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Copula

Beginner

An overt grammatical element that supports some clauses with a nonverbal predicate.

In precise terms

A copula is an overt element used in some clauses to link a subject with a nonverbal predicate, especially a nominal or adjectival one. It may be verb-like, pronoun-like, a particle or a bound form; locational predication may share the same item or use a different strategy. A construction called 'zero copula' has no overt linking item, and that label alone does not posit an invisible word.

An example

[SUBJECT] + COPULA + [NOUN PHRASE USED AS THE PREDICATE] (schematic)

What is going on here

The noun phrase used as the predicate classifies or identifies the subject, and the overt copula marks or supports that predication. The copula may also carry categories such as tense, person or number, depending on the language.

Why this matters when you are learning a language

A single translation equivalent of 'be' may not be a complete rule. Learners need to know which predicate types use an overt copula, when it can be absent and whether location, identity and properties use the same construction.

Across languages

Languages use verbal and nonverbal copulas, bound forms and constructions with no overt linker. Zero marking may depend on tense, person or predicate type, and the strategy used for a nominal predicate need not be the one used for a locational predicate.

Related terms

  • VerbBeginner — A word for an action, event or state — what is happening.
  • Auxiliary verbIntermediate — A verb that supports a main verb, carrying grammatical information rather than the main meaning.
  • AdjectiveBeginner — A word that describes a noun — its size, colour, quality or state.
  • SubjectBeginner — The part of a clause that the verb agrees with — usually who or what performs the action.

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