Representing being and having
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Using linking verbs | page 4 of 7 |
Tense use with linking verbs
Linking verbs are rarely used with continuous tenses. For example, when they are used
in clauses that refer to present situations, the usual tense is present simple
:
A former member of the Basic Law Consultative Committee, Mr Chang is currently a non-executive director of the Securities and Futures Commission. (SCMP 8/10/92)
The fate of the missing millions remains a mystery. (SCMP 21/5/94)
However, with linking verbs that represent some kind of change, such as become, get, turn, and grow, the present continuous is regularly used:
Exercise bikes and rowing machines are becoming more popular.
(Microconcord Corpus B)
The present perfect is also commonly used with these change-type linking verbs when the reference is to a present situation resulting from some kind of change:
The colony has grown rich over the past decade as gatekeeper to China's open door. (Microconcord Corpus A)
Students sometimes treat these change-type linking verbs as if they were "ordinary" linking verbs and use the present simple with them to refer to present situations:
Nowadays, AIDS becomes a pressing problem. (TeleNex Students)
Note that continuous tenses can also be used with other linking verbs in order to make special meanings, for example where the clause does not simply identify or describe someone or something but also indicates some kind of behaviour:
Girls aren't under-achieving when they don't go all-out for occupational success, when they don't set their goals very high in schools. They are being very rational because if they do achieve, they are going to be faced with immense problems. (Bank of English)
Mary is being the teacher today. (Children Playing)
The first of the above examples could be paraphrased as "they are behaving in a very rational way", and the second could be paraphrased as "Mary is behaving today as if she were the teacher" or "Mary is playing the role of the teacher today."
For information about some of the problems that students have with tense use and
linking verbs, see 
Representing being and having:
Students' problems (p 7).
Introduction
Tense use with linking verbs
