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VOA名师答疑2022--Linking Verbs vs. Helping Verbs

时间:2023-01-03 02:23:06

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(单词翻译)

Linking Verbs vs. Helping1 Verbs

Hello! This week on Ask a Teacher, we will answer a question from Tahir about the difference between linking verbs and helping verbs.

Question:

Hello,

What is the difference between the verb "is" in these two sentences?

He is a doctor.

Is he a doctor?

I know the first one is a linking verb. Is the second verb a linking verb or helping verb?

Thanks!

Tahir

Answer:

Thank you Tahir for writing to us. Before I answer your question, let's talk about the difference between linking verbs and helping verbs.

Linking verbs

A linking verb connects the subject of a sentence with more information about the subject. It is not an action verb. The verb "to be" and all of its forms are the most common linking verb. Other linking verbs include, "become," "seem", and sense verbs like "feel" and "smell" in some sentences.

Here is an example of a linking verb.

My cat is 3 years old.

The verb in this sentence, "is," connects the subject "my cat" to more information about him - that he is 3 years old.

Helping verbs

Helping or auxiliary2 verbs are also used along with a main verb. Auxiliary verbs "help" the main verb and the rest of the sentence by giving additional3 information about the verb, like tense.

We have three main helping verbs in English "be," "do," and "have."

Here is an example of a helping verb.

My cat is watching birds from the window.

In the sentence the helping verb is "to be" in the third person singular4 (is). It is helping the verb "watch" along with the present participle ending –ing to become the present progressive5 tense.

In this sentence, the verb "is" cannot stand on its own. It needs a main verb, like "watch."

Linking verb or helping verb?

Back to your question, Tahir.

In your first example the verb "is" is a linking verb.

He is a doctor.

The verb "is" connects the subject of "he" with the rest of the sentence that describes the subject. Here the verb "is" can stand on its own without another main verb. So it is not a helping or auxiliary verb.

The second example is actually a yes or no question.

We switch the verb to the first position and the subject to the second position to get a question.

Is he a doctor?

In this question, "is" has a special status called an operator6. It does not need another helping or auxiliary verb to make a question because it had the role as a linking verb in the original sentence.

Here is another example of a linking verb changing to an operator within a question:

Is Washington, D.C. the capital of the United States?

The answer would be of course "Yes, Washington, D.C is the capital of the United States."

In the sentence, the linking verb "is" connects Washington D.C. with the rest of the information about the city.

In the question form, "is" begins the question as an operator. It switches places with the subject Washington, D.C. to create the question.

Summary

To tell if the verb "to be" is a linking verb or a helping verb, see if there another verb in the sentence.

If there is, then "to be" acts as a helping or auxiliary verb.

If "to be" is alone and connects the subject to more information about it, then it is a linking verb.

Please let us know if these examples and explanations have helped you, Tahir!

What question do you have about American English? Send us an email at [email protected]

And that's Ask a Teacher.


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1 helping 2rGzDc     
n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的,辅助的
参考例句:
  • The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
  • By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。
2 auxiliary RuKzm     
adj.辅助的,备用的
参考例句:
  • I work in an auxiliary unit.我在一家附属单位工作。
  • The hospital has an auxiliary power system in case of blackout.这家医院装有备用发电系统以防灯火管制。
3 additional rJTyM     
adj.添加的,额外的,另外的
参考例句:
  • It is necessary to set down these additional rules.有必要制定这些补充规则。
  • I think we can fit in an additional room.我想我们可以再加建一间房子。
4 singular ZE9z7     
adj.个人的,单数的,独一的,唯一的,非凡的;n.单数
参考例句:
  • The young man has a singular ear for music.这个年轻人对音乐有非凡的欣赏力。
  • The noun is in the singular.这个名词是单数形式。
5 progressive 3RAxx     
adj.先进的;前进的,渐进的;进行式的
参考例句:
  • There is often a progressive loss of sight in old age.上了年纪的人视力逐步减退。
  • It's a progressive idea.这是一种进步的思想。
6 operator aItxO     
n.(机器、设备等的)操作员;电话接线员
参考例句:
  • He is a computer operator.他是个电脑操作员。
  • The telephone operator connected us.话务员给我们接通了电话。

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