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Rpsh Posted 12 years ago
Grammar

Auxiliary verb & Link verb

The boy are playing table tennis. .

In this sentence, I figure the word 'are' is an link verb, but the answer shows that it's an auxiliary verb. If it's a like verb, 'playing' here is a predicative. I know the noun can be the predicative, while 'playing' is a gerund, namely, a noun. Do you think I'm right? Could you tell me the difference between these two word classes, especially the 'be' verb?
  

Top answer

The boy s are playing table tennis. " In the progressive tenses "be" is an auxiliary verb. Compare with the simple present: The boy s play table tennis.

  • The boy s are playing table tennis.
  • " In the progressive tenses "be" is an auxiliary verb.
  • Compare with the simple present: The boy s play table tennis.
  • As a linking verb, "be" associates (or equates) a subject with a complement (or predicate): The boys are the best table tennis players in the country.
  • In a gerund form, the participle has the role of a noun in a sentence: Playing table tennis is the boys' favorite activity.
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1 Answers
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The boys are playing table tennis.

This is the present progressive tense of "play." In the progressive tenses "be" is an auxiliary verb. Compare with the simple present:

The boys play table tennis.

As a linking verb, "be" associates (or equates) a subject with a complement (or predicate):
The boys are the best table tennis players in the

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