Linking verb: Difference between revisions

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(Created page with "also called '''copular''' verb * ''copular'' = connecting * = a verb that does not indicate an action ** instead, it <u>connects</u> a subject to a modifier (adjective, prepositional phrase) or noun * ex. ** ''I am happy'' ** ''She is a doctor'' == Linking verbs list == === linking verb with subject complements === {| class="wikitable" !Linking (copular) verb !Subject complement adjective (predicate adjective) !Subject complement noun (predicate adjective) !Subject co...")
 
 
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(predicate adjective)
(predicate adjective)
!Subject complement noun
!Subject complement noun
(predicate adjective)
(predicate nominitive)
!Subject complement prepositional phrase (modifier)
!Subject complement prepositional phrase (modifier)
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|* look
|* look
|''The team looks readyClowns look funny''  
|''The team looks readyClowns look funny''
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<nowiki>*</nowiki> note: many linking verbs can also be finite action verbs that take objects
<nowiki>*</nowiki> <u>note</u>: many linking verbs can also be finite action verbs that take objects


* ex.  
* ex.  
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|''We've got to go''  
|''We've got to go''  
''Her passion is to travel''
''Her passion is to travel''
''The dog seems to feel happy''
''The dog seems to feel happy''
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** subject complement = a noun or adjective  
** subject complement = a noun or adjective  


*
=== predicate adjective & predicate nominative ===
 
* = different terms for adjectives or nouns that act as the predicate for a linking verb
 
{|
!predicate nominative
!= subject complement noun
!''Mr. Jones ia a'' ''<u>farmer</u>''
|-
|'''predicate adjective'''
|= subject complement adjective
|'''''Flowers are <u>pretty</u>'''''
|-
|
|subject complement prepositional phrase
|'''''Her performance is <u>at the theater</u>'''''
|}
 
* prepositional phrases are "subject complement modifiers" and not "predicate adjectives"
 
[[Category:Grammar]]
[[Category:Language Arts]]

Latest revision as of 15:00, 24 May 2023

also called copular verb

  • copular = connecting
  • = a verb that does not indicate an action
    • instead, it connects a subject to a modifier (adjective, prepositional phrase) or noun
  • ex.
    • I am happy
    • She is a doctor

Linking verbs list[edit | edit source]

linking verb with subject complements[edit | edit source]

Linking (copular) verb Subject complement adjective

(predicate adjective)

Subject complement noun

(predicate nominitive)

Subject complement prepositional phrase (modifier)
to be (am, are, is, was, were, etc.) We are happy We are a family The book is on the table
* appear They appear lost
* become, feel, get I have become happy She became the problem
feel Velvet feels soft
* look The team looks readyClowns look funny
* prove, remain, stay The test proved difficultThe coach remains undecidedTraffic stayed bad all day
seem, sound That clown seem unhappyThey sound reasonable
smell, taste Rotten apples smell badRotten apples taste bad It smells like roses

* note: many linking verbs can also be finite action verbs that take objects

  • ex.
    • I got a new house << "got" = the action of acquiring
    • I looked at the horses << look here is an action of observing (as opposed to a state of "looking like")
    • The detective proved the theory << prove is the action of solving
    • The table stays there << stay is the action of remaining in place, so "there" is an adverb that modifies the finite action verb, "stays"

linking verbs with non-finite verb complements[edit | edit source]

Subject complement adjective

(non-finite verb adjective) (participle adjectives)

Subject complement noun

(non-finite verb noun) (gerund)

Subject complement noun

(non-finite infinitive) (noun or adjective)

We were stokedWe felt spentHe got annoyingTraffic stayed stuck He appears to be the real dealMy down time is watching sportsHis passion is traveling We've got to go

Her passion is to travel

The dog seems to feel happy

Linking verb = not an action[edit | edit source]

  • key to the linking or copular verb is that it does not indicate a specific action
  • instead, the linking verb refers to a state, condition, or existence of the subject

Linking verbs have complements and not objects[edit | edit source]

  • objects = the result of an action
  • since linking verbs do not indicate a specific action, they have "subject complements"
    • subject complement = a noun or adjective

predicate adjective & predicate nominative[edit | edit source]

  • = different terms for adjectives or nouns that act as the predicate for a linking verb
predicate nominative = subject complement noun Mr. Jones ia a farmer
predicate adjective = subject complement adjective Flowers are pretty
subject complement prepositional phrase Her performance is at the theater
  • prepositional phrases are "subject complement modifiers" and not "predicate adjectives"