Equative Clauses

The first of the five basic clause patterns is called the equative pattern. The formula for this pattern is "Subject / Linking Verb / Complement" and we represent this pattern like this: (S=C).

A linking verb is like an "=" sign. It's a verb that conveys that the left side of the sentences is "equal" to the right side of the sentence. In the above example, we are saying, in effect, that:

• John = sad.
• John = a doctor.

The left side of the equation is the subject.

The right side of the equation is called the complement. It "completes" the subject. Note the spelling:

• A "complement" completes.
• A "compliment" is somthing that you give to a friend.

The complement can be either an adjective or a noun.

The most common linking verb, by far, is the verb "is" (or more precisely, "to be"). However, keep in mind that the verb "is" has many different conjugations. It's important that you realize that the following verbs are all variations of the verb "is".

There are also other words that can function as linking verbs. These words include:

Study the following examples of the equative pattern:

Instructions for the Quiz

Identify the underlined word or phrase. Is it the subject, the linking verb, or the complement?

In this example, the answer is C.

• "The room" is the subject of the sentence.
• "was" is the linking verb.
• "dark" is the complement. It is the thing that the room is equal to.