Page 61 - Advanced English Grammar in Use

L i n k i n g v e r D s : D e , a p p e a r , s e e m ; D e c o m e ,
verDs:
Linking
De,
pecome,
seem;
appear,
g e t , e t c .
etc.
get,
sentences
say
an
or
subject
or noun
describe the
following
a
verb
use
after
we
to
the
adjective
In In the following sentences we use an adjective or noun after a verb to describe the subject or say
what or who the subject is:
what or who the subject is:
She seemed unable to concentrate.
Tan is a doctor.
• ¢ Ian is a doctor. • ¢ She seemed unable to concentrate.
1980.
Peter's in
The house became
• ¢ The house became Peter's in 1980.
The adjective or noun in sentences like this is called a complement; the verb is called a linking
The adjective or noun in sentences like this is called a complement; the verb is called a linking
keep,
verb. The most common linking verb is be; others include become, come, grow, turn;
verb. The most common linking verb is be; others include become, come, grow, turn; keep,
stay; appear, look, seem, sound.
remain,
remain, stay; appear, look, seem, sound.
D appear, seem
appear, seem
seem we
appear
sometimes
adjective:
an
(=
seems true)
before
to be
use
and
After
After appear (= seems true) and seem we sometimes use to be before an adjective:
nervous.
seems/appears
(to
be)
very
He
• « He seems/appears (to be) very nervous.
before the adjectives
include
alone,
asleep, and awake:
to be
alive,
We
We include to be before the adjectives alive, alone, asleep, and awake:
I didn't go in because she appeared to be asleep, (not ...appeared asleep.)
• ¢ I didn't go in because she appeared to be asleep. (not ...appeared asleep.)
is,
or what the
subject
a noun we
often
include to be when the noun
but can
us who
tells
Before
Before a noun we include to be when the noun tells us who or what the subject is, but can often
leave out to be in
subject.
give our opinion of the person or thing in the
We
leave it out when we
leave it out when we give our opinion of the person or thing in the subject. We leave out to be in
formal
English.
Compare:
more formal English. Compare:
more
(not ...appeared
a locked door.)
locked door,
• * He went through what appeared to be a a locked door. (not ...appeared a locked door.)
He went through what appeared to be
(to be)
a
very efficient salesperson.
seems
• « She seems (to be) a very efficient salesperson.
She
to be
before
(growing, moving, etc.):
-ing forms
eo Notice that we include
nNotice that we include to be before -ing forms (growing, moving, etc.):
seems to be growing rapidly.
• « • ¢ It It seems to be growing rapidly.
become, come, get, go, grow, turn (into)
become, come, get, go, grow, turn (into)
of other
A number
of change.
describe a
use the
process
linking verbs
linking verb become to
We
We use the linking verb become to describe a process of change. A number of other linking verbs
grow,
turn
be
including come, get, go,
used instead of become,
(into).
can
can be used instead of become, including come, get, go, grow, turn (into).
speech and writing,
get rather than
informal
in
and
phrases
imperatives,
in
use
in
become
We use get rather than become in informal speech and writing, in imperatives, and in phrases
We
get killed,
get dressed,
get lost, get married,
get washed:
such as get broken,
such as get broken, get dressed, get killed, get lost, get married, get washed:
before you got married}
live
did you
Where
Don't get upset about it! it!
• ¢ Don't get upset about • ¢ Where did you live before you got married}
of change:
prefer become
a
technical process
we talk about
when
abstract
or
more
We prefer become when we talk about a more abstract or technical process of change:
We
He became recognised as the leading authority on the subject.
g • ¢ He became recognised as the leading authority on the subject.
living at high altitudes.
Their bodies have become adapted
• ¢ Their bodies have become adapted to to living at high altitudes.
of job:
is
linking verb describing
the
use become, not get,
if there
a noun
after
a change
We use become, not get, if there is a noun after the linking verb describing a change of job:
We
• ¢« Dr Smallman became an adviser to the US government.
Dr Smallman became an adviser to the US government.
go
turn, not get,
or
when we talk about colours changing:
use
We
We use go or turn, not get, when we talk about colours changing:
• ¢ The traffic lights turned/went green and I pulled away.
The traffic lights turned/went green and I pulled away.
For example, we
use go,
We often use go when we talk about changing to an undesirable state. For example, we use go,
We often use go when we talk about changing to an undesirable state.
We • ¢ • ¢ • ¢ • ¢ use turn to say that somebody reaches a a particular age, and Come and grow are say that one
not turn or get, when we say that somebody becomes deaf, blind, bald, or starts to behave in
not turn or get, when we say that somebody becomes deaf, blind, bald, or starts to behave in a a
mad or excited way; and also in phrases such as go bad/off/mouldy (food), go dead (a telephone),
mad or excited way; and also in phrases such as go bad/off/mouldy (food), go dead (a telephone),
go missing, and go wrong.
go missing, and go wrong.
crazy at the party.
My computer's gone wrong again.
My computer's gone wrong again.
The children went completely
The children went completely crazy at the party.
• ¢
turn into when we
We use turn to say that somebody reaches a particular age, and turn into when we say that one
becomes
thing
another:
or
material or thing becomes another:
material
He turned sixty last year.
turned into wolves.
all the sheep
• ¢
In my dream all the sheep turned into wolves.
He turned sixty last year.
In my dream
a
used to
and
grow we can
often
use
to-infinitive.
get,
After the verbs come,
After the verbs come, get, and grow we can use a to-infinitive. Come and grow are often used to
We can't
about gradual change.
to-infinitive
use
after become:
talk
talk about gradual change. We can't use a to-infinitive after become:
(not ...became to appreciate...)
appreciate his work,
T eventually came/grew
I eventually came/grew to to appreciate his work. (not ...became to appreciate...)
to know...)
(not ...became
know their names,
I soon got
I soon got to to know their names. (not ...became to know...)