1. Verbs that connect a subject to a subject complement, expressing a state of being rather than an action. They do not show action but instead link the subject to a word or phrase that describes or identifies it.
She is a teacher. The cake smells delicious. He appears tired.
Ela é professora. O bolo cheira delicioso. Ele parece cansado.
2. Common linking verbs include 'be' (am, is, are, was, were), sensory verbs (smell, taste, look, sound, feel), and verbs of state (appear, seem, become, remain, stay, grow, turn, prove, get).
The music sounds beautiful. They became friends. The situation remains unclear.
A música soa bonita. Eles se tornaram amigos. A situação permanece incerta.
Linking verbs are fundamental to English grammar instruction in both the United States and Brazil. In American English classrooms, they are typically introduced in elementary grades as verbs that 'show no action.' Brazilian Portuguese education emphasizes 'verbos de ligação' as essential for understanding predicate structure. The concept is particularly important for ESL/EFL learners and for understanding the distinction between equative and attributive constructions across both English and Portuguese languages.