English Grammar: Complements of Verbs
Complements — Linking Verbs
In Grammar Unit One you learned that there is a small group of verbs that do not express action. The verb to be is the most important verb in this group. Since it is the most irregular verb in our language, you should be familiar with its various forms. The following verbs and verb phrases are forms of the verb to be:
Forms of the Verb "To Be"
Although the verb to be, as well as the other verbs belonging in this group, does not express action, it has another function in the sentence. The chief purpose of this verb is to serve as a link which joins the subject to some word in the predicate that gives the meaning to the sentence. For that reason, it is called a linking verb.
Linking verbs have very little meaning of their own. With the help of another word, they express various ideas in regard to the subject. In the sentence, Mary is ill, the verb is (a form of to be) is used with the adjective ill to describe the condition of the subject, Mary. The sentence really means ill Mary, but you need a verb in order to make a complete statement.
In the sentence, The young man was an aviator, the verb was is a linking verb. With the help of the noun aviator, it identifies or classifies the young man. The noun aviator means the same as the subject. In the sentence, The actress is very beautiful, the verb is, with the help of the adjective beautiful, describes the appearance of the actress.
Verbs like to be are sometimes called copulative verbs. This is a term that comes from the Latin and means joining together or linking.
The verbs become and seem, like the verb to be, are almost always used as linking verbs. The following verbs are used both as linking verbs and as action verbs. The meaning of the sentence will show to which classification they belong:
Linking and Action Verbs
This group of words is important because a great many mistakes in English are made when a speaker or writer does not understand their linking function.
When these words have a linking function, they have practically the same meaning as the verb to be would have in the same sentence. By supplying the verb to be mentally after one of these verbs, you can readily tell whether the verb has a linking function or whether it is used as an action verb. Every one of the verbs in the following sentences is a linking verb. The verb to be has been supplied to show you how to interpret the sentence when the verbs have a linking function.
The cookies are wonderful. (wonderful cookies)
The cookies look (to be) delicious. (delicious cookies)
The cookies smell (to be) good. (good cookies)
The cookies taste (to be) sweet. (sweet cookies)
The cookies seem (to be) brittle. (brittle cookies)
The cookies became (to be) stale. (stale cookies)
The cookies proved (to be) sweet. (sweet cookies)
The cookies feel (to be) hard. (hard cookies)
The cookies stayed (to be) fresh. (fresh cookies)
The cookies appear (to be) tempting. (tempting cookies)
The cookies remained (to be) soft. (soft cookies)
The cookies kept (to be) fresh. (fresh cookies)
Some of the same verbs that were used in the preceding illustrations may also be used to express action. Note the differences in meaning when these verbs function as action verbs and not as linking verbs.
John appeared promptly. (made his appearance)
The horticulturist grows orchids. (produces by cultivation)
I turned the key in the lock.
We proved a theorem in geometry.
The doctor felt the broken bone.
The warden sounded the bell.
The chef tasted the sauce.
We kept a record of our journey.
The dog smelled the meat.
The judge will stay the trial. (postpone)
The committee looked at the pictures.
