WyoSylvia Posted March 7, 2013 Share Posted March 7, 2013 On day four of week 13 there is this dictation: By lunchtime the valley was lightly coated, like a cake with confectioner's sugar; and by half past three the snow was of a respectable depth. The TM states that the second was is a state of being verb. Why isn't it a linking verb? Thanks for any help, Sylvia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fourisenough Posted March 7, 2013 Share Posted March 7, 2013 Hmmmm, not a grammar expert, but I would say that because 'was' is followed by a prepositional phrase that the verb is SOB rather than linking a predicate adjective back to the subject. Not a very technical interpretation, I'll admit. I look forward to reading someone else's opinion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WyoSylvia Posted March 9, 2013 Author Share Posted March 9, 2013 Hmmmm, not a grammar expert, but I would say that because 'was' is followed by a prepositional phrase that the verb is SOB rather than linking a predicate adjective back to the subject. Not a very technical interpretation, I'll admit. I look forward to reading someone else's opinion. Stephanie, Thanks so much for trying to explain it to me. My background in grammar is quite weak though so I still don't understand. Could someone try to explain it in terms purely related to the definition of state of being verbs? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gracesteacher Posted March 10, 2013 Share Posted March 10, 2013 Bump is the best I have ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nansk Posted March 10, 2013 Share Posted March 10, 2013 I googled "linking verb vs state of being verb" and found this: The book you're using divides the verb "To Be" into two categories:(i) Linking Verb "To Be" is called a linking verb when it is followed by a subject complement: Max is a girl . <predicate noun> Max is tall . <predicate adjective> Subject complements are of two types: nouns and adjectives. Notice that prepositions and adverbs, words that introduce phrases that answer the questions "Where?" and "When?", do not fit into the above category. So, ... (ii) State-of-Being Verb "To Be" is called a state-of-being verb when it is followed by a preposition or an adverb: Max is in the house . / Where is Max? grammatical form: prepositional phrase grammatical function: adverb Max's party is today . / When is the party? grammatical form: adverb grammatical function: adverb The prepositional phrase "in the house" doesn't describe "Max", as does "tall" in "Max is tall", nor does it rename "Max", as does "a girl" in "Max is a girl." The prepositional phrase "in the house" tells us where Max is located, and the reason your book defines "To Be" as a state-of-being verb in those kinds of sentences. The adverb "today" doesn't describe "Max's party", nor does it rename "Max's party". It answers the question "When?", and the reason your book defines "To Be" as a state-of-being verb in those kinds of sentences. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WyoSylvia Posted March 10, 2013 Author Share Posted March 10, 2013 I googled "linking verb vs state of being verb" and found this: Nansk - Thank you so much - I get it now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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