Representing being and having
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Using linking verbs | page 7 of 7 |
Linking verbs with other meanings
There are many other linking verbs with various kinds of meanings. However, they can
all be seen as in some way extensions of the meaning of the verb be, and clauses
containing them can sometimes be paraphrased using a form of be followed by a prepositional phrase 
:
"Crossing Borders" (Pearl, 11.55pm) is part of Pearl's admirable "International Attractions" series. It concerns a man's struggle to help children at a reform school in Berlin. (SCMP 21/5/94)
Here, concerns a man's struggle might be paraphrased as is about a man's struggle.
Such linking verbs will be particularly important for students studying school subjects
such as geography and science through English. These verbs can present problems because
students are likely to have come across them used with other meanings before they come
across them used as linking verbs 
.
For teaching purposes these verbs may be divided into three categories:
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verbs that link through time and space |
One day Kawaguchi went into a shop on the Barkhor, (the street in the heart of Lhasa that circles the Jokhang), to buy a cake of soap. (Bank of English)
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verbs that link through comparison |
Because the boy was 16, his punishment did not exceed 12 strokes.
(SCMP 22/4/94)
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verbs that link through representation |
The time taken to complete one revolution of the earth is decreasing over aeons of time but at the moment it is, give or take the odd second, 24 hours; this defines the solar day. (Microconcord Corpus B)
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For a discussion of which of these verbs can be used in identifying clauses, and which
can be passivised, see 
Using passive voice: Passive voice
with linking verbs.
Linking verbs with other meanings
