Auxiliary Verbs vs. Linking Verbs : Differences, List, Usage & Examples

Auxiliary Verbs vs. Linking Verbs: A Beginner's Guide

Table of content

- Unlocking the Mystery of Auxiliary Verbs and Linking

1. What Are Auxiliary Verbs?

2. Understanding Linking Verbs

3. Key Differences Between Auxiliary Verbs and Linking Verbs

4. Practice Makes Perfect: Exercises to Master Auxiliary and Linking Verbs

5. List of Auxiliary Verbs and Linking Verbs

Unlocking the Mystery of Auxiliary Verbs and Linking Verbs

Hey there ! Let's dive into the fascinating world of auxiliary verbs and linking verbs. These may sound like complex grammar terms, but fear not! By the end of our journey together, you'll be a pro at distinguishing between these two types of verbs. 

Let's delve into the key differences between auxiliary verbs and linking verbs with a helpful list, usage tips, and examples. Master their roles in sentences easily!

1. What Are Auxiliary Verbs?

Let's start with auxiliary verbs. Think of them as the sidekicks of main verbs. They help convey tense, mood, and voice in a sentence. 

Common auxiliary verbs include "be," "have," and "do." These little helpers are crucial for forming various verb tenses and asking questions.

Examples of Auxiliary Verbs in Action

1. Present Tense: She is singing beautifully.
2. Past Tense: They have finished their homework.
3. Future Tense: We will go to the park tomorrow.
4. Question Form: Are you coming to the party? / Do you know the answer?

Auxiliary verbs always accompany a main verb to provide additional information about the action or state of being. 

Remember, they're like the supportive friends cheering on the main verb!

See also: Helping or Auxiliary verbs

2. Understanding Linking Verbs

Now, let's shift our focus to linking verbs. These special verbs connect the subject of a sentence to a subject complement, which describes or renames the subject. 

Unlike action verbs, linking verbs express a state of being or condition rather than an action.

Examples of Linking Verbs in Context

1. Identifying a Condition: She is happy.
2. Describing a State: The flowers smell delightful.
3. Renaming the Subject: He became a doctor.

In these examples, the linking verbs (is, smell, became) connect the subject to additional information about its state or condition. They act as bridges, linking the subject to its description.

3. Key Differences Between Auxiliary Verbs and Linking Verbs

Now that we've covered the basics, let's highlight some key differences between auxiliary verbs and linking verbs:

Function: 

• Auxiliary verbs assist main verbs in expressing tense, mood, and voice, while linking verbs connect the subject to a subject complement.

Usage: 

• Auxiliary verbs are used in forming verb tenses, questions, and negations, whereas linking verbs are used to describe or identify the subject.

Examples: 

• Auxiliary verbs include "be," "have," and "do," while common linking verbs include "is," "seem," "become," and "appear."

By understanding these distinctions, you'll be able to use auxiliary and linking verbs with confidence in your English conversations and writing!

Auxiliary Verbs vs. Linking Verbs

Auxiliary Verbs	Linking Verbs
Auxiliary verbs, also known as helping verbs, assist the main verb in forming various tenses, voices, moods, etc.	Linking verbs connect the subject of a sentence with a subject complement (predicate nominative, predicate adjective, or other related words) without expressing any action.
Assist in expressing tense, aspect, voice, or mood of the main verb.	Connect the subject to a subject complement, often describing a state of being or condition.
Auxiliary Verbs: "be," "have," "do," "will," "shall," "can," "may," "could," "might," "should," "would," etc.	Linking Verbs: "is," "am," "are," "was," "were," "seem," "appear," "become," "feel," "sound," "taste," "smell," "grow," "remain," etc.
Precedes the main verb in a sentence.	Generally appears after the subject and before the subject complement.
Auxiliary verbs contribute to the expression of tense, aspect, voice, or mood of the main verb.	Linking verbs do not indicate tense or aspect; they establish a relationship between the subject and the subject complement.
Auxiliary verbs are affected by negation and interrogation, undergoing inversion in questions and negative constructions.	Linking verbs are not affected by negation or interrogation and do not undergo inversion.
Auxiliary verbs are commonly used with main verbs to form various grammatical structures, such as the progressive tense, perfect tense, passive voice, etc.	Linking verbs are used to describe or identify the subject by connecting it to the subject complement, often expressing a state or condition.

4. Practice Makes Perfect: Exercises to Master Auxiliary and Linking Verbs

Now that you've learned about auxiliary and linking verbs, it's time to put your knowledge into practice! Here are some interactive exercises to help you reinforce what you've learned:

Exercise 1: Auxiliary Verb or Linking Verb?

Identify whether the underlined verb is an auxiliary verb or a linking verb in each sentence.

1. She is feeling tired.
2. They have been waiting for hours.
3. The cake smells delicious.
4. We were happy to see you.
5. He became a skilled painter.

Exercise 2: Fill in the Blanks

Complete each sentence with the appropriate auxiliary or linking verb.

1. She ____________ reading a book.
2. They ____________ studying for their exams.
3. The flowers ____________ blooming in the garden.
4. We ____________ excited about the trip.
5. He ____________ a talented musician.

5. List of Auxiliary Verbs and Linking Verbs:

List of Auxiliary Verbs:

1. Be

Usage: Used to form continuous tenses and passive voice.

