Linking verbs and complements in English grammar

What is a linking verb?  A linking verb is a verb that connects the subject to the complement.  Also called copula or copular verbs. The word copula is Latin and means tie or link.  Some verbs must or can be followed by a complement.

The difference between linking verbs and action verbs  A verb can be used as a linking verb or an action verb.  It is important to determine the function of the verb to tell the difference.  Linking verbs do not show action, instead it describes the subject or renames it.  Action verbs describe an action, something you are doing.

Some examples of linking verbs and action verbs  She looked sad. The word looked is a linking verb.  She looked for him. The word looked is an action verb.  The child felt sad. Felt is the linking verb.  The child felt the rain. The word felt is an action verb.

What is a complement?  The four most important complements are:  subject complements  object complements  verb complements  adjective complements  It is a word or a phrase which modifies subject, object or verb.  It comes after a verb and makes the sentence complete.

Some examples of Complements  Subject complements: They follow linking verbs and are mostly nouns or adjectives that describe or rename the subject. If it is renamed it is called a predicate noun and if it describes the subject it is called a predicate adjective.  Example: I am a good wife = predicate noun renames I.  The baby is very calm in the morning = predicate adjective describes the baby.

 Object Complements: They follow direct objects and modify or refer to them. They can be nouns or adjectives.  Example: Anna gave her daughter a box stuffed with make-up. Box is direct object and stuffed with make-up is indirect object.

 Verb complements: They are direct or indirect objects of a verb.  Example: My mother gave me a trip to Spain after my stay at the hospital. Me is indirect object and trip is direct object.

 Adjective complements: They are group of words that modify adjectives. If you remove the adjective complements, the sentence is still grammatically correct but the sentence changes the meaning.  Example: He was happy to help ( to help modifies happy ).  I’m not sure whether we can still go. ( whether we can still go modifies sure.)

Summary  After describing both linking verbs and complements you can see the structure of the sentence that just two of so many grammatical rules can do.  The linking verb or copula as you can also call it, connects the subject to the complement. And the complement completes the sentence.

Thank you!

Sources:  verbs.htm verbs.htm  components/complements/ components/complements/  ocs/Copula_(linguistics).html ocs/Copula_(linguistics).html  shades.html shades.html