What is Linking?

Definition

Word linking is the process of connecting two words together to create a compound word. For example, the words "foot" and "ball" can be linked together to create the compound word "football." Word linking can also be done by using hyphens, such as in the words "mother-in-law" and "three-year-old."

Linking occurs when two words are connected to form a single unit. For example, the words "cat" and "dog" can be linked to form the compound noun "catdog."

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Types

There are four different types of linking: coordinative, subordinating, correlative, and finally, determinative.

• Coordinative linking is the most common type of linking. It occurs when two words of equal grammatical status are joined together. A good example of this would be the sentence "I have a cat and a dog." In this sentence, the two nouns "cat" and "dog" are joined by the coordinative conjunction "and."
• Subordinating linking happens when a word of lower grammatical status is joined to a word of higher grammatical status. A good example of this would be the sentence "I want to go to the store." In this sentence, the verb "want" is subordinated to the noun "I."
• Correlative linking is when two words are joined together by a correlative conjunction. A good example of this would be the sentence "Either you go or I'll go." In this sentence, the correlative conjunction "either...or" is used to join the two verbs "go."
• Finally, determinative linking occurs when a word is added to a sentence in order to modify or determine the meaning of another word in the sentence. A good example of this would be the sentence "All cats are animals." In this sentence, the word "all" is used to determine the meaning of the word "cat."

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Examples

The following examples show how linking verbs can connect the subject with different words or phrases that describe or identify the subject.

The flowers are beautiful.

The subject, flowers, is connected with the word beautiful, which describes the subject.

He seems tired.

The subject, He, is connected with the word tired, which describes the subject.

The soup is hot.

The subject, soup, is connected with the word hot, which describes the subject.

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Conclusion

Verbs that describe the topic rather than demonstrating an action are known as linking verbs. While words like "walk" or "jump" denote an activity, linking words like "be" or "seem" give the topic more context, as in "he seems pleasant" or "she is an architect."

Linking verbs, also referred to as copulas or copulae, are crucial components of every language, but they are particularly crucial in English because the most typical word, be, is a linking verb.

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