Page 56 - Grasp English C1+ (Student Book)

4 City and Colours

Grammar Linking verbs

A. Read the joke. Answer the questions and
read the information.

1. If we say The dog smells terrible, does the
dog have a nice or a nasty aroma?
2. If we want to say the dog can’t smell well,
is it correct to say The dog smells terrible?

Linking verbs describe the subject but aren’t action verbs. The most
common linking verb is be. Be, become and seem are always linking
verbs. Other linking verbs can also be action verbs: appear, feel, get,
go, grow, look, prove, remain, smell, sound and taste.

B. Read the pairs of sentences. Identify whether the verb is a linking or action verb in each sentence.
1. a) Buying a place in the countryside sounds like an affordable option.
b) She sounded unhappy - I don’t know if their house sale might not have gone through.
2. a) He tasted the soup made with vegetables from his own garden.
b) That fair-trade chocolate you bought tasted delicious.
3. a) We were sitting outside our igloo, and suddenly a deer appeared in front of us.
b) He appears happy – I think moving to the countryside was just what he needed.
4. a) That house on the river looks fun - let’s buy it!
b) We looked at two houses with infinity pools, but we couldn’t afford either.
5. a) We quickly grew tired of the countryside; there’s so much more to do in the city.
b) I grew up in the city and always imagined I’d live there as an adult.
6. a) She felt the sun on her face and smiled as she relaxed by the pool.
b) Living in a glass house felt strange at first, but I love lying in bed and looking at the stars.
7. a) It was hard to remain calm when we heard our offer on the house had been accepted.
b) I moved in straight away, but my family remained in the city for a few weeks while I got things ready.
8. a) Finding the perfect place proved difficult, so in the end, we settled for the most affordable.
b) They did some research and proved that people who live in the countryside have a better quality
of life.

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