The Linking Verb Patterns

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The Linking Verb Patterns

• Ed McCorduck
• English 402--Grammar
• SUNY Cortland
• http//mccorduck.cortland.edu

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slide 2 Pattern IV

• Pattern IV
• NP V-lnk ADJ
• (subj) (pred vb) (subj comp)
• V-lnk is linking verb
• a linking verb states a relation between the
  subject and the subject complement, i.e., it
  links the subj and the subj comp

English 402 Grammar
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slide 3 examples of linking verbs

• examples of linking verbs
• seem become remain
• several verbs involving sensory impressions are
  linking verbs
• feel sound taste smell look

English 402 Grammar
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slide 4 examples of Pattern IV sentences

• exx
• That seems silly.
• The puppy is looking very sick.
• The protestor sounded beside himself.
• (Note In the second example sentence above, the
  main verb is the linking verb looking, not is.)

English 402 Grammar
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slide 5 Reed-Kellogg diagram of a Pattern IV
sentence
As with sentences of Pattern II, i.e., with be
followed by an adjectival (ADJ) functioning as
subject complement, diagrams of Pattern IV
sentences with linking verbs have the (headword
of the) ADJ subj comp on the main line after a
slanted line. For example, here is the diagram of
the sentence That seems silly

English 402 Grammar
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slide 6 Pattern V

• Pattern V
• NP1 V-lnk NP1
• (subj) (pred vb) (subj comp)
• As with sentences of Pattern III of the be
  patterns, the subj comp in Pattern V sentences is
  a noun phrase that refers to the same entity as
  the subject noun phrase, so both NPs are written
  with a 1 index.

English 402 Grammar
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slide 7 linking verbs of both Pattern IV and
Pattern V

• Most linking verbs can appear in both Pattern IV
  and Pattern V sentences. For example,
• Frederick became riled.
• Pattern IV (i.e., riled is an ADJ)
• Frederick became a serial killer.
• NP1 NP1
• Pattern V (i.e., a serial killer is an NP)
• The general has remained steadfast.
• Pattern IV (i.e., steadfast is an ADJ)
• The general has remained the commander of the
  army.
• NP1 NP1
• Pattern V (i.e., the commander of the army is an
  NP)

English 402 Grammar
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slide 8 Reed-Kellogg diagram of a Pattern V
sentence
As with sentences of Pattern III, i.e., with be
followed by an NP functioning as subject
complement, diagrams of Pattern V sentences with
linking verbs have the (headword of the) NP subj
comp on the main line after a slanted line. As an
example, here is the diagram of the sentence
Frederick became a serial killer

English 402 Grammar