Linking verbs

[irmamar]

I can't understand what is a "linking verb". I can see that they are copulative verbs, but if I compare them with the Spanish "verbos copulativos" I see that there are some which are not "cópulas" in Spanish, such as become, prove, etc. Help, please.

Thanks. :)

[Perikles]

It's new to me. :thinking: Look at this from here (http://donnayoung.org/english/grammar/linking-verbs.htm)

Is the Verb used as Linking or Action

State of being verbs can be used as linking verbs or action verbs. We need to be able to determine the function of the verb to tell the difference. The following sentences contain verbs that are used as either linking or action verbs. I have included checking methods.

Linking:
The monkey looked hungry.
(Hungry monkey or monkey is hungry) In this sentence looked is a linking verb.
Action:
The monkey looked for food.
"For food" is a prepositional phrase (http://donnayoung.org/english/grammar/prepositions.htm) and It must be omitted before checking. The sentence remaining after omitting the prepositional phrase (http://donnayoung.org/english/grammar/prepositions.htm) is The monkey looked. There is no noun or adjective to link monkey to. Looked is an action verb in this sentence.
Linking: The soup tasted good.
Check: soup is good, good soup, soup = good
Action: I tasted the soup.
Check: I am the soup (no), soup am I (no) I = soup (no)
Linking: He grew tired of walking.
Of walking is a prepositional phrase (http://donnayoung.org/english/grammar/prepositions.htm) and not included in the check. You should omit the prepositional phrase to check: He grew tired. Check: He is tired, tired is he, he = tired.
Action: He grew into a tall man.
Omit the prepositional phrase (http://donnayoung.org/english/grammar/prepositions.htm) into a tall man before checking. That leaves the sentence, "he grew." There's no noun or adjective left to link to, so grew is an action verb in this sentence.
Linking:
Mother appeared happy at her party. Omit the prepositional phrase (http://donnayoung.org/english/grammar/prepositions.htm), "at her party". Now the sentence reads, "Mother appeared happy." Check: mother is happy, happy mother, mother = happy.
Action: Mother appeared quietly in the room.
Omit the prepositional phrase (http://donnayoung.org/english/grammar/prepositions.htm), "in the room". The sentence now reads: Mother appeared quietly. Quietly is an adverb, omit the adverb. Mother appeared. There is no noun or adjective to link mother to, so appeared is an action verb.
Linking:
The bugle sounds loud.
Check: bugle is loud, loud bugle, bugle = loud (yes, yes, and yes)
Action:
The bugle sounded loudly.
Check: Bugle is loudly. (no)
Loudly describes the verb. It answers the question How? Loudly is an adverb.

[irmamar]

That "action" helps me a lot (although I need time to understand it).

Thanks!! :thumbsup: :)