Copula

:This is not about copula functions in probability and statistics. See copula (statistics).

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The word copula originates from the Latin noun for a "link or tie" that connects two different things. In linguistics, a copula is a word that is used to link the subject of a sentence with a predicate (a subject complement or an adverbial). Though it might not itself express any action or condition, it serves to equate (or associate) the subject with the predicate.

Related Topics:
Latin - Noun - Linguistics - Subject - Sentence - Predicate - Complement - Adverbial

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A copula is sometimes (though not always) a verb or a verb-like part of speech. In English primary education grammar courses it is often called a linking verb.

Related Topics:
Verb - Primary education

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The term is generally used to refer to the main copular verb in the language: in the case of English, this is "to be". It can also be used to refer to all such verbs in the language: in that case, English copulas include, "to be", "to become", "to get", "to feel", and "to seem". Fall can be a copulative verb, as in "The zebra fell victim to the lion." See: List of English copulas.

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