Describing and identifying things: complementation

3.127 If you want to describe someone or something, for example to say who or what they are or what qualities they have, you use one of a special set of verbs. These verbs are called link verbs or copulas.

Cigarette smoking is dangerous to your health.

The station seemed a very small one.

He looked English.

I became enormously fond of her.

The most common link verbs are 'be', 'become', 'look', 'remain', and 'seem'.

complements 3.128 A link verb links a subject and a complement. The subject, as usual, comes first and the complement comes after the verb. The complement describes or identifies the subject; it is a structure built around either an adjective or a noun.

Her general knowledge is amazing.

The children seemed frightened.

That's a very difficult question.

I'm the Chairman of the Howard League for Penal Reform.

Suleiman Salle became the first President of Eritrea.

The use of link verbs with complements is explained in paragraphs 3.133 to 3.155.

Some other intransitive verbs are sometimes used with complements. See paragraphs 3.156 to 3.161.

verbs with object complements 3.129 Some verbs, such as 'make' and 'find' are used with both an object and a complement. The complement describes the object and is called the object complement.

The lights made me sleepy.

I found the forest quite frightening.

These verbs are explained in paragraphs 3.162 to 3.172.

prepositional phrases 3.130 Instead of a complement, you can often use a prepositional phrase or another kind of adjunct.

The coffin was in the front garden.

I began to get in a panic.

These structures can also be used instead of object complements.

An attack of malaria can keep a man off work for three days.

For more information about adjuncts that can be used after link verbs, see paragraphs 3.173 to 3.182.

'it' with 'be' 3.131 'Be' is often used with 'it' as an impersonal subject. This structure is used to comment on places, situations, actions, experiences, and facts.

It was very quiet in the hut.

It was awkward keeping my news from Ted.

It's strange you should come today.

Some other link verbs are occasionally used in a similar way.

The use of 'it' as an impersonal subject is explained in paragraphs 10.31 to 10.45.

'there' with 'be' 3.132 'Be' is often used with 'there' as its subject to indicate the existence of something.

There is another explanation.

There is rear bathroom with a panelled bath.

This use of 'there' is explained in paragraphs 10.46 to 10.55.

Describing things: adjectives as complements of link verbs

3.133 Many adjectives can be used as complements.

I am proud of these people.

They seemed happy.

You don't want them to become suspicious.

They have remained loyal to the Government.

They can be modified in various ways or have various structures after them.

We were very happy.

Your suspicions are entirety correct.

Their hall was larger than his whole flat.

He was capable of extraordinary kindness.

Adjectives used after link verbs, and the structures used with them, are explained in paragraphs 2.45 to 2.57.

3.134 Here is a list of verbs which can be used as link verbs with an adjective as the complement:

be ~ appear feel look

prove seem smell sound taste

~ become come fall get

go grow keep remain stay

turn

Note that the third group of verbs refer to changing or to slaying the same.

3.135 Some verbs in the second group listed above have special features.

'Appear', 'prove', and 'seem' are often followed by 'to be' and a complement, instead of directly by a complement.

Mary was breathing quietly and seemed to be asleep.

The task of inspecting it proved to be exacting and interesting.

See paragraph 3.193 for information on using a 'to'-infinitive clause after these verbs.

3.136 With some verbs in the second group, especially 'feel', 'look', and 'seem', you can use the past participle of a transitive verb as a complement.

The other child looked neglected.

The quarrel of the night before seemed forgotten.

3.137 When you are using the second group of verbs to say what qualities someone or something seems to have, you may want to mention the person whose viewpoint you are giving. You can do this by using a prepositional phrase beginning with 'to'. It usually comes after the complement.

They looked all right to me.

It sounds unnatural to you, I expect.

3.138 You cannot use all adjectives with all link verbs. Some verbs, such as 'be' and 'look', are used with a wide range of adjectives and some are used with a restricted range. For example, 'taste' is used only with adjectives which describe the taste of something: 'go' is used primarily with adjectives which indicate colour or madness; and 'fall' is used mainly with 'asleep', 'ill', and 'silent'.

Sea water tastes nasty.

Its flesh tasted sweet.

Jack went red.

The world has gone crazy.

He fell asleep at the table.

The courtroom fell silent.