Questions tagged [linking-verbs]
The linking-verbs tag has no usage guidance.
43
questions
1
vote
0
answers
36
views
Why and when are linking verbs omitted? [duplicate]
I see that linking verbs are omitted when one wants to quickly convey information (radio communication, newspapers).
Examples: enemy spotted, game over, Lincoln shot, block broken, 3 left.
Are there ...
- 11
0
votes
1
answer
57
views
A linking verb or a part of the verb phrase?
I just came across the following sentences, and it just kept me thinking for hours and searching up grammar rules, but it was in vain. The question is about identifying verbal phrases:
The apples ...
1
vote
1
answer
88
views
"He fought in World War II as an infantryman" - does 'as' change 'fought' into a linking verb?
Can an as-headed prepositional phrase turn an action verb into a linking verb?
Consider the following examples:
With the fall of the Roman Empire, cities were abandoned as centers of administration. [...
- 366
1
vote
1
answer
41
views
"to lie deep" vs "to lie deeply" - is "is certain it must lie very deeply" incorrect? [duplicate]
In A_Treatise_of_Human_Nature, of David Hume, it is written:
For if truth be at all within the reach of human capacity, it is certain it must lie very deep and abstruse: and to hope we shall arrive ...
- 1,720
0
votes
1
answer
90
views
Is the linking verb 'be' always considered a stative verb?
I got a quesiton recently which was:
True or False: The linking verb 'be' is always considered a stative verb?
To my knowledge, the answer should be True (i.e., the verb 'be' is always supposed to ...
- 3
0
votes
1
answer
53
views
Verb-ing followed by isolated adjective
There is this definition of the word "Justification" which says,
The action of declaring or making righteous in the sight of God.
Is it correct if I say "righteous" acts as a ...
- 1
1
vote
1
answer
222
views
Tag Questions with Linking Verbs
Only an auxiliary verb is repeated in tag questions. My question is which auxiliary verb should be used in the tag when the main verb of the sentence is a linking verb other than 'be'?
You look a bit ...
- 8,462
0
votes
0
answers
29
views
is the first vs was the first [duplicate]
Which is correct?
George Washington was the first president of the United States.
or
George Washington is the first president of the United States.
(He will always be the first president of the United ...
- 1
-1
votes
1
answer
53
views
Adverb vs. Adjective use [closed]
We typically use adverbs to describe verbs, but there are exceptions. Would you rather say 'You glow different' or 'You glow differently'? Are both acceptable?
0
votes
2
answers
105
views
Linking word for "in exchange"?
I'm looking for a linking word that can connect two sentences:
Omitting the predefined parameter relaxes the potential charging destinations at a step to be the entire sensors, thereby expanding the ...
- 3
1
vote
1
answer
137
views
Can linking verbs be used instead of BE in passive voice?
The window was broken.
The window got broken.
The window seemed broken.
The window ended up broken.
All these sentences look like passive voice examples to me.
But I have only found terms "...
0
votes
0
answers
215
views
What semantic meaning does the copula 'be' have in its specifying use?
The Cambridge Grammar of the English Language (Page 252) says:
It may be that the be of [Kim is fond of animals] should be regarded as semantically empty, serving the purely syntactic function of ...
- 6,481
-1
votes
1
answer
71
views
Are there hidden prepositions in these sentences? [duplicate]
My shoes are [of] the wrong color.
This new wallpaper is [of] an odd pattern.
At first, one could say these are noun phrases functioning as predicate nominatives; however, the awkwardness in meaning ...
- 37
0
votes
0
answers
33
views
Is there a name for this type of sentence that put together clauses?
I often hear this type of sentence that put together some clauses.
Maybe because I was running towards you, waving my arms yelling “Don’t do that”.
DC Police found you naked lying in Lincoln’s ...
- 9
2
votes
1
answer
219
views
This ranks fairly high on my list
Is rank a copulative/linking verb in This ranks fairly high on my list ?
What Part of Speech is high here?
High (adjective) https://www.oed.com/oed2/00106032
High (adverb) https://www.oed.com/oed2/...
- 2,423
1
vote
1
answer
92
views
May a linking verb be omitted in a sentence with compound subject?
Consider the sentence:
Our son, John, is 15 and our daughter, Mary, 11.
Is it grammatical? I have read such omission of the linking verb (especially is) in a sentence with a compound subject. I ...
- 541
-2
votes
1
answer
577
views
Can 'fall' be a linking verb?
Linking verbs
do not describe any direct action taken or controlled by the subject.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linking_verb
Can "fall" be a linking verb, so that in e.g.
No-one has ...
user438381
-1
votes
1
answer
57
views
Can you say "The Purpose is To Claim/Support/Embarrass/verb"? (Noun - linking verb - infinitive) [closed]
By the most strict rules of the English language, can you actually say "the purpose is to claim that..." or "her purpose is to embarrass him..." etc. Colloquially, this and ...
- 101
-1
votes
2
answers
129
views
Linking verb vs unchanged adverb
Page 21 of Garner's fourth edition reads
One must analyze the sentence rather than memorize a list of common
linking verbs. Often unexpected candidates serve as linking
verbs—e.g.:
• “The rule sweeps ...
- 2,423
2
votes
3
answers
186
views
As what does "very much" function in "to be very much"?
wikipedia.org:
The predicative expression accompanying the copula, also known as the complement of the copula, may take any of several possible forms: it may be a noun or noun phrase, an adjective or ...
- 517
1
vote
0
answers
145
views
Can a linking verb be omitted in a parenthetical expression?
He saw us coming, and being unaware that we had learned of his
treachery, greeted us with a smile.
In my textbook, there is no "being", I want to know the logic or rules behind.
