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Anonymous Posted 10 years ago
Grammar

Adverbs modifying/complementing linking verbs

If adverbs cannot modify/complement linking verbs, what about in these sentences with predicate nouns?
He is certainly a clown.
Tom is definitely a genius.
What are certainly and definitely modifying if not the linking verb "is"?
  

Top answer

Anonymous What are certainly and definitely modifying if not the linking verb "is"? The whole sentence. These are sometimes called sentential adverbs.

  • Anonymous What are certainly and definitely modifying if not the linking verb "is"?
  • The whole sentence.
  • These are sometimes called sentential adverbs.
  • He is certainly a clown ~ It is [certain / certainly true] that he is a clown.
  • Tom is definitely a genius ~ It is [definitely true / a definite fact] that Tom is a genius.
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1 Answers
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AnonymousWhat are certainly and definitely modifying if not the linking verb "is"?
The whole sentence. These are sometimes called sentential adverbs.

He is certainly a clown ~ It is [certain / certainly true] that he is a clown.
Tom is definitely a genius ~ It is [definitely true / a definite fact] that Tom is a genius.

CJ

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