IV. Copular (link) verbs

Copular verbs take one complement and serve as a link to what the referent of the subject is or becomes. The complement of a copular verb is often called the subject complement and can be expressed by a noun, or a prepositional phrase. The most common copular (link) verb is be.

Copular verbs can be sensory (look, feel, smell, sound, taste); situational (remain, keep, seem, appear) or refer to a process of becoming or changing (become, get, grow, turn, prove, come, turn out, end up).

e.g. The reason is simple.

He kept quiet about his win at the lottery.

Verbs referring to a process of becoming or change of state usually occur in certain fixed idiomatic expressions.

Get angry/ excited/ wet.

Become ambitious.

Come loose(расшататься) / come undone (расстегнуться) / come true (исполниться)

e.g. The handle has come loose.

The buttons on my coat came undone.

Fall asleep / sick / ill.

Go sour (прокиснуть) / bad (испортиться) / mad (сойти с ума) / bankrupt (обанкротиться) / red (покраснеть)

e.g. The milk went sour.

The company has gone bankrupt.

Grow fat (набирать вес) / faint (затихать) / louder(становиться громче)

Run dry (высохнуть) / short (закончиться) / high (распаляться) / wild (одичать, отбиться от рук)

e.g. The well has run dry.

Our supply of coal is running short.

Since their parents divorced those children have been running wild.

Turn sour (прокиснуть) / traitor (стать предателем) / informer

e.g. The milk will turn sour if you don’t put it in the fridge.

The King’s minister turned traitor and poisoned him.

Some intransitive verbs can be used with complements in the same way as link verbs.

e.g George stood motionless for at least a minute.

He died young.

I used to lie awake all night.

EXAMPLES OF COMMENTS:

1. It was snowing.

The verb “to snow” is a pure intransitive verb.

2. I used to stay in this hotel.

The verb “to stay” is a pure intransitive verb used with an obligatory adverbial of place.

3. The fish is frying.

The verb “to fry” is an intransitive ergative verb, the subject of it refers to a thing.

4. He needs care.

The verb “to need” is a monotransitive verb.

5. They lived a long life.

The verb “to live” is used here as a monotransitive verb with a cognate object.

6. I saw her crossing the street.

The verb “to see” is a complex transitive verb as it is followed by a complex object.

7. He gave a speech at the conference.

The verb “to give” is a delexical verb.

8. He told mehis secrets.

The verb “to tell” is ditransitive. “Me” is an indirect object, “his secrets” is a direct one.

9. At last my dream came true.

The verb “to come” is copular, it is used with the subject complement “true”.

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