Copula (Noun)
Meaning
An equating verb (such as `be' or `become') that links the subject with the complement of a sentence.
Classification
Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents.
Examples
- The word "be" is a common copula in many languages, linking the subject to its complement.
- In the sentence "The book is a bestseller," the verb "is" serves as a copula to connect the subject and its predicate nominative.
- The copula "became" in the sentence "She became a famous actress" indicates a change in the subject's state or condition.
- The sentence "I am what I am" illustrates the use of the copula "am" to link the subject with its reflexive complement.
- In many dialects of American English, "is" is used as a copula to connect the subject to an adjective or noun, as in "He is stupid" or "She is a doctor".