Collins Cobuild

Unit 73
Link verbs
Main points
Link verbs are used to join the subject with a complement.
Link  verbs  can  have  adjectives,  noun  groups,  or  ‘to’-infinitive
clauses as complements.
You can use ‘it’ and ‘there’ as impersonal subjects with link verbs.
1
A small but important group of verbs are followed by a complement
rather  than  an  object.  The  complement  tells  you  more  about  the
subject. Verbs that take complements are called ‘link’ verbs.
appear
be
become
feel
get
go
grow
keep
look
prove
remain
seem
smell
sound
stay
taste
turn
I am proud of these people.
She was getting too old to play tennis.
They looked all right to me.

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2
 Link  verbs  often  have  adjectives  as  complements  describing  the
subject.
We felt very happy.
He was the tallest in the room.
 See  Units
31
 to
33
 and  Unit  47  for  more  information  about
adjectives after link verbs.
3
You can use link verbs with noun groups as complements to give your
opinion about the subject.
He’s not the right man for it.
She seemed an ideal person to look after them.
You  also  use  noun  groups  as  complements  after  ‘be’,  ‘become’,  and
‘remain’ to specify the subject.
He became a geologist.
Promises by MPs remained just promises.
This one is yours.
Note that you use object pronouns after ‘be’.
It’s me again.
4
Some link verbs can have ‘to’-infinitive clauses as complements.
appear get grow look prove seem
He appears to have taken my keys.
She seemed to like me.
These  verbs,  and  ‘remain’,  can  also  be  followed  by  ‘to  be’  and  a
complement.
Mary seemed to be asleep.

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His new job proved to be a challenge.
5
You can use ‘it’ and ‘there’ as impersonal subjects with link verbs.
It seems silly not to tell him.
There appears to have been a terrible mistake.
See Units
17
and
18
for more information.
You can use ‘be’ with some abstract nouns as the subject, followed by
a ‘that’-clause or a ‘to’-infinitive clause as the complement.
advice agreement answer
decision
idea
plan
problem solution
The answer is that they are simply not interested in it.
The idea was to spend more money on basic training.
Some can only have a ‘that’-clause.
conclusion explanation fact
feeling
reason
report
thought understanding
The fact is that I can’t go to the party.

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