The Linking Verb Patterns Ed McCorduck English 402--Grammar SUNY Cortland

Pattern IV NPV-lnkADJ (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 slide 2: Pattern IV English 402: Grammar

examples of linking verbs: seem become remain several verbs involving sensory impressions are linking verbs: feel sound taste smell look slide 3: examples of linking verbs English 402: Grammar

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.) slide 4: examples of Pattern IV sentences English 402: Grammar

slide 5: Reed-Kellogg diagram of a Pattern IV sentence English 402: Grammar 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:

Pattern V NP 1 V-lnkNP 1 (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. slide 6: Pattern V English 402: Grammar

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. NP 1 NP 1 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. NP 1 NP 1 Pattern V (i.e., the commander of the army is an NP) slide 7: linking verbs of both Pattern IV and Pattern V English 402: Grammar

slide 8: Reed-Kellogg diagram of a Pattern V sentence English 402: Grammar 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: