连系动词不像普通动词那样表现动作。他们更倾向于把主语连接到主语补语，也就是句子中跟在动词后面的部分。这个补充包含了描述和识别主题的附加信息。
例如:
- Larry looks happy. (looks 是系动词; happy 是描述主语 Larry的表语)
- The play was good. (was 是系动词，good 是表语描述主语play)
系动词的作用是后面跟名词或形容词，在语法上系动词之后的名词或形容词被称为表语，因此有种说法表语是主语的补足语。
一些系动词的列表
下面是常用的系动词:
- appear
- be
- become
- feel
- get
- grow
- look
- prove
- remain
- seem
- smell
- stay
- sound
- taste
- turn
系动词有可能是实意动词
上面列出的一些动词可以用作连系动词和普通动词。区分一个动词是连系动词还是普通动词的一个技巧是看主语和补语之间的关系。如果关系表示一个等号(=)，那么它就是一个连系动词。考虑以下例子:
- He looks angry. (He = angry | 系动词)
- He looked at the man. (
He = at the man| 实意动词)
例句:
look:
- Nadia looked happy. (系动词)
- Nadia looked at the window. (普通动词)
taste
- The food tastes delicious. (系动词)
- They tasted the food. (普通动词)
appear
- She appeared quiet. (系动词)
- She appeared in the room. (普通动词)
