I see instances on different sites of the verb 'to be" both as linking verbs and static verbs (state of being). What I understood earlier was that 'to be,' 'seem,' and 'become' are always linking verbs like in 1) 'I am angry.' (adjective angry is a subject complement) or 2) The huge tornado is in Texas now. ('In Texas now,' which is an adverbial phrase acting as a subject complement.)
Can you list two examples of 'to be' as a static verb?
Rajeev MenonCan you list two examples of 'to be' as a static verb?
I am short.
Joe Biden is the 46th President of the United States.
They are terms used in different linguistic systems, ao you will get confused by people (and websites) that are coming from a different linguistic training background.
Copula
Stative verb
Linking Verb
Stative is more academic than "linking verb."
Huddleston and Pullum, for example, divide stative verbs into the following semantic categories: verbs of perception and sensation (see, hear), verbs of hurting (ache, itch), stance verbs (stand, sit), and verbs of cognition, emotion, and sensation (believe, regret).
A verb can be used either statively or dynamically.
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/stand?q=stand_1
He stands tall. (stative - see entry C1)
He is standing by the phone booth. (dynamic - see entry A2)
1) 'I am short'. Short is an adjective which is a subject complement as I had already given examples. Connecting 'I' with its property 'short.' So 'am' follows the rule of linking verb.
2) "46th president of the US" is a noun phrase. So again it is a subject complement and so 'is' comes under linking verb.
Thanks
Stative verbs are less confusing as some can be in a passive voice 1) 'We love the class' can be 'The class is loved by us' 2) Linda loves strawberry ice cream can be 'Strawberry ice cream is loved by Linda.'
Linking verbs can never be put in passive voice and accordingly 'be,' ''seem' and 'become' can never be put in passive. The confusion is whether 'to be' is a Linking verb always OR can it be a stative verb as well, as some websites say.
Thanks.
You are confusing transitive and intransitive with stative and dynamic.
A linking verb is intransitive.
See the various codes for verbs in the Cambridge Dictionary
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/help/codes.html
That is not our question. I know linking verbs cannot be transitive.
The question is: Are 'to be 'seem' and 'become' always linking verbs? as per several websites. If yes, then why are they treated as stative verbs by many other websites? ( can give myriad sources if needed). And your initial answer of two examples for stative verbs for in fact linking verbs (please refer to my earlier reply)
Thanks
They can be used as dynamic verbs, as opposed to stative verbs. They are intransitive.
In many English learner websites, videos and tutorials, these exceptions to being stative are ignored, and left for the student. to discover as they become more advanced.
Seem is not always a linking verb.
Be is sometimes a dynamic verb.
Become is sometimes a dynamic verb
We could help you better if we had some idea of where you are getting your information.
Here are two websites that list 'to be' 'seem' and 'become' as always linking. I have seen some more, and I would update it if I get that link.
https://www.perfect-english-grammar.com/linking-verbs.html #: :text=Linking%20verbs%20are%20not%20the,verb%20and%20a%20stative%20verb).
https://blog.inkforall.com/linking-verbs?unapproved=1269&moderation-hash=c40788d348d3ead315c6b0da4ca4872f#comment-1269
The following website which is one of the leading educational businesses in the world is funny and says contradictory information.
https://byjus.com/english/stative-verbs/#: :text=A%20stative%20verb%20is%20a,subject%20and%20the%20subject%20complement
First it lists 'to be' as a linking verb and in the example, it says stative verb.
Quoting from site
"A stative verb is a verb that is used to express the state a subject is in and does not describe an action. A linking verb, on the other hand, acts as the bridge between the subject and the subject complement.
Stative examples:
Examples: Do I look good in this dress?
This dish tastes delicious.
Linking Examples:
Theodore is smart.
Carlos and Jack seem angry."
==In the test below it says " Peter was my best friend." was is a stative verb.
Thanks for your help!
"LInking verb" is a term that is not used by professional linguists. It is used mainly to teach English learners. The websites you posted were blogs or English learner websites, not from academic linguists.
English verbs in context can take on different characteristics. For example, "have" is mostly used as a stative verb, as in "I have an old car." However, it also is used as a dynamic verb, "Are you having a good time?"
The language is so incredibly rich, that it is dangerous to use terms like "always" and "never." If you make such a statement, especially using terms that lack the precision of definition from professional linguists, someone will turf up the exception.