HomeGrammarAdverb vs Adjective ExercisesLinking Verbs + Adjectives - Advanced

Linking Verbs + Adjectives - Advanced

B2 Level

This advanced linking verbs and adjectives exercise practises verbs that can be linking verbs in one sentence and action verbs in another. With a linking meaning, the word after the verb describes the subject, so use an adjective: she looked refreshed, the sauce tasted perfect, and the future looks bright. With an action meaning, the word describes how the action happens, so use an adverb: she looked angrily at the children or the detective looked closely at the evidence.

The B2 challenge is context. Feel, taste, smell, look, grow, appear, and turn change pattern depending on meaning. The same verb form can describe a state, a change, a physical action, or careful attention. Decide whether the subject is being described or someone is doing something. Objects and prepositions are useful clues: looked at, felt his forehead, and tasted the sauce point towards action, while no-object descriptions often point towards linking use.

Quick Rule

linking verb + adjective for state or change | action verb + adverb for manner or attention | adverb + adjective for degree

  • 1.She did not look refreshed after the journey.
  • 2.The guard looked suspiciously around the building.
  • 3.The sauce tasted perfect after more salt.
  • 4.The chef tasted the sauce slowly.
  • 5.She grew increasingly tired of the long meetings.