Verbs with adjectives

Verbs with adjectives

Normally, we are taught that to modify a verb we need to use an adverb. But is it okay if we use a verb with an adjective?

Please tell me it's completely possible. However, only a few verbs have this special ability. Let's EnglishVocabulary learn about them

Verbs with adjectives

We all know that a verb is a word that describes an action – for example: walk, work, drive, etc. Adverbs are words that describe actions. action that is described by verbs – how it happens.

  • He walked slowly – (How did he walk? Slowly.)
  • She worked hard – (How did she work? Hard.)
  • He drives dangerously– (How does he drive? Dangerously.)

However, some verbs can be used with adjectives, to provide more information about the subject instead of adding meaning to that verb. These words function as a bridge between an adjective and a specific point of a subject.

For example:

  • ‘It’s a gorgeous dress, Alice, but the other one seemed nicer. ’(‘nice’ complements ‘the dress’) (It's a beautiful dress, but that one looks prettier.)

  • ‘It is lovely, isn’t it? But you’re right, the bluedress looks better. ’(‘better’ complements ‘the dress’) ('Isn't it beautiful? But you're right, the blue dress is prettier)

  • ‘And after that I expect we’ll all be feeling peckish…’ (‘peckish’ goes with ‘we’) (‘And in the end I think we all felt hungry…’)

So what are these special verbs?

Verbs of opinion, feeling and changing state with adjectives

These verbs that can be used with adjectives in this way are called linking verbs. They are also called copula verbs. They can be divided into the following groups:

1. Point of view verbs: seem, appear

  • Your plan seems realistic.
  • He appears older than he really is.

2. Sensory verbs: look, feel, taste, smell, sound

  • The blue dress looks better.
  • This fabric feels lovely.
  • I didn’t enjoy the food. It tasted horrible.
  • These flowers smell beautiful.
  • That sound system sounds expensive.

3. Verbs that change state: become, get, go, turn

  • She became very angry when she saw what they had done.

She was furious when she saw what they had done.

  • As night fell the air grew cold.

The darker it gets, the colder it gets.

  • The sun got hotter and hotter.

It's getting hotter and hotter.

  • His face went white with shock when he heard the news.

His face turned pale with surprise when he heard the news.

  • As I get older, my hair is starting to turn grey.

As I get older, my hair starts to turn gray.

4. Other verbs, adverbs and adjectives

Link/copula verbs can go with adjectives. They also function as a verb that goes with adverbs.

  • She looked angry (adjective) = she had an angry expression
  • She looked angrily (adverb) at her husband. Here,‘looked’ is a deliberate action.
  • The cake tasted beautiful (adjective) = the cake had a beautiful taste.
  • She quickly (adverb) tasted the cake. Here,‘tasted’ is a deliberate action.

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