Linking+Verb+Patterns


 * Linking Verb Patterns **

Linking Verb List

A linking verb links the subject to an adjective or noun that follows the verb. This adjective or noun describes or renames the subject.


 * The first thing to do is find the linking verb in the sentence.
 * Next, ask yourself who or what is "doing" that to find the subject of the sentence.
 * Then, ask yourself "Subject" "Verb" what?
 * The answer will be either your PA or your PN. Look below to discover which it is.

Subject - Linking Verb - Predicate Adjective (PA)

In this pattern, an adjective follows the verb and describes the subject. A test to check if you have an adjective is to put the adjective into both of the following blanks: The_dog is very_.

For example: The __funny__ dog is very __funny__. This is silly, but it makes sense. The __apple__ dog is very __apple__. This doesn't make sense.

Subject - Linking Verb - Predicate Nominative (noun) (PN)

In this pattern, a noun follows the verb and renames the subject. A test to check if you have a noun is to see if the word fits after an article:

A_ <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">An_ <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">The_

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">For example: <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">An apple. This makes sense. <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">A funny. This does not.

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">For examples of sentences in these two patterns, click here.

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Back to Sentence Patterns Main Page.