Here's a breakdown:
* Subject: The person, place, or thing that performs the action or is the focus of the sentence.
* Complement: A word or phrase that provides more information about the subject.
* Relational Verb: The verb that links the subject and the complement.
Examples of relational verbs:
* "be" verbs:
* He is a doctor. (subject: He, complement: a doctor, relational verb: is)
* The book was on the table. (subject: The book, complement: on the table, relational verb: was)
* Other verbs:
* She seems happy. (subject: She, complement: happy, relational verb: seems)
* The flowers smell sweet. (subject: The flowers, complement: sweet, relational verb: smell)
* The building looks old. (subject: The building, complement: old, relational verb: looks)
Key Characteristics:
* Connect subject and complement: Relational verbs establish a relationship between the subject and the complement, indicating a state of being, a quality, or a category.
* Don't express action: They do not describe an action performed by the subject.
* Often followed by a noun, adjective, or pronoun: The complement can be a noun, adjective, or pronoun that provides further information about the subject.
Examples of Sentences with Relational Verbs:
* The sky is blue.
* My dog feels sick.
* This food tastes delicious.
* He became a lawyer.
* The music sounds beautiful.
Understanding relational verbs is crucial for constructing grammatically correct and meaningful sentences.