Saying that one thing is another thing: noun groups as complements of link verbs

3.139 Noun groups can be used as complements after the following link verbs:

be become remain ~

feel look prove seem

sound ~ constitute make

represent ~ comprise form

qualities 3.140 You can use descriptive nouns or noun groups after 'be', 'become', 'remain', 'feel', 'look', 'prove', 'seem', 'sound', 'constitute', and 'represent' to indicate what qualities someone or something has.

Their policy on higher education is an unmitigated disaster.

He always seemed a controlled sort of man.

I feel a bit of a fraud.

The results of these experiments remain a secret.

His talks with the Russians constituted a breakthrough.

'Make' is only used as a link verb with a complement which indicates whether someone is good at a particular job.

He'll make a good president.

using 'one' 3.141 With 'be', 'become', 'remain', 'feel', 'look', 'prove', 'seem', and 'sound' you can use a noun group based on 'one' instead of using an adjective on its own as a complement.

The noun group consists of 'a' or 'an' followed by the adjective and 'one', if your subject is singular. For example, instead of saying 'The school is large', you can say 'The school is a large one'.

The sound is a familiar one.

The impression the region gives is still a rural one.

If your subject is plural, you can use the adjective followed by 'ones'.

My memories of a London childhood are happy ones.

Another kind of complement consists of 'one' followed by a prepositional phrase or a relative clause.

Their story was indeed one of passion.

The problem is one that always faces a society when it finds itself threatened.

size, age, colour, shape 3.142 If you want to make a statement about the size, age, colour, or shape of something, you can use a noun group based on 'size', 'age', 'colour', or 'shape' after the link verbs mentioned in the previous paragraph. The noun group begins with a determiner and has an adjective in front of the noun or the preposition 'of' after it.

It's just the right size.

The opposing force would be about the same size.

The walls are a delicate pale cream colour.

His body was the colour of bronze.

It is only the size of a mouse.

3.143 You can use noun groups beginning with 'a' or 'an', or plural noun groups without a determiner, after 'be', 'become', 'remain', 'comprise', and 'form', to say what type of person or thing someone or something is.

He is a geologist.

Our friend Otto isn't an American.

He is now a teenager.

The air moved a little faster and became a light wind.

They became farmers.

Promises by MPs remained just promises.

These arches formed a barrier to the tide.

3.144 You can use names or noun groups referring to a particular person or thing after 'be', 'become', 'remain', 'constitute', 'represent', 'comprise', and 'form' to indicate exactly who or what someone or something is.

This is Desiree, my father's second wife.

He's now the Director of the Office of Management and Budget.

The founder of the company is the English theatre director Peter Brook.

The downstairs television room became my room for receiving visitors.

...the four young men who comprised the TV crew.

3.145 When you use a noun group indicating a unique job or position within an organization, you do not have to put a determiner in front of the noun.

At one time you wanted to be President.

He went on to become head of one of the company's largest divisions.

3.146 Personal pronouns are sometimes used as complements to indicate identity. Note that the object pronouns are used, except in very formal speech or writing.

It's me again.

Possessive pronouns are also used as complements, to indicate identity or to describe something.

This one is yours.

This place is mine.

Indefinite pronouns are sometimes used to describe something, usually with a qualifying structure after them.

it's nothing serious.

You 're someone who does what she wants.

Pronouns are usually used as complements after 'be'.

3.147 The use of noun groups containing measurement nouns after 'be' and other verbs is explained in paragraphs 2.269 to 2.271.

The use of non-finite clauses as complements is explained in paragraphs 10.27 and 10.97.

combinations of verbs and prepositions 3.148 Some verbs function as link verbs when they are followed by a particular preposition.

The object of the preposition describes or classifies the subject of the verb.

His fear turned into unreasoning panic.

Taylor's fascination with bees developed into an obsession.

An autobiography really amounts to a whole explanation of yourself.

Here is a list of verb and preposition combinations which function as link verbs:

amount to change into

change to develop into

grow into turn into

turn to

These all have the same basic meaning as 'become', except for 'amount to', which has a similar meaning to 'constitute'.

The phrasal verb 'make up' also functions as a link verb.

Wood made up 65% of the Congo's exports.