Adjectives and Adverbs After Linking Verbs

A word ending in -ly is often an adverb, but choosing between an adjective and adverb depends on what the word modifies. After a linking verb, the word commonly describes the subject. After an action verb, an adverb can describe how the action is performed.

The linking-verb test

A linking verb connects the subject to a description or identity. In “The flowers smell sweet,” sweet describes flowers. In “The room feels cold,” cold describes room. The adjective is a subject complement, not an adverb modifying an action.

The same verb can show action

Some verbs change function with context. “She looked tired” uses looked as a linking verb and tired describes she. “She looked carefully at the label” uses looked as an action verb; carefully explains how she looked. “The chef tasted the sauce cautiously” uses tasted as an action verb, so cautiously modifies the action.

Replace the verb to check its function

Try replacing the verb with a form of be. If the sentence keeps its basic meaning—“The soup is good”—the original verb is probably linking and needs an adjective. If the replacement changes the meaning—“She is carefully at the label”—the verb is acting and an adverb is likely needed.

Common linking verbs

Forms of be are linking verbs. Other common linking verbs include seem, become, remain, appear, feel, look, smell, sound, and taste when they connect the subject to a quality. The verb can also be an action verb, so do not choose by memorized lists alone.

Editing examples

• Correct: The fabric feels soft. Soft describes fabric.
• Correct: She felt the fabric softly. Softly describes the manner of touching.
• Correct: The explanation sounds clear. Clear describes explanation.
• Correct: He spoke clearly. Clearly modifies spoke.

Identify what the word modifies

An adjective describes a noun or pronoun; an adverb can modify a verb, adjective, or another adverb. In “The explanation sounds clear,” clear describes explanation through the linking verb sounds. In “The student explained the solution clearly,” clearly modifies the action explained. The ending -ly is a clue, not a rule: friendly is usually an adjective, and fast can be an adjective or adverb depending on the sentence.

Use linking verbs by meaning

A sensory verb may link the subject to a quality or describe an action. “The soup tastes salty” describes the soup; “The chef tastes the soup cautiously” describes how the chef performs an action. Similarly, “The fabric feels soft” uses feels as a link, while “She felt the fabric carefully” uses feel as an action. The same verb can take an adjective in one sentence and an adverb in another.

Be careful with well and good

Good is usually an adjective describing a person, thing, or action's result: “The plan is good” or “She did a good job.” Well is often an adverb meaning skillfully: “She writes well.” Well can also be an adjective meaning healthy: “He feels well.” Decide from meaning and grammar rather than replacing every adjective after a verb with an adverb.

Use the replacement test cautiously

Replacing a suspected linking verb with be can help: “The room smells fresh” is close to “The room is fresh.” But the test is only a diagnostic; some verbs shift meaning, and the replacement may sound awkward without changing the underlying relationship. A better question is whether the following word describes the subject or the manner of an action. Then confirm that the sentence's meaning remains the writer's intended one.

Proofread in context

1. Identify the verb and decide whether it links the subject to a description or expresses an action.
2. Ask what the modifier describes: the subject, the action, or another modifier.
3. Use an adjective for a subject complement after a linking verb and an adverb for an action's manner.
4. Check ambiguous words such as good/well and fast by meaning, not by spelling alone.
5. Read the sentence aloud to ensure the modifier describes the intended person or thing.

Key takeaway

Ask what the modifier describes. If it describes the subject after a linking verb, choose an adjective. If it describes an action, choose an adverb.

Use an adjective after a linking verb

A linking verb connects the subject to a word that describes or identifies it. Common linking verbs include forms of be and verbs such as seem, become, appear, remain, feel, look, smell, and taste when they describe a state. Use an adjective after a linking verb because the adjective describes the subject: “The explanation seems clear”; clear describes explanation.

Do not choose an adverb simply because it ends in -ly. In “The soup tastes good,” good describes the soup. In “The chef tastes the soup carefully,” carefully modifies the action tastes. The same verb can be linking or action depending on meaning. Ask whether the subject is doing an action or being described.

Distinguish linking verbs from action verbs

Look can link a subject to an adjective: “The candidate looks confident.” It can also describe an action: “The candidate looked carefully at the chart.” Feel can link in “I feel tired” or describe an action in “I felt the fabric gently.” Taste, smell, and sound follow the same pattern. Determine the verb’s role in this sentence rather than memorizing one form for every use.

Adjectives can also follow linking verbs as predicate complements: “The results are accurate,” “The plan became effective,” and “The room remained quiet.” An adverb may follow the verb if it modifies another action or phrase, but it does not replace the adjective describing the subject.

Use a substitution check

Replace the linking verb with is or are. If the sentence still expresses a similar description, an adjective is likely: “The flowers smell sweet” becomes “The flowers are sweet.” If the substitution changes the meaning because the original verb describes an action, use an adverb: “The dog smelled cautiously” describes how it used its nose. This test is a clue; meaning remains decisive.

Comparative and superlative forms can complicate the choice. “She feels better today” uses better as an adjective describing her condition; “She performed better today” uses better as an adverb modifying performed. Identify what the word modifies before choosing its form.

• Use an adjective to describe the subject after a linking verb.
• Use an adverb to modify an action verb.
• Check whether look, feel, taste, or smell describes a state or action.
• Try replacing a possible linking verb with is/are as a diagnostic.
• Identify what comparative words such as better modify.