The copula generally expresses certainty (Sentence 1, Exercise 15) or some degree of doubt (Sentences 2, 3, 4, Exercise 15) in the mind of the speaker.

Exercise 16

Select the copulas and tell what time they express (present, past, future, or all time), and whether they express doubt or certainty in the mind of the speaker. It will help in selecting the copulas if you decide first upon the predicate attribute.

1. She has been very busy.

2. She may be ready now.

3. She will come soon.

4. That ragged man must be a tramp.

5. The house will be ready for us to move in next week.

6. She seems sincere.

7. I had dug my bulbs before that hard frost.

8. Weeds are nuisances.

9. You may regret this.

10. She seems to have been mistaken.

11. I shall remember your kindness.

12. Stars are suns.

Exercise 17. Development

In this lesson you must not forget that the predicate attribute represents what is asserted of the subject of thought.

1. John grew rapidly.

2. John grew angry.

What is the subject of thought for each of these sentences? What is asserted of John by the first sentence? What is the predicate attribute if you take one word? What is the copula?

In the second sentence, which is asserted of John, the act of growing or anger? What then is the predicate attribute? What is the copula?

You see that in the first sentence the word grew is both copula and predicate attribute, and in the last the word angry is the predicate attribute, and grew is copula only. But it is a peculiar copula. It means more than the common copula was. Perhaps you can tell how the sentence John grew angry is different in meaning from John was angry.

1. The child appeared frail.

2. The child appeared at the door.

In which of these sentences is the act of appearing asserted of the child? What then is the predicate attribute in this sentence? What is the copula?

Since the act of appearing is not asserted in the first sentence, the word appeared is not the predicate attribute. What word is? What is the copula? Try to tell why the speaker used, this word instead of the common copula was.