What type of verb is used in the phrase "The candidate felt betrayed"?

The phrase "The candidate felt betrayed" contains a linking verb, which connects the subject ("the candidate") with a descriptor that relates to their state or condition ("betrayed"). In this context, the verb "felt" serves to express an emotional or sensory state rather than an action performed by the subject. Linking verbs, like "felt," are used to state what the subject is or how the subject feels, and they often connect the subject with a subject complement that provides further information about the subject.

Here, "betrayed" acts as an adjective describing the candidate's emotional experience, indicating a state of being rather than an action taken by them, which aligns with the function of linking verbs. This is crucial in understanding how verbs function within a sentence to convey different meanings.