Some verbs show existence but not action: is, am, are, was, were
An existence verb is used with a predicate adjective.
The predicate adjective completes a sentence by describing the subject.
The lady is pretty.
The lady is what? The predicate adjective pretty comes after the verb is and completes the thought.
Existence verbs are called linking verbs because these verbs link the subject to the adjective that describes it.
Here are more linking verbs: become, grow, seem, appear
These verbs show no action. They are used to connect – or link – a subject to a predicate adjective.
The predicate adjective describes the subject.
Look at these sentence examples:
Our time together grows short. The adjective short describes time.
I grew tired as the the hours passed. The adjective tired describes I.
The baby will become hungry if we don’t feed him soon. The adjective hungry describes baby.
Some linking verbs are sense verbs: feel, look, smell, taste, sound
There is no real action with these verbs. They only link the subject to a predicate adjective.
I feel tired. The adjective tired links to the subject I.
The rotten food looks nasty. The adjective nasty links to the subject food.
The ice cream tastes good. The adjective good links to the subject ice cream.
The music sounds loud. The adjective loud describes the subject music.
Linking verbs show existence but no action. Linking verbs link a subject to an adjective. We call that a predicate adjective.