What is a copula?

Definition
	A copula is an intransitivity verb which links a subject
	to a noun phrase adjective, or other constituent which expresses the predicate.

Examples (English)
	The book is on the table. The weather seems good.

Generic
	A copula is a kind of
	What is a verb? (Linguistics)

Sources
	Crystal 1980 93
	Hartmann and Stork 1972 55
	Schachter 1985 11
	Quirk, Greenbaum, Leech, and Svartvik 1985 1171–1172
	Mish 1991 289
	Crystal 1980 213
	Mish 1991 696

Context for this page:

Concept module: copula
In overview module: Glossary (Linguistics): C
In modular book: Glossary of linguistic terms, by Eugene E. Loos (general editor), Susan Anderson (editor), Dwight H., Day, Jr. (editor), Paul C. Jordan (editor), and J. Douglas Wingate (editor)
In bookshelf: Linguistics

This page is an extract from the LinguaLinks Library, Version 5.0 published on CD-ROM by SIL International, 2003. [Ordering information.]

Page content last modified: 5 January 2004

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