Student-Led Workshop

What Is “To Be” Linking?

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Treat “to be” like an equal sign. Decide whether the complement names the subject, describes its condition, or gives its location.

Maya is a mechanic.

The students are exhausted.

The keys are on the table.

I am hungry.

We are the new instructors.

The office is downtown.

The soup is cold.

That woman is my sister.

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Say the equation aloud: subject = identity, condition, or location.

Slide 32

Tips

What Is “To Be” Linking?

  1. Trata to be como “=”. Si lo que sigue nombra al sujeto, es identity; si lo describe, condition; si dice dónde está, location.
  2. Aunque el español distingue ser y estar, el inglés usa la misma familia am/is/are. Clasifica por el significado del complemento.
  3. Hungry y cold son condiciones en inglés aunque el español use tener: “I am hungry,” “The soup is cold.”