Linking verb facts for kids

A linking verb is a special kind of verb. It connects the subject of a sentence to words that describe or rename it. Think of it like a bridge. It links the subject to information that tells you more about it.

Here are some examples of linking verbs:

• The sky is blue. (is links "sky" to "blue," which describes the sky.)
• In the schools are enclosed rooms. (are links "rooms" to "enclosed," which describes the rooms.)
• The finger is long. (is links "finger" to "long," which describes the finger.)

In these sentences, 'is' and 'are' are the linking verbs. They connect the subject to a word or phrase that describes it.

Many languages have one main linking verb. In English, the most common linking verb is to be. This verb helps us say what something or someone is like. For example, "I am happy" or "She is a student."

Some languages, like Portuguese and Spanish, have two different verbs that mean "to be." They use one for permanent things and another for temporary things.

Other languages, such as Arabic and Russian, do not use linking verbs at all. This is because words in these languages often change their endings. These endings show how words are connected in a sentence. So, they don't need an extra word to link the subject to what describes it. For example, to say "I am a cat" in Russian, you just say "I cat" (Я кошка). The word endings make it clear that "I" and "cat" are linked.