Liesl's Blog > Vocabulary Workouts > Nix Linking Verbs

Vocabulary Workout: Nix the Linking Verb

If you want a stronger vocabulary, you're probably already studying new words, and learning more about the words you already know, maybe by reading Make Your Point each weekday morning.

But you don't want to just know a bunch of words. You want to use them. You want to think of them when you need them, calling them to mind as you talk or write, so that you express exactly what you mean.

You need a vocabulary workout! Your brain needs to break a sweat.

Here's one way to do that. Whenever you spot a linking verb, try to rephrase the entire idea, using an action verb. I'll show you how.



What's a linking verb?

It's a verb (such as "is," "was," or "seems") that links, or equates, the subject of the sentence with what follows: "My name is Liesl;" "That guacamole was delicious;" "Do you think this avocado seems too squishy?" Sometimes they're called "being" verbs because they're often a form of "to be."

Linking verbs are everywhere! They're so useful. They're not a mistake, and not a sin.

Then why should I get rid of linking verbs?

They're just not very exciting. They let us get lazy and point out the obvious ("The jar is blue"), or make bland judgments ("The problem was bad"), or talk about things simply existing instead of happening ("The jar is on the table;" "The problem was everywhere").

Unlike action verbs ("Call me Liesl;" "I inhaled that guacamole;" "Do you think this avocado rotted?"), they don't encourage us to get specific (how? why?), and they don't encourage us to focus on more dynamic things, like actions, movement, or experiences.

At times, then, you may want to grab hold of a linking verb--actually, grab hold of the entire idea it expresses--and flex both your vocabulary and your imagination to transform it into a concrete action.

As you do this, you can pick any action verb. It doesn't have to be a fancy one, or one that you've studied recently. Reach way back into your entire vocabulary. 

Example 1:

   Linking verb: "is."
   Bland, vague, or static statement: "This movie is sad."
   (How? Why? Or, what actually happened, or what did someone do?)

   Transformation into an action: "I cried at this movie."

Example 2:

   Linking verb: "is."
   Bland, vague, or static statement: "This movie is awful."
   (How? Why? Or, what actually happened, or what did someone do?)
 
   Transformation into an action: "This movie bored us."
   (Or, "The director of this movie should have just set fire to the $65 million.")

Although you can keep the subject the same ("This movie is sad" --> "This movie depressed us"), feel free to change it, especially into something more dynamic, like a human ("This movie is sad" --> "I cried at this movie").

You can do this vocabulary workout whenever you want, as often as you want.

Just listen for linking verbs as you're enjoying shows, music, reading, or conversation. Take that moment to pause, flex your vocabulary, and recast the entire idea as an action.

The point isn't to "fix" what anyone else said or wrote. It's to strengthen your own ability to summon words with speed and precision.




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We practice nixing a linking verb every Wednesday.