link verbs

Some verbs are followed by either a noun or an adjective:

She was a good friend.	=	N + V + N
She was very happy.	=	N + V + Adj.
He became headmaster.	=	N + V + N
He became angry.	=	N + V + Adj.

These verbs are called link verbs. Common verbs like this are:

• be
• become
• appear
• feel
• look
• remain
• seem
• sound

She seemed an intelligent woman.
She seemed intelligent.
He looked hungry.
He looked a good player.

After appear and seem we often use to be:

She appeared to be an intelligent woman.
He seemed to be angry.

Some link verbs are followed by an adjective. Common verbs like this are:

• get
• go
• grow
• taste
• smell

He got hungry in the evening.
She grew stronger every day.