Linking Verb

Linking Verb helps you understand the hidden linking verbs.

Hidden Linking Verbs

Some verbs are linking verbs if they can be replaced by state-of-being verbs.

• The men appear sleepy.
• The men are sleepy.

The word appear in the above sentence is doing the job of the state-of-being verb are.

Appear is a hidden linking verb because it is doing the job of a state-of-being verb.

State-of-being verbs: am, is, are, was, were.

A List of Hidden Linking Verbs

• look
• appear
• smell
• seem
• taste
• become
• grow
• remain
• prove
• feel
• sound
• keep

A Tip For Hidden Linking Verbs

If a verb looks like an action verb and if it can be replaced by am, is, are, was or were, it is not an action verb but it is a hidden linking verb.

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