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linking verb

American  

noun

  1. copula.


Etymology

Origin of linking verb

First recorded in 1930–35

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Problem: “A feeling of accomplishment” is a noun phrase followed by a linking verb.

From Textbooks • Dec. 21, 2021

“I thought about that word, ‘be,’ and how ‘be’ is not only a linking verb, it’s an action verb,” he said.

From New York Times • Jul. 25, 2020

In one episode the shirtless tribal leader Khal Drogo delivered a monologue for two and a half minutes in Dothraki, with its subject-verb-object structure and no copula, or linking verb.

From New York Times • Dec. 11, 2011