Helping Verbs vs. Linking Verbs: What’s the Difference?

Helping verbs and linking verbs function differently and play crucial roles in sentence structure. Helping verbs assist the main verb to express tense, mood, or voice, while linking verbs connect the subject of a sentence to additional information, describing or renaming it.

This guide explores their differences, provides clear examples, and helps you use them correctly in your writing.

Let’s start with the difference between linking verbs and helping verbs.

Helping Verbs vs Linking Verbs: Key Differences

Helping and linking verbs function differently. While helping verbs assist the main verb to express tense, mood, or voice, linking verbs connect the subject of a sentence to additional information that describes or renames it.

What Are Helping Verbs?

Helping verbs (also called auxiliary verbs) assist the main verb in a sentence by extending its meaning. They help express tense, mood, voice, negation, and questions.

Common helping verbs include:

• Be (am, is, are, was, were, being, been)
• Have (has, had, having)
• Do (does, did)
• Modal verbs (can, could, will, would, shall, should, may, might, must)

Examples of Helping Verbs in Sentences:

1. She is running a marathon. (“Is” helps the main verb “running” to show present continuous tense.)
2. They have finished their homework. (“Have” helps “finished” to form the present perfect tense.)
3. He can swim across the lake. (“Can” modifies the main verb “swim” to show ability.)

What Are Linking Verbs?

Linking verbs connect the subject of a sentence to additional information (a subject complement) that describes or renames it. Unlike action verbs, linking verbs do not show action. Common linking verbs include:

• Forms of “to be” (am, is, are, was, were, being, been)
• Sensory verbs (appear, seem, become, feel, look, sound, taste, smell)

Examples of Linking Verbs in Sentences:

1. She is a doctor. (“Is” links “she” to “doctor.”)
2. The soup tastes delicious. (“Tastes” connects “soup” to “delicious.”)
3. They seem happy. (“Seem” links “they” to “happy.”)

Key Differences Between Helping and Linking Verbs

Can a Verb Be Both a Helping and a Linking Verb?

Yes — but only forms of the verb “to be” (such as is, are, was, were, am, been, being) can function as both helping verbs and linking verbs, depending on how they are used in a sentence.

• Helping verb: She is running. (Here, is helps the main verb running — present continuous tense.)
• Linking verb: She is tired. (Here, is links the subject she to the description tired.)

Other verbs do not typically act as both; most are either helping or linking, not both.

How to Tell Helping Verbs from Linking Verbs

• Check if the verb stands alone – If removing the verb leaves the sentence incomplete or unnatural, it’s likely a linking verb.
  • She is happy. → “She happy” doesn’t make sense → Linking
  • She is running. → “Is” supports “running” → Helping
• Try replacing the verb with “=” – If the sentence still makes sense, it’s likely a linking verb.
  • The sky is blue. → The sky = blue → Linking
  • She has eaten. → No logical “=” replacement → Helping

More Examples of Helping and Linking Verbs in Sentences

Understanding how helping and linking verbs work in real sentences is key to mastering their use. Below are examples that highlight each type clearly.

Helping Verbs in Sentences

These verbs assist the main verb by expressing tense, mood, or voice:

• She has gone to the store. (“Has” helps the main verb “gone” – present perfect tense)
• They are watching a movie. (“Are” supports “watching” – present continuous tense)
• He might arrive late. (“Might” shows possibility with the main verb “arrive”)
• We have been studying all night. (“Have been” helps express duration – present perfect continuous)
• I do understand your concern. (“Do” emphasizes the main verb “understand”)
• You should see a doctor. (“Should” expresses advice or suggestion)

Linking Verbs in Sentences

These verbs connect the subject to a subject complement (a noun, pronoun, or adjective that describes the subject):

• The sky is blue. (“Is” links “sky” to the description “blue”)
• She seems nervous. (“Seems” connects “she” to the adjective “nervous”)
• The milk smells sour. (“Smells” links “milk” to the adjective “sour”)
• He became a doctor. (“Became” connects “he” to the noun “doctor”)
• This soup tastes amazing. (“Tastes” links “soup” to the adjective “amazing”)
• They are best friends. (“Are” links “they” to “best friends”)

Practice Exercise: Identifying Helping Verbs vs Linking Verbs

FAQs about the Difference Between Linking Verbs and Helping Verbs

Key Takeaways

While helping verbs support the main verb to indicate tense or possibility, linking verbs connect the subject to a description:

• Helping verbs (also called auxiliary verbs) support the main verb and help express tense, mood, or voice.
  Examples: has, is, can, will, have been.
• Linking verbs connect the subject to a subject complement that describes or renames it.
  Examples: is, seem, become, look, taste.
• Some verbs—especially forms of “to be”—can function as both helping and linking verbs depending on the context.
• To tell them apart:
  • If the verb works with another verb to show action or time → Helping Verb
  • If the verb links the subject to a description → Linking Verb

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