##  [linking verb (copula verb)](/writing-tips-plus/linking-verb-copula-verb)

##  Avertissement

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Linking verbs do not express an action; instead, they express a state of being.

## The verb *be*

For that reason, the most common linking verb is the verb *be* (and its other forms: *am*, *is*, *are*; *was*, *were*; *been*, *being*):

- Rashid *is* hungry.
- Hannah *will be* an excellent artist.
- Our friends *were* very excited about the party.

A verb of being is called a *linking* verb because it simply links the subject with the subject complement (a word or word group that tells you more about the subject). In the examples above, each linking verb is followed by a subject complement:

- *Hungry* describes the subject *Rashid*.
- *An excellent artist* tells what the subject *Hannah* will be.
- *Very excited* describes the subject *friends*.

## Other common linking verbs

Besides the verb *be*, several other verbs can act as linking verbs:

- feel: Jaime *feels* embarrassed.
- look: Azura *looks* worried.
- smell: Something *smells* funny.
- sound: That band *sounded* great.
- taste: The pie *tasted* good.
- become, grow: We *became (grew)* tired during the long hike.
- seem, appear: Jason *seems (appears)* angry.

But the verbs *feel*, *look*, *smell*, *sound*, *taste*, *grow* and *appear* can also be action verbs. If you want to tell whether one of these verbs is an action or a linking verb, try the tip below.

## Tip for finding linking verbs

If you can replace the verb in the sentence with a form of *be*, the verb is almost certainly a linking verb.

- “The pie *tasted* good” = linking verb \[We can say “The pie *was* good.”\]
- “John *tasted* the pie” = action verb \[We cannot say “John *was* the pie.”\]

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## Liens connexes

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