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Pronouns take the place of nouns. A pronoun refers to a specific noun.
The noun that the pronoun refers to is called the antecedent.
Subject and object pronouns replace nouns that are either
subjects or objects. First, let's review subjects and objects:
Subjects go at the start of the sentence. They do the action:
Dave plays baseball.
Vague pronoun references
Vague pronoun references
Here is a list of subject and object pronouns to the left
Are you ready to practice subject and object pronouns? Try
these tests:
Subject and Object Pronouns Test
Subject and Object Pronouns Test - See more at: http://www.learnenglish-online.com/grammar/subjectobjectpronouns.html#sthash.7k0kLSyn.dpuf
Object pronouns replace objects, so they are normally at the
end of the sentence:
Dave has it.
Subject pronouns replace subjects, so they are normally at the
start of the sentence:
He plays baseball.
Objects go at the end of the sentence. They receive the action.
Dave has a bicycle.
Inappropriate shifts in verb tense
Inappropriate shifts in verb tense
Possessive nouns
Pronouns and antecedents
Subject and object pronouns
Possessive pronouns
Reflexive and intensive pronouns
The word, phrase, or clause which follows a linking verb to re-identify or describe the subject is called the subject complement.
A List of Linking Verbs
A List of Linking Verbs
The most common linking verb is the verb to be. Other common ones relate to the five senses (to look, to feel, to smell, to sound, and to taste). Here is a list of common linking verbs:
to be
(In all its forms, e.g., am, is, are, was, were, will be, was being, has been.)
to appear
to be
to become
to feel
to look
to seem
to smell
to sound
to taste
Examples of Linking Verbs Used to Re-identify the Subject
Examples of Linking Verbs Used to Re-identify the Subject
Here are some examples of linking verbs (shaded) re-identifying the subject:
Alan is a beast.
His father was the headmaster.
This project is a disaster.
Examples of Linking Verbs Modifying (Describing) the Subject
Examples of Linking Verbs Modifying (Describing) the Subject
Here are some examples of linking verbs (shaded) modifying the subject:
Alan seems drunk.
The soup smells delicious.
His voice sounds flat.
Linking Verbs Are Not Action Verbs
Linking Verbs Are Not Action Verbs
The verbs to be, to become, and to seem are always linking verbs. They always link the subject to the predicate to re-identify or describe it. However, the other verbs in the list above are not always linking verbs. Remember, linking verbs do not express an action. However, some of the verbs in our list can express an action. For example:
He smells the soup.
(In this example, smells is not a linking verb. This time, it is an action verb. It has taken a direct object. He is doing something to the soup.)
Tony smells awful.
(In this example, smells is a linking verb. It links the subject Tony to the adjective awful to modify Tony.)
Here is another example:
The inspector will feel the fabric.
(In this example, will feel is not a linking verb. This time, it is an action verb. It has taken a direct object. The inspector will do something to the fabric.)
The fabric will feel soft.
(In this example, will feel is a linking verb. It links the subject The fabric to the adjective soft.)
Linking Verbs in the Passive Voice and Progressive Tense
Linking Verbs in the Passive Voice and Progressive Tense
The verb to be is used to form the passive voice and the progressive tenses. For example:
He was painted.
(This is the passive voice.)
He is complaining.
(This is the present progressive tense.)
As past participles (here, painted) and present participles (here, complaining) are classified as adjectives, the constructions above are no different from these:
He was happy.
He is happy.
Therefore, the "to be" part of a passive construction (here, was painted) and a verb tense (here, is complaining) can be considered a linking verb.
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