Examples:

• Continuous Tense: "I am studying for my exams."
• Passive Voice: "The song was sung by the choir."

2. Have

Usage: Used to form perfect tenses.

Examples:

• Present Perfect: "She has visited Paris."
• Past Perfect: "They had left before we arrived."
• Future Perfect: "I will have completed the project by Friday."

3. Do

Usage: Used for negation, emphasis, and questions.

Examples:

• Negation: "He does not like broccoli."
• Emphasis: "I do want to go to the party!"
• Question: "Do you understand the lesson?"

See also: Helping or Auxiliary Verbs - Types, Uses & Examples

4. Will

Usage: Used to express future actions or intentions.

Examples:

• "I will see you tomorrow."
• "They will finish the work by the deadline."

5. Shall

Usage: Used for suggestions and formal statements (more common in British English).

Examples:

• Suggestion: "Shall we begin the meeting?"
• Formal Statement: "I shall never forget this day."

6. Can

Usage: Used to express ability or possibility, and to make requests.

Examples:

• Ability: "She can play the guitar."
• Request: "Can you help me with my homework?"

7. Could

Usage: Used to express past ability, polite requests, and possibilities.

Examples:

• Past Ability: "When I was younger, I could run fast."
• Polite Request: "Could you please close the window?"
• Possibility: "It could rain later."

8. May

Usage: Used to express permission or possibility.

Examples:

• Permission: "You may use my phone if you need to."
• Possibility: "It may snow tomorrow."

9. Might

Usage: Used to express a lower possibility than "may."

Examples:

• "I might go to the party if I finish my work."
• "She might have already left."

10. Must

Usage: Used to express necessity, obligation, or strong certainty.

Examples:

• Necessity: "You must wear a seat-belt."
• Strong Certainty: "He must be at home; the lights are on."

Note:

• Auxiliary verbs are essential in constructing different tenses and moods in English.
• They can change the meaning of the main verb and indicate time, mood, necessity, and ability.

See also: 13 Modal Auxiliary Verbs : Use & Examples

List of Linking Verbs:

1. To Be

Usage: The primary linking verb that can indicate identity or state of being.

Examples:

• State: She is happy.
• Describing a State: The cake was delicious.
• Identity: He is a doctor.

2. To Seem:

Usage: Shows appearance or perception.

Examples:

• The movie seems interesting.
• She seemed tired yesterday.

3. To Become:

Usage: Indicates a change of state or transformation

Examples:

• He became tired after the long meeting.
• He became a teacher.
• The caterpillar became a butterfly.

4. To Feel:

Usage: Often used to express physical sensations or emotions.

Examples:

• "I feel tired after the workout."
• "She feels happy today."

5. To Smell:

Usage: Relates to olfactory perception.

Examples:

• The flowers smell delightful.
• The food smelled delicious.

6. To Taste:

Usage: Conveys flavor perception.

Examples:

• The soup tastes salty.
• The cake tasted sweet.

7. To Look:

Usage: Indicates appearance or visual impression.

Examples:

• He looks tired.
• The cake looks delicious.

8. To Sound:

Usage: Refers to auditory perception.

Examples:

• The music sounds soothing.
• Her voice sounded melodious.
• She sounds upset.

9. To Grow:

Usage: Indicates a change in state, often used with adjectives.

Examples:

• The plants grow quickly.
• The city grew rapidly.
• She grew tired after studying.
• The child is growing stronger.
• The child grows taller every year.

10. To Remain:

Usage: Indicates a state of continuing in a particular state.

Examples:

• The situation remains unchanged.
• She remained calm throughout the ordeal.
• He remained calm during the crisis.
• They will remain friends forever. 
• The painting remains unfinished.
• His opinion remained unchanged.

11. To Stay:

Usage: Similar to "remain," used to indicate continuing in a state.

Examples:

• Stay quiet during the movie.
• I stayed hopeful about the outcome.

12. To Turn:

Usage: To show a change in state.

Examples:

• The milk turned sour.
• Her mood turned sour after the argument.
• The weather turned cold suddenly.
• His luck turned for the better.

13. To Keep:

Usage: To maintain a condition or state.

Examples:

• He keeps his promises.
• She kept her room tidy.
• She kept calm during the presentation.

14. To Prove:

Usage: To indicate a state or truth after some evidence.

Examples:

• His theory proved correct.
• The evidence proved insufficient.
• The plan proved successful.

15. To Appear:

Usage: Indicates an outward look or impression.

Examples:

• The situation appeared dire.
• Her intentions appeared genuine.
• She appears excited about the job.
• It appears that we are lost.

16. Like (as a linking verb)

While "like" is primarily used as an action verb (e.g., "I like pizza"), it can also function in informal speech as a linking verb, meaning it connects a subject to a comparison or preference.

Usage: To express a comparison or similarity.

Examples :

• She looks like her mother. (Here, "like" connects "looks" to a comparison with her mother.)
• It feels like a dream. (Here, "like" connects "feels" to the experience of a dream.)

17. Get (as a linking verb)

Usage: To indicate a change in condition or state of being.

Examples: 

• He gets tired easily.
• She got angry at his remarks.
• He got angry when he saw the mess. 
• The weather gets colder every day.