Most linking verbs are forms of the verb to be: am, are, is, was, were
However, these certain verbs can also act as linking verbs: grow, sound, smell
The verbs grow, sound, and smell are usually verbs that show action:
The plants grow in my garden.
The sirens sound every Tuesday.
I smell the flowers.
Here are examples of linking verbs that link the subject of the sentence to a predicate adjective:
Children grow tired at the end of the day.
The trumpets sound loud today.
These flowers smell wonderful.
The verbs grow, sound, and smell sometimes act as action verbs and other times work as linking verbs. If the verb is followed by an adjective, it is a linking verb and a predicate adjective.
It’s your turn. Which of these sentences contains a linking verb? I grow tomatoes in my garden. I grow tired when I work in my garden. Did you decide that the second sentence shows a linking verb connected to a predicate adjective? Good for you!