A stricken figure

Question

"And so the prime minister goes into this week a stricken figure."

(The Observer.)

Is "goes" a transitive verb with its direct object "a stricken figure" or is "a stricken figure" a complement of the linking verb "goes" in the sentence above?

GPY · Accepted Answer

Well, it definitely isn't a direct object. I'm not sure that "goes" could be called a "linking verb" though. Anyway, let's see what others say.

CalifJim · Answer

tkacka15
"And so the prime minister goes into this week a stricken figure."
(The Observer.)

Is "goes" a transitive verb with its direct object "a stricken figure" or is "a stricken figure" a complement of the linking verb "goes" in the sentence above?

'is a stricken figure' is implied, so I'd say 'goes' is acting here like a linking verb even though it is not usually analyzed as such in this kind of construction . I would call 'a stricken figure' a subject-oriented secondary predicate. Similarly,

After rescuing the kitten, the boy emerged a hero.

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CJ

A stricken figure

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