Sentence Patterns:
Subject-Verb-Complement

We can distinguish the following patterns:

A. The complement is a noun phrase or noun clause:

* This is a really nice outfit.
* The anwer is that we don't want to go to the party.
* He became a _________.

B. To be can occur between the linking verb and the complement. Although this "to be" is not necessary, both American English and British English prefer an infinitive construction with to be rather than simply a noun phrase.

* She seems (to be) all right.
* He proved (to be) a good __________.
* She appears (to be) exhausted.

NOTE:

a) There is also a tendency , especially in AME, to prefer a construction in which the verb is followed by like: It seems like she does not want to go to school..

b) Some linking verbs are restricted as to the words that may occur in their complement. Examples are: rest (assured), run (wild), plead (innocent), fall (silent).

C. The complement is an adjective.

* He became very restless (when his son did not come home on time).
* Your house looks very clean.
* She stayed calm.

Sentence Patterns:
Subject-Verb-Adverbial

The main linking verb that allows an adverbial as complementation is to be. The most common adverbials are place and time adverbials.

* He is in the bathroom..
* My uncle lives in Belgium.
* The party will be at three o'clock.

The Verb BE:

Some grammarians refer to the verb be as "the copula" since this is its main function in English. All the forms of be can be used as a linking verb. Be is the main verb of the sentence, rather than the auxiliary and is used in both SVC and SVA patterns.

* I am at the office between 9 and 5.
* This is a really good class.
* Those books were very expensive.
* The students have been exhausted since the midterm.
* Their wedding will be in early May.

1. Independent clause: a subject and verb that make a complete thought. Independent clauses are called independent because they can stand on their own and make sense. 2. Dependent clause: a subject and verb that don't make a complete thought. Dependent clauses always need to be attached to an independent clause (they're too weak to stand alone).