Here's how it works:
* Subject: The person, place, or thing being discussed.
* Copulative Verb: Connects the subject to the subject complement.
* Subject Complement: Provides further information about the subject.
Common Copulative Verbs:
* Be verbs: am, is, are, was, were, be, being, been
* Appear, become, feel, grow, look, remain, seem, smell, sound, taste
Examples:
* She is a doctor. ("is" connects "She" to the subject complement "a doctor")
* The weather feels cold. ("feels" connects "The weather" to the subject complement "cold")
* The music sounds lovely. ("sounds" connects "The music" to the subject complement "lovely")
* My brother became a lawyer. ("became" connects "My brother" to the subject complement "a lawyer")
Key Points to Remember:
* Copulative verbs don't express action; they simply connect the subject to more information.
* The subject complement can be a noun, pronoun, adjective, or adjective phrase.
* If you can substitute "is" or "are" for the verb, it's likely a copulative verb.
Let me know if you have any other questions about grammar!