What is a SEMICOPULATIVE verb

The verb he is in charge of express actions performed, generally, by a subject. These are the core of the predicate and within them we can find different types according to their nature. In this lesson from a TEACHER we are going to focus on what is a semicopulative verb with examples. These are perhaps the most unknown, but they are used very frequently when writing and speaking.

Before defining what semicopulative verbs are, it is necessary to carry out a classification of the different verbs that we can find in Spanish. These are divided into three classes:

• Verbs copulatives
• Predicative verbs: transitive or intransitive
• Semicopulative verbs

When faced with a syntactic analysis we must know how to correctly distinguish the types of predicates to be able to easily know what types of verbs are included in each of them. Thus, we can point out:

• The verbal predicate It is one whose nucleus is formed by a predicative verb. This in turn can be transitive or intransitive and can be accompanied by different complements.
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• The nominal predicate is one whose nucleus is a copulative verb. We must remember that these verbs are: to be, to be and to appear. The copulative verbs are those that establish a relationship between subject and complement called attribute.

Now that we know the types of predicates that we can find and the verbs that intervene in them, we can define what verbs are semicopulatives. Thus, we will say that these verbs are those that always establish a direct relationship between subject and attribute. This characteristic is shared by copulative verbs, but, unlike these incorporate a nuance of mode or aspect.

Therefore, among its characteristics we can highlight that semicopulative verbs always must be accompanied by an attribute so that the verb does not change its meaning.

As you can see, semicopulative verbs share the characteristics of the attribute with copulative verbs, so it can be difficult to differentiate them. To do this you must pay attention to the following rule.

• In the case of the vcopulative erbos these can always be replaced by the pronoun it. Let's look at an example. In the sentence: Ana was happy, we find a copulative verb. The verb ser, in this case, being copulative, can easily be replaced by the pronoun lo. The phrase, therefore, would be as follows: Ana was.
• When we meet semicopulative verbs, the previous step cannot be performed, that is, the verb cannot be replaced by the pronoun it. For these cases, we can count on another ally, the adverb So. If in a sentence we can replace the verb with this adverb, we will face a semicopulative verb. Let's see an example with the following statement: Ana was happy. If we replace the verb with the adverb like this, we will see that the phrase is as follows: Ana stayed that way.

Because there is a relationship between subject and attribute there must always be a concordance between them. If we take the previous case as an example, we see that the subject is Ana and that the attribute is content. As you can see, both appear in the feminine singular. Say, Ana was happy it would be wrong.

We already know what semicopulative verbs are, but what are they? Here is a small list with some of the most frequent:

• Walk
• Meet
• To be made
• Be
• Appear
• Stay
• To put on
• To stay
• Result
• Reveal
• Leave
• Follow
• Become

In order to better understand and assimilate the contents seen in this lesson, we are going to show a few examples of semicopulative verbs expressed in different sentences:

• Alba is put furious after discovering the deception.
• Angel se put furious to see what had happened.
• Antonio suffered an accident for not stay watch out for the road.
• Carmen is went back crazy to know that he had not approved.
• After confessing everything she felt to him, he It showed itself indifferent.
• The man is went back crazy in love for her.
• The child is stayed still in the middle of the room.
• The boy go on angry with his father.
• The dog is find lost.
• At that time, Estefanía walked she worried and she still did not know what was coming on top of her.
• It was late and all the shops they were closed.
• Juan is went back crazy to understand that she did not love him.
• The fugitives were they stayed standing still by the fence.
• Children they remained attentive to the teacher's explanations.
• Manuel is stayed still before her mother.
• Mary It showed itself delighted with the decision he had made.
• Michael walked worried about everything he had seen days before.
• Result Funny how the man robbed the bank without leaving a trace.
• Result curious that Luis calls me after so long without speaking to us.
• Sara, Isabel and Nuria follow happy after knowing the results.
• After the accident, the cars they continue standing on the road.

We hope that through this lesson on what are semi-pulative verbs with examples you have learned to identify them correctly. You will find more content in our section Spanish language.