Differentiating between linking and intransitive verb
Dear teachers
I am having a hard time coming up with an explanation for differentiating between an intransitive verb and a linking verb.
1. He has grown wise.
2. The city has grown exponentially.
In the first sentence I know that "has grown" is a linking verb and in the second sentence it is an intransitive verb.
But if somebody were to ask me, how do I know, I wouldn't come up with a convincing explanation.
One way to argue is "wise" is an adjective functioning as subject complement and hence " has grown" is a linking verb.
The problem is, if a question is given in the exam like this
He has grown ________
A) wise B) wisely
How do I explain here that "has grown" is not an intransitive verb and wisely (adv) shouldn't be used.
Thank you.
Top answer
A linking verb is a special kind of intransitive verb, so linking verbs are intransitive verbs. The difference is whether what follows pertains more to the subject (is a subject complement) or pertains more to the verb. cliverob33 if a question is given in the exam like this He has grown ________ A) wise B) wisely How do I explain here that "has grown" is not an intransitive verb and wisely (adv) shouldn't be used.
- A linking verb is a special kind of intransitive verb, so linking verbs are intransitive verbs.
- The difference is whether what follows pertains more to the subject (is a subject complement) or pertains more to the verb.
- cliverob33 if a question is given in the exam like this He has grown ________ A) wise B) wisely How do I explain here that "has grown" is not an intransitive verb and wisely (adv) shouldn't be used.
- Actually, more accurately, you explain that "has grown" is a linking type of intransitive verb, not that it's not intransitive.
- "wise" goes with the "has become" meaning of "has grown".
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A linking verb is a special kind of intransitive verb, so linking verbs are intransitive verbs.
The difference is whether what follows pertains more to the subject (is a subject complement) or pertains more to the verb.
cliverob33if a question is given in the exam like this
He has grown ________
A) wise B) wisely
How do I explain here that
0cliverob33But if somebody were to ask me, how do I know, I wouldn't come up with a convincing explanation. How do I explain here that "has grown" is not an intransitive verb and wisely (adv) shouldn't be used.
It's intransitive because it doesn't have a direct object. A transitive verb (or clause) by definition is one that has a direct object. In other
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