You have seen that the words is, are, grew, and appeared may be used as copulas alone, or as copulas and predicate attributes (§§ 20 and 21, Exercise 17). There are many other words and groups of words that are used in both ways. In order to tell whether the asserting word is also a predicate attribute, ask yourself, Does it in this particular sentence show something about the subject of thought? If it doesn't, no matter what else it does, it is only a copula though it may be a very peculiar one.

Exercise 18

Show that the italicized words in the left-hand column are predicate attributes as well as copulas, while those in the right-hand column are not predicate attributes.

The child looked at the picture.

The child looked frail.

The clouds grew as we watched.

The clouds grew dark.

She fell to the ground.

She fell ill.

There was a severe storm.

The storm was severe.

John felt of the cloth.

John felt angry.

Anna tasted the medicine.

The medicine tasted bitter.

She turned the handle.

She turned pale.

She may have got the medicine.

She may have got better.