What are Copular Verbs and How to Use Them

Have you ever heard your teacher, professor, or someone talk about copular verbs? If you have no idea what this term means, don’t worry; that’s why we’re here! In this article, we will give you all the information about copular verbs and how to use them in your English writing and speaking. By the end of this article, you will know exactly what copular verbs are and how to use them properly in both spoken and written English. You might even impress your teachers and friends with your new knowledge of language!

Understanding copular verbs

Copular verbs—verbs that link a subject with a complement, i.e., another noun or pronoun—can be some of English’s most vexing verbs, especially for ESL learners. The concept is simple: Be, become, seem, taste, smell, look (like), and feel (as if) are all copular verbs. However, don’t let their simplicity fool you: There’s often a lot going on with these kinds of verbs in terms of meaning and use.

Types of copular verbs

A copular verb is a verb that links, or copulates, its subject with a noun (or pronoun) that identifies what kind of subject it is. For example, in I am tired, am is a copular verb because it tells us what kind of subject (I) there is. In addition to linking, some copular verbs can perform other functions as well. Examples include: express existence (There are more than 30 million people living in New York City), indicate ownership (Paris belongs to France), show time (They have been here for ten minutes), etc. As you can see, there's quite a range of possible tasks for copula verbs.

Examples of some common copular verbs

seem, become, look, smell, taste, sound. When we use a copular verb in English, it is important that we realize that a copular verb makes a statement about something as opposed to using some other type of verb. The most common mistake students make with these verbs is using them interchangeably with linking verbs. It is important that you remember your syntax so that you know how to use these verbs correctly. If used incorrectly it can drastically change how your sentence reads even if it sounds correct.