What part of speech is "are" in the sentence "Nicole's letters are always cheerful"?

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In the sentence "Nicole's letters are always cheerful," the word "are" serves as a linking verb. Linking verbs connect the subject of a sentence to additional information about that subject. In this case, "are" connects the subject "Nicole's letters" to the description "cheerful," indicating the state or condition of the letters. Understanding this function is crucial, as verbs play a fundamental role in conveying action or state of being in a sentence. Therefore, identifying "are" as a verb is accurate, as it reflects its role in linking the subject to the adjective describing it.