In Genesis 1:2, the earth was without form and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep and the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. The linking verb "was" has several different meanings. So is it possible that Genesis 1:2 is saying that the earth "became" without form and void? Can you replace "was" with another linking verb?

In considering the sense of Genesis 1:2 we are blessed to have the guidance of investigations into the early earth’s geology.  The harmony of the testimony of Genesis and of the testimony of geology is amazing – the earth was covered completely by the ocean [“the deep”] and the continents had not yet emerged above the waters. A heavy dense fog of water and carbon dioxide blanketed everything.  Hence, the earth indeed was [Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance #H1961 h?yâ] without form and void (empty).  While allowing for the complexity of h?yâ, no special adjustments of the King James Version translation have been embraced by modern translators.

Additional Resource:
Christian Questions Podcast
Episode #1090: “What Profound Secret Does Creation Reveal? Contradictions (Part V)
Startling revelations from Genesis 2
Preview Video
CQ Rewind Show Notes