What are linking or auxiliary verbs and how they work
Linking or auxiliary verbs, also known as copula verbs, are verbs in English language that connect the subject of a sentence to a subject complement or describe the state or condition of the subject. They are important in grammatical structure and serve different functions depending on the sentence type.
Usage of linking or auxiliary verbs
One of the functions of linking or auxiliary verbs is to connect the subject to a subject complement. This complement can be a noun, pronoun, adjective or an adverb which describes or identifies the subject. For example, in the sentence, "She is a doctor", the linking verb "is" connects the subject "she" to the subject complement "doctor".
Another function of linking verbs is to describe the state or condition of the subject. In this case, the linking verb is followed by an adjective that describes the subject. For instance, in the sentence "He looks happy", the linking verb "looks" describes the subject "he" as being happy.
Auxiliary verbs, on the other hand, are used to form different verb tenses, negative and interrogative sentences, and to express possibility or necessity. They are also used to form the passive voice and to indicate emphasis. Examples of auxiliary verbs include "be", "do", "have", "will", "shall", "can", "may" and "must".
Examples of linking and auxiliary verbs in different sentence types
In simple present tense, the verb "be" is used as a linking verb to connect the subject to subject complement or describe the subject. Example: "He is a teacher."
In present continuous tense, the verb "be" is used as an auxiliary verb to form the tense. Example: "She is eating dinner."
In simple past tense, regular verbs are formed by adding "-ed" to the base form of the verb. However, irregular verbs require the use of the auxiliary "did" to form the past tense. Example: "He did his homework yesterday."
In present perfect tense, the auxiliary "have" or "has" is used with the past participle to indicate an action that started in the past and continues up to the present moment. Example: "I have been studying English for five years."
Conclusion
Linking or auxiliary verbs are important in English grammar as they connect the subject to the subject complement, describe the state or condition of the subject, and form different verb tenses. Understanding their usage and role in different sentence types is vital in writing and speaking correct English.