Linking verbs

Linking verbs

Some verbs are followed by either a noun or an adjective:

e.g. Mohan was a good friend. = N + V + N
e.g. She was very happy. = N + V + Adj.
e.g. Sam became headmaster. = N + V + N
e.g. He became angry. = N + V + Adj.

These verbs are called link verbs . Common verbs like this are:

be
become
appear
feel
look
remain
seem
sound

e.g. She seemed an intelligent woman .
e.g. She seemed intelligent .
e.g. Mohan looked hungry .
e.g. Shan looked a good player .

After appear and seem we often use "to be":

e.g. She appeared to be an intelligent woman .
e.g. He seemed to be angry .

Some link verbs are followed by an adjective . Common verbs like this are:

get
go
grow
taste
smell

e.g. He got hungry in the evening.
e.g. She grew stronger every day.