Studying Sentence Patterns to Improve Your Writing: Part 2

Studying Sentence Patterns to Improve Your Writing: Part 2

This week, we are going to give you more information about another common pattern in English: the linking verb pattern.

To get you started with linking verb patterns, consider this passage from a story called “The Diamond as Big as the Ritz,” by the American author F. Scott Fitzgerald:

"As he approached the end his sentences became broken, became short and uncertain, and his body seemed tense, seemed strained to catch the slightest pressure or whisper of life in the spaces around him."

By the end of this story, you will be able to recognize one major linking verb pattern that Fitzgerald uses many times in this sentence.

An important point about sentences and clauses

Remember: a sentence has a subject and a predicate. A clause has a subject and a predicate, too.

The predicate is the verb phrase. It has a main verb, such as a linking verb, and other words, such as a subject complement¹, that give more information about it.

When you capitalize the first word of a clause and put a period at the end of it, a clause becomes a sentence. Keep this idea in mind, because it will help you understand sentences that use several clauses.

What is a linking verb?

In the book "Rhetorical Grammar," Martha Kolln says that the term “linking verbs” applies to verbs that are completed by a subject complement – the adjective or noun phrase that describes the subject.

Many grammar experts consider the verb BE to be a linking verb, but Kolln says BE verb patterns are sometimes different from other linking verb patterns. This is because adverbial information often follows BE verbs, such as in the following sentence:

My sister is at the store.

In this case, an adverbial structure, a prepositional phrase, tells about the location of the subject, “my sister.” This BE pattern is one we discussed in a previous Everyday Grammar story.

In contrast, the usual linking verb structure is this:

Examples of linking verbs 1: verbs of the senses

Some of the most common linking verbs are verbs of the senses. They include “taste,” “smell,” “feel,” “look,” and “sound.”

These verbs often link an adjective to a subject. 

For example, consider these memorable² lines from “Dirty Harry³,” a famous American film. Clint Eastwood, the actor who plays the character of Dirty Harry, says:

“You've got to ask yourself one question: 'Do I feel lucky?' Well, do ya, punk?”

In the sentence "Do I feel lucky?", the adjective “lucky” acts as the subject complement. It describes the subject, “I.”

If you were to answer the question, you might say this:

Examples of linking verbs 2: “remain” and “become”

Verbs of the senses are not the only linking verbs. Two other common examples of linking verbs are “remain” and “become.” These verbs often link a noun or noun phrase to a subject.

Consider the opening lines from “Casablanca,” another classic American film:

"With the coming of the Second World War, many eyes in imprisoned⁴ Europe turned hopefully or desperately⁵ toward the freedom of the Americas. Lisbon became the great embarkation⁶ point."

In the second sentence — “Lisbon became the great embarkation point”— you can see the basic linking verb pattern, even though the subject complement has several words.

“Lisbon” is the subject of the sentence.

The predicate has the linking verb “became,” as well as the noun phrase “the great embarkation point.

Examples of linking verbs 3: “prove,” “seem” and “appear”

Aside from the verbs of the senses and “become” and “remain,” there are three other common linking verbs. They are “prove,” “seem” and “appear.”

Like other linking verbs, these verbs link an adjective or noun phrase to the subject. All these verbs use the same basic pattern: Subject + Linking Verb + Subject Complement.

What do linking verbs have to do with F. Scott Fitzgerald?

Think back to this passage from "The Diamond as Big as the Ritz":

"As he approached the end his sentences became broken, became short and uncertain, and his body seemed tense, seemed strained to catch the slightest pressure or whisper of life in the spaces around him. "

Fitzgerald uses some phrases that do not fit into the linking verb pattern. But, if you look closely, you will see that he uses the Subject + Linking Verb + Subject Complement pattern in the sentence. Consider these clauses:

Fitzgerald then repeats the linking verb pattern, but does not say the subject. The repeated subject is understood:

This sentence contains other structures that are more complicated than the basic linking verb pattern. But you can still see that these basic patterns can serve as the starting point for very long, complicated sentences.

What can you do?

Learning how to use linking verb patterns will help you improve your writing.

You can think about creative ways to use them, or you can learn to recognize when you use them too often.

To start practicing this pattern, try finding the linking verb in the sentences at the end of this story. Identify the subject of the sentence, the linking verb, and the subject complement. Be careful, because one or more sentences may be tricky⁷!

We will give you the answers next week in the comments section and on our Facebook page.

The lake became a clear pool, pale and quiet. – "Winter Dreams" by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Her slight unsteadiness seemed part of an enchanted⁸ dream. – "The Jelly Bean" by F. Scott Fitzgerald

John T. Unger was on the eve of departure. – "The Diamond as Big as the Ritz" by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Words in This Story

strained – adj. feeling or showing the effect of too much work, use, effort, etc.

complement – n. a word or group of words added to a sentence to make it complete

adverbial – adj. like or relating to an adverb.

analyze⁹ – v. to learn the nature and relationship of the parts of (something) by a close and careful examination

phrase – n. a group of two or more words that express a single idea but do not usually form a complete sentence

adjective – n. a word that describes a noun or a pronoun

prepositional phrase – n. a phrase that begins with a preposition and ends in a noun, pronoun, or noun phrase

embarkation – n. a place where a journey begins

tricky – adj. difficult to do or deal with

1 complement   

n.补足物，船上的定员；补语；vt.补充，补足

参考例句：

• The two suggestions complement each other.这两条建议相互补充。
• They oppose each other also complement each other.它们相辅相成。

2 memorable   

adj.值得回忆的，难忘的，特别的，显著的

参考例句：

• This was indeed the most memorable day of my life.这的确是我一生中最值得怀念的日子。
• The veteran soldier has fought many memorable battles.这个老兵参加过许多难忘的战斗。

3 harry   

vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼

参考例句：

• Today,people feel more hurried and harried.今天，人们感到更加忙碌和苦恼。
• Obama harried business by Healthcare Reform plan.奥巴马用医改掠夺了商界。

4 imprisoned   

下狱，监禁( imprison的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He was imprisoned for two concurrent terms of 30 months and 18 months. 他被判处30个月和18个月的监禁，合并执行。
• They were imprisoned for possession of drugs. 他们因拥有毒品而被监禁。

5 desperately   

adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地

参考例句：

• He was desperately seeking a way to see her again.他正拼命想办法再见她一面。
• He longed desperately to be back at home.他非常渴望回家。

6 embarkation   

n. 乘船, 搭机, 开船

参考例句：

• Lisbon became the great embarkation point. 里斯本成了最理想的跳板。 来自英语连读（第二部分）
• Good, go aboard please, be about very quickly embarkation. 好了，请上船吧，很快就要开船了。

7 tricky   

adj.狡猾的，奸诈的；(工作等)棘手的，微妙的

参考例句：

• I'm in a rather tricky position.Can you help me out?我的处境很棘手，你能帮我吗？
• He avoided this tricky question and talked in generalities.他回避了这个非常微妙的问题，只做了个笼统的表述。

8 enchanted   

adj. 被施魔法的，陶醉的，入迷的 动词enchant的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• She was enchanted by the flowers you sent her. 她非常喜欢你送给她的花。
• He was enchanted by the idea. 他为这个主意而欣喜若狂。

9 analyze   

vt.分析，解析 (=analyse)

参考例句：

• We should analyze the cause and effect of this event.我们应该分析这场事变的因果。
• The teacher tried to analyze the cause of our failure.老师设法分析我们失败的原因。