Skill 25 : Adjectives After Linking Verbs

Generally an adverb rather than an adjective will come directly after a verb because the adverb is describing the verb.

She spoke nicely.
In this example, the verb spoke if followed by the adverb nicely. This adverb describes the verb spoke.
However you must be very careful if the verb is a linking verb. A linking verb is followed by an adjective rather than an adverb.

She looks nice.
In this example, the linking verb looks is followed by the adjective nice. This adjective describes the subject she.
You should be sure to use an adjective rather than an adverb a linking verb. Be careful, however, because the adjective that goes with the linking verb does not always directly follow the linking verb.

He seems unusually nice.


In this example, the adjective nice, which describes the subject he, is itself described by the adverb unusually. From this example, you should notice that it is possible to have an adverb directly after a linking verb, but only if the adverb describes an adjective that follows.

Theses sentences show the type of errors with linking verbs that is common on the TOEFL test.

The test look easily to me.
Sally feels unbelievable happy about the news.

In the first example, the linking verb looks should be followed by the adjective easy rather than adverb easily. In the second example, the linking verb feels is followed  by the adjective happy. The incorrect adjective unbelievable should be the adverb unbelievably because it describes the adjective happy.

The following charts list commonly used linking verbs and outlines the different uses of adjectives and adverbs after regular verbs and linking verbs.

ADJECTIVES AND ADVERBS AFTER VERBS

(subject) + (regular verb) + (adverb) ( a regular verb is followed by an adverb. The adverb describes  the verb)

(subject) + (linking verb) + (adjective) A linking verb is followed by an adjective. The adjective describes the subject)

(subject) + (linking verb) + (adverb) It is possible for a linking verb to be followed by an adverb and an adjective . The adverb describes the adjective ad the adjective describes the subject.

Linking verbs  : Appear Be Become Feel Look Prove Seem Smell taste