Other common linking verbs are listed bellow.

COMMON LINKING VERBS

appear grow seem stay
become look smell taste
feel remain sound

Many of the verbs in the preceding list can also be used as action verbs-that is, without a subject complement.

LINKING The detectives looked puzzled.
ACTION The detectives looked for clues.

In general, a verb is a linking verb if you can substitute for it some form of the verb seem.

EXAMPLES: The detectives looked [seemed] puzzled.
Everyone in the stadium felt [seemed] cold.
All of the passengers remained [seemed] calm.

The Helping Verb and the Verb Phrase

A verb phrase is made up of a main verb and one more helping verbs. ³ Helping verbs are so called because they help the main verb to express action or make a statement. The helping verbs in the following phrases are printed in bold-faced type:

has played will be coming
should have paid must have been injured

In other words, a verb phrase is a verb of more than one word.

COMMON HELPING VERBS

am has can (may) have
are had could (would, should) be
is can could (would, should) have
was may will (shall) have been
were will (shall) be might have
do will (shall)have might have been
did has (had) been must have
have can (may) be must have been

The parts of a verb phrase may be separated from one another by other words; i.e., the helping verb may be separated from the main verb.

EXAMPLES: Did you hear me call?
I am not going with you.
We had finally completed our work.

THE ADVERB

An adverb is a word used to modify a verb, an adjective, or another adverb.

The adverb is used most commonly as the modifier of a verb. It may tell how, when, where, or to what extent (how often or how much) the action of the verb is done.

EXAMPLES: He drives carefully. [Carefully tells how he drives.]
He drives early and late. [Early and late tell when he drives.]
He drives everywhere. [Everywhere tells where he drives.]
She can almost drive. [Almost tells to what extent she can drive.]
She drives daily. [Daily tells how often she drives.]

An adverb may modify an adjective.

EXAMPLE:
He is an unusually good driver. [Unusually modifies the adjective good, telling how good or to what extent he is good at driving.]

An adverb may modify another adverb.

He behaved very well.