Identify linking verbs, predicate adjectives and predicate nouns
Key Notes:
A linking verb is a verb that connects the subject to an adjective or noun in the predicate. A linking verb does not show action.
Paris is home to the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre.
A predicate adjective describes the subject.
The dark chocolate cake that Julie baked tasted incredibly rich.
A predicate noun identifies or renames the subject.
My mother is the most driven salesperson in her division.
The most common linking verbs are forms of the verb to be. Other linking verbs include appear, become, feel, grow, look, remain, seem, sound, stay and taste.
Some verbs can be used as either linking verbs or action verbs.
Jenna grew tired as the evening wore on.
Here, grew is a linking verb. It connects a subject, Jenna, to a predicate adjective that describes it.
Jenna grew tomatoes in her garden last year.
Here, grew is an action verb. You can tell it’s not a linking verb because it shows action and because the noun in the predicate doesn’t identify or rename the subject, Jenna.
Learn with an example
▶️ Select the linking verb and the predicate noun or predicate adjective.
The lawyer, with his unfounded objections and rambling, incoherent closing argument, was obviously a novice in the courtroom.
- The linking verb is was. It connects a subject to a predicate noun, novice.
▶️ Select the linking verb and the predicate noun or predicate adjective.
In 1985, at the age of seventeen, Boris Becker became the youngest winner of the men’s Wimbledon singles tennis tournament.
- The linking verb is became. It connects a subject to a predicate noun, winner.
▶️ Select the linking verb and the predicate noun or predicate adjective.
The arctic explorers were lost in the blinding snow, despite their high-tech GPS devices.
- The linking verb is were. It connects a subject to a predicate adjective, lost.
Let’s practice!🖊️
