *taste*) or verbs of existence (*appear*, *be*, *become*, *continue*, *grow*, *prove*, *remain*, *seem*).

Many linking verbs (with the exception of *be*) can also be used as [transitive](objects-and-complements#tranintrvb) or [intransitive verbs](objects-and-complements#intransitiveverb). In the following pairs of sentences, the highlighted verb in the first sentence is a linking verb and in the second the same verb is a [transitive verb](objects-and-complements#tranintrvb).

**Linking** Griffin insists that the water in Winnipeg *tastes* terrible.The [adjective](what-is-an-adjective#adjective) *terrible* is a subject complement that describes a quality of the water.

**Transitive** I *tasted* the soup before adding more salt.Here the noun phrase *the soup* is the [direct object](objects-and-complements#directobject) of the verb *tasted*.

**Linking** My neighbour’s singing voice *sounds* very squeaky despite several hours of daily practice.The phrase *very squeaky* is a subject complement that describes the nature of the *singing voice*.

**Transitive** Upon the approach of the enemy troops, the lookout *sounded* the alarm.Here the verb *sounded* takes a direct object, the noun phrase *the alarm*.

**Linking** Cynthia *feels* queasy whenever she listens to banjo music.The adjective *queasy* is a subject complement that describes Cynthia.

**Transitive** The tailor carefully *feels* the fabric of the coat.Here the noun phrase *the fabric of the coat* is the direct object of the verb *feels* and identifies what the tailor feels.

##  Avis de droit d’auteur pour l’outil HyperGrammar 2

© Département d’anglais, Faculté des arts, Université d’Ottawa
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## Liens connexes

- [HyperGrammar 2](/fr/hypergrammar-2/index-fra) (page d’accueil)
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