- 185
4
votes
3
answers
2k
views
adverbs after linking verbs
They write we must use adjectives rather than adverbs after linking verbs. For example https://www.macmillandictionary.com/dictionary/british/taste_2:
Food can taste sweet like sugar.
But here's ...
- 517
0
votes
1
answer
217
views
misplaced modifiers in a sentence
I have these two sentences:
The family of Johnsons in 1980 are heartbroken. They, like all families around them, appear to have given up.
When I read it, a lot of things are wrong and awkward ...
- 103
0
votes
1
answer
189
views
Is this "hung" an intransitive verb or a linking verb?
From the ceiling hung the chandelier.
I could not decide whether hung in the previous sentence is a linking verb or an action verb.
Should we rearrange this sentence to see it more easily?
- 157
2
votes
0
answers
660
views
When does a prepositional phrase modify a subject vs a linking verb?
The bold words are the words being modified by the prepositional phrase.
According to englishgrammar101.com:
The crystal glassware is from Carlsbad. (Is this a subject complement?)
Jessie's new ...
- 23
0
votes
1
answer
850
views
What is the Grammatical reason of using linking verb + past participle in a sentence?
I found this sentence in a blog post and the poster has used a linking verb followed by a past participle verb form in a sentence, which gives me a bit of confusing. Here is the sentence below:
In ...
0
votes
0
answers
1k
views
RULES FOR LINKING VERBS (state of being verbs)
I have an English grammar book from 1984 (let this not affect the question please), where this example is given about action verbs and linking verbs:
I enjoy a cup of coffee when I arrive at work.
...
- 9
3
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Can linking verbs and action verbs be together as elements of the same list?
I am writing a sentence that contains a list of elements in it. Some of the elements are formed with linking verbs and some with action verbs.
For example:
Laura is a sexy lady, smells heavenly, ...
- 41
0
votes
1
answer
4k
views
Linking verbs with passive voice, or not?
Here I am again.
Well, cutting to the chase: I was reading about linking verbs and saw an example: Opportunity is missed by most people, so one question arose: Are all statements in passive voice ...
- 334
0
votes
1
answer
697
views
Omitting "to be" after linking verbs
According to a grammar book called Grammar in Use
Before a noun we include to be when the nouns tells us what the
subject is, but often leave it out when we give our opinion...We leave
out to ...
- 1,438
0
votes
2
answers
729
views
Analysis of "I woke up tired."
"I woke up tired."
We have subject/(phrasal) verb/adjective.
So this looks like a linking verb with a predicate adjective. ("I am tired", "I became tired", "He seemed tired"). But since when is '...
- 669
-1
votes
1
answer
416
views
"Lying on couches is boring" vs. "Lying on couches are boring" [closed]
Using the example sentence in the title, would you use the plural linking verb "are" or singular linking verb "is"?
The same question can be applied to anything with the following ...
1
vote
1
answer
293
views
The verb 'has' in 'Kim has courage' vs in 'Kim has a car'
Consider
[1] a. Kim has courage.
b. Kim has a car.
My question: Is there a known linguistic concept that captures the difference (that I seem to be detecting, as ...
- 12.5k
0
votes
1
answer
3k
views
Is 'seem' always a linking verb? [duplicate]
The verb 'seem' is a specimen linking verb, as in:
(1) He seems a nice guy.
But it can have a clause as its complement, as in:
(2) He seems to be a nice guy. [to-infinitive clause]
(3) It seems ...
- 6,481
2
votes
1
answer
2k
views
ACT as a linking verb?
I came across a diagrammed sentence in a Houghton Mifflin English (Level 10, Pub. date 1992) book where the verb act was implied to be a linking verb. To simplify, the sentence in essence said, "He ...
- 177
0
votes
1
answer
4k
views
Is this sentence grammatical: "all there is, are idiolects?" [duplicate]
Someone please explain why singular to plural to singular is correct. In my opinion, this makes no sense.
Edit for clarification of what I'm asking: My point is that double linking verbs are not OK ...
2
votes
4
answers
3k
views
In “Why do you think this is?” is the verb “to be” a linking verb or a stative verb?
In this clip, you can hear the following question:
Recent polls have shown a fifth of Americans can’t locate the US on a world map. Why do you think this is?
It’s not clear to me if the clause “...
5
votes
5
answers
4k
views
Why can't "being" come after the verb "feel"?
The question is completely edited.
*I felt being dragged by a beast.
The word being cannot be used here, and that's for sure. It sounds wrong. What I am trying to find here is why it is wrong. ...
- 513
2
votes
0
answers
555
views
Are copulars considered linking, helping, or auxiliaries?
I'm having a hard time understanding why most people consider the infinitive to be and all of its verb base forms helping verbs. I've consulted multiple English grammar sites and forums, and most of ...
- 21
2
votes
2
answers
7k
views
"am/remain/stay" as linking verbs or not
(1) I am here. [linking verb or not?]
(2) I remain here. [linking verb or not?]
(3) I stay here. [linking verb or not?]
(1') I am angry. [linking verb]
(2') I remain angry. [...
- 6,481
0
votes
1
answer
433
views
Is it VL (Linking Verbs) or VT (Transitive Verbs)?
Federal Reserve remains patient about next U.S. rate hike.
Is this sentence "linking verb" or "transitive verb"? I think it is VL but not quite sure about it.
- 1
5
votes
5
answers
3k
views
Why is "well" used with linking verbs instead of "good"?
As any grammar handbook, English teacher, or parent correcting a child will tell you, you're supposed to say "I don't feel well" instead of "I don't feel good." Well rather than good seems to be used ...
- 11.8k
0
votes
2
answers
6k
views
Using adjectives after verbs?
In a lot of sentences when speaking people use adjectives after verbs. In some examples it sounds right, however, and I was wondering if such uses were valid in formal writing.
The only example I ...
- 35