How to use link verbs. For more English tutorials, please visit: https://www.thelecturette.com

1. Link Verbs

2. Link Verbs
A small but important group of verbs are
followed by a compliment rather than an
object. The compliment tells you more about
the subject. Verbs that take compliments are
called ‘link’ verbs.

3. Link Verbs
appear feel grow
prove smell taste
be get keep
remain sound turn
become go look
seem stay

4. Link Verbs
I am proud of these people.
She was getting too old to play tennis.
They looked all right to me.

5. Link Verbs
Link verbs often have adjectives as
compliments describing the subject.
He felt very happy.
He was the tallest in the room.

6. Link Verbs
You can use link verbs with noun groups as
compliments to give your opinion about a
subject.
He’ s not the right man for it.
She seemed an ideal person to look after
them.

7. Link Verbs
Note: You use object pronouns after ‘be’.
It’ s me again.

8. Link Verbs
Some link verbs can have ‘to’-infinitive
clauses as compliments.
appear get grow
look prove seem
He appears to have taken my keys.
She seemed to like me.

9. Link Verbs
These verbs, and ‘remain’, can also be
followed by ‘to be’ and a compliment.
Mary seemed to be asleep.
His new job proved to be a challenge.

10. Link Verbs
You can use ‘it’ and ‘there’ as impersonal
subjects with link verbs.
It seems silly not to tell him.
There appears to have been a mistake.

11. Link Verbs
You can use ‘be’ with some abstract nouns
as the subject, followed by a ‘that’-clause or a
‘to’- infinitive clause as the compliment.
advice answer idea
problem agreement decision
plan solution

12. Link Verbs
The answer is that they are not interested in
it.
The idea was to spend more money on
training.

13. Link Verbs
Some can only have a ‘that’-clause.
conclusion fact reason
thought explanation feeling
report understanding
The fact is that I can’ t go to the party.

14. Questions?
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