Verb Types 2--Linking & Complex Transitive

Be is the most common linking verb (V=).
In a sentence like Those dogs are spaniels,

Those	dogs	are	spaniels
Det	NC	V=	NC

spaniels is a complement 補語. A complement can be a NP, AdjP (The dogs are very noisy) or a PP (The kennelman is in the yard). The complement tells you more about the subject.

The dogs are very noisy (syntax tree)

The kennelman is in the yard

Complex transitive verbs (V++=) behave like a combination of a transitive verb and a linking verb. Try diagramming these four sentences:

1. Ruth considers the kennelman incompetent (= the kennelman is incompetent)

2. Young Taiwan voters elected Ma Yingjeou president

3. He called me an idiot (= He said that I am an idiot)

4. He called me a taxi (= He called a taxi for me 比較不自然)

Click on Read more to see the syntax trees below:

1. Ruth considers the kennelman incompetent (syntax tree)

2. Young Taiwan voters elected Ma Yingjeou president (syntax tree)

3. He called me an idiot (syntax tree)

4. He called me a taxi (syntax tree)