Linking Verb?

[solitario]

Hello all.
I'm on page 14 of An Introduction to Greek by Crosby & Schaeffer and I've hit a road-block... This text is OLD, and obviously meant for a classroom setting.
What is a linking verb? The book doesn't say.

Many thanks.

PS, excuse my lack of accent marks. This example is probably something like 'You wish to write that there were trees in the field,' or some such boring sentence:

εθελετε γραφ___ τα δενδρ___ ___(linking verb) εν τ___ πεδι___(singular).

[cweb255]

the verb "einai" (to be)

[Paul]

Hi,

In English grammar a 'linking verb' is an intransitive verb that requires a 'subjective complement'. Such complements are either predicate nominatives or predicate adjectives.

Examples:

Agamemnon is king. The verb 'is' links the subject to the predicate nominative 'king'.

Achilles seems unhappy. The verb 'seems' links the subject to the predicate adjective 'unhappy'.

In Greek, as in English, there are several verbs besides 'to be' that may function as 'linking verbs': become, seem, feel, look, appear, etc.

Greek grammars typically call such verbs 'copulatives'.

Cordially,

Paul

[solitario]

That is VERY helpful. Much more so than the book. Thanks!