Linking verbs in English do not express action. Instead, they connect the subject of the verb with additional information about it. For example:
Keila is a shopaholic.
'Is' is not something that Keila can do. 'Is' connects the subject (Keila) with additional information about her, namely that soon she will have to pay a large bill on her credit card.
During the afternoon, my cats are content to nap on the couch.
'Are' is not something that the cats can do. 'Are' connects the subject (the cats) with something that is said about them – that they will have the pleasure of sleeping on the soft furniture.
After drinking the old milk, Vladimir turned green.
'Turned' connects the subject (Vladimir) with something said about him – that he will need a tablet or medicine for stomach acid.
A ten-item quiz seems impossibly long after a night of no studying.
'Seems' connects the subject (a ten-item quiz) with something that is said about it – that its difficulty depends on preparation, not on its volume.
Irene always feels sleepy after pigging out on pizza from Antonio's.
'Feels' connects the subject (Irene) with her state of sleepiness.
The following verbs are true linking verbs in English: be (am, is, are, was, were, has been, are being, might have been, etc.), become and seem. They are always in the role of linking verbs.
Action verbs (Action verbs)
Verbs in English that can be used both as linking verbs and as non-linking verbs are: appear, feel, grow, look, prove, remain, smell, sound, taste and turn. In some cases the listed verbs are linking, and in others action verbs.
Example exercise on the topic at 'Kabinata':
Distinguishing between linking and action verbs
If am, is, or are can be replaced with another verb in a sentence in a way that makes it sound logical, then it is a linking verb.
If after the replacement, the sentence is not meaningful, then the verb is an action verb. For example:
Sylvia tasted the spicy squid eyeball stew.
Is Sylvia the dish (stew)? Certainly not. Therefore, in this sentence 'tasted' is an action verb – something that Sylvia does.
The squid eyeball stew tasted good.
The stew is good – the verb is linking.
I smell the delicious aroma of a mushroom and paprika pizza baking in the oven.
I am the aroma – is not possible – therefore in this sentence smell is an action verb.
The replacement described is not applicable to appear. When using appear, it is necessary to analyze the function of the verb.
Swooping out of the clear blue sky, the blue jay appeared on the branch.
Appear is something that the blue jay can do.
The blue jay appeared happy to see the bird feeder.
In this case appeared connects the subject (the blue jay) with a state of mind – happiness.
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