VERBS

Linking verbs

Verbs like be, look, feel and get join the subject to a description: the word after them is an adjective or a noun, not an adverb.

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	+ adjective	+ noun
+	She looks tired	He became a doctor
−	It doesn't taste good	He isn't a doctor
?	Do you feel well?	Is she a teacher?

Linking verbs: be · look · sound · feel · taste · smell · seem · get · become · stay

Be + adjective or noun

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Use be to say who or what someone is, or what they are like. The word after be is a noun or an adjective, never an adverb.

subject+ am / is / are+ adjective / noun

My sister is a nurse.
The soup is very hot.

My sister nurse.
My sister is a nurse.

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I a teacher.

Look, sound, feel, taste, smell + adjective

New

After look, sound, feel, taste and smell use an adjective, not an adverb. The adjective describes the subject.

subject+ looks / sounds / feels / tastes / smells+ adjective

This pizza smells great.
You look tired today.

This soup tastes well.
This soup tastes good.

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I feel today, so I am staying in bed.

Get, become, go, turn + adjective

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Use get, become, go or turn with an adjective to say that something changes. Get is the most common in everyday speech.

subject+ gets / becomes / goes / turns+ adjective

It gets dark early in winter.
The milk went bad.

It gets darkly at five.
It gets dark at five.

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I get when I am hungry.

Seem, look like, sound like + noun

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Use seem + adjective, and look like, sound like or taste like + noun. Like is needed before a noun, but not before an adjective.

subject+ looks / sounds / tastes+ like+ noun

That sounds like a great idea.
He seems very friendly.

It looks like happy.
It looks happy.

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This looks a nice place.

Stay, keep, remain + adjective

New

Use stay, keep or remain with an adjective to say that something does not change. Keep is often used in orders: Keep calm.

subject+ stays / keeps / remains+ adjective

Please stay calm.
The shop remained open all night.

Please stay calmly.
Please stay calm.

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He tried to stay in the interview.