Adjectives After Linking Verbs — Exercises
Practice using an adjective, not an adverb, after linking verbs like look, feel, seem, sound, taste and smell — and telling them apart from the same verbs used as actions.
-
This soup tastes ___.
Show answer
delicious
After the linking verb 'taste', use an adjective — 'tastes delicious'.
-
Your plan sounds ___ to me.
Show answer
perfect
After the linking verb 'sound', use an adjective — 'sounds perfect'.
-
The bread smells ___ — it must be straight from the oven.
Show answer
fresh
After the linking verb 'smell', use an adjective — 'smells fresh'.
-
She sang ___ at the concert last night.
Show answer
beautifully
'Sing' is an action verb, so use an adverb — 'sang beautifully'.
-
He looked at me ___ and walked away.
Show answer
angrily
'Look at' is an action here, so use an adverb — 'looked at me angrily'.
-
Is the cat still ___ after the accident?
Show answer
alive
'Alive' is an a- adjective used after a verb — 'is the cat alive'.
-
You look ___ today. Are you feeling OK?
Show answer
tired
After the linking verb 'look', use an adjective — 'look tired'.
-
This coffee tastes ___ — I think it needs more sugar.
Show answer
bitter
After the linking verb 'taste', use an adjective — 'tastes bitter'.
Adjectives After Linking Verbs: look, feel, seem, sound, taste, smell
A linking verb connects the subject of a sentence to a word that describes it, so it takes an adjective, not an adverb. The most common linking verbs are be, look, feel, seem, sound, taste, and smell. Because these same verbs can sometimes describe an action rather than a state, learners often add '-ly' by mistake, producing errors like 'tastes deliciously' or 'sounds perfectly' that are common even at upper-intermediate level, according to classroom-error studies of B1–B2 writers.
Linking Verb + Adjective
Your plan sounds perfect. (not 'perfectly')
The bread smells fresh. (not 'freshly')
You look tired today. (not 'tiredly')
Action Verb + Adverb: The Same Verb, a Different Job
Several of these verbs can also describe a real action rather than a state, and then they need an adverb, exactly like any other action verb.
He looked at me angrily and walked away. ('look at' is an action)
Common Mistakes
✗ Your plan sounds perfectly. → ✓ Your plan sounds perfect.
✗ She sang beautiful at the concert. → ✓ She sang beautifully at the concert.
Last updated: · Satori Editorial