Tech, Communication Apps, and Grammar
2020-05-01
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1Person-to-person communications have changed a lot over the past few months.
2Stay-at-home orders and travel restrictions have limited travel and face-to-face contact.
3In place of these, many people now use computer software apps, such as Zoom, Skype and Google Hangouts.
4This technology will be the subject of our Everyday Grammar story today.
5The American television show Saturday Night Live has used video calling in its most recent programs.
6Often, technology is behind the humor in each short sketch.
7Consider this example. A television show broadcasts a "live" interview with a news reporter.
8The reporter's teenage daughter is filming him on her mobile phone.
9She uses unusual Snapchat filters to film her father.
10He does not realize what she is doing.
11If you are just tuning in, the funny filters on Brian are not us.
12Yeah, my daughter said the camera looks fine, so...not sure what is going on, guys.
13These lines give you an example of a common grammatical feature of video calls: linking verbs.
14Linking verbs are verbs that link an adjective or noun with a subject.
15Let me explain.
16Imagine you are on a video call. One person might say, "The sound is good."
17The verb BE links the adjective good with the subject of the sentence, the sound.
18Linking verbs are generally used to describe a state of existence or a change of state.
19So, in the example sentence, by saying "The sound is good," the speaker is describing the quality of the video's sound.
20Other kinds of linking verbs show changes of state or condition.
21We will explore that issue a little later in the program.
22The good news for you is this: There are not too many linking verbs.
23English speakers use maybe 20 or 30 of them in everyday speech.
24Examples include verbs such as seem, appear, or become, as well as verbs of the senses - sound, feel, taste and so on.
25The words go and get are often used as linking verbs.
26As linking verbs, they generally carry a bad or negative meaning.
27They suggest a change to a negative state, and usually go with adjectives that have a negative meaning.
28Imagine you hear someone describe what happened after a failed video call:
29"He got angry after something went wrong with the video."
30In the example, the linking verb got connects the adjective angry with the subject, he. Got shows that the person's emotional state changed.
31The sentence also has a second linking verb, went, the past tense of go.
32It links the word something with the adjective wrong.
33Any number of sentences with linking verbs could be used in a video call, or to describe a video call.
34Imagine you are talking to a friend who is beginning to suffer from 'Zoom fatigue' - a term that means growing tired of using Zoom too much.
35Your friend might say, "I have to go now, I'm getting tired."
36or "I need to take a break, I'm getting frustrated."
37As I said before - and as the examples show - linking verbs are generally followed by an adjective or a noun.
38In other words, they do not usually end sentences.
39Keep that point in mind if you try writing sentences with linking verbs!
40The next time that you do a video call, try to think of linking verbs that might be useful to describe the state - or change of state - in each call.
41Over time, you will begin to use common linking verbs and adjectives with ease.
42We end the report today with a short quiz.
43At the beginning of the story, we played the following exchange:
44If you are just tuning in, the funny filters on Brian are not us.
45Yeah, my daughter said the camera looks fine, so...not sure what is going on, guys.
46Can you identify the linking verb?
47What are the important clues for telling you where the linking verb is?
48Write to us in the Comments Section of our website, learningenglish.voanews.com.
49And that's Everyday Grammar.
50I'm John Russell.
1Person-to-person communications have changed a lot over the past few months. 2Stay-at-home orders and travel restrictions have limited travel and face-to-face contact. In place of these, many people now use computer software apps, such as Zoom, Skype and Google Hangouts. 3This technology will be the subject of our Everyday Grammar story today. 4Humor and technology 5The American television show Saturday Night Live has used video calling in its most recent programs. Often, technology is behind the humor in each short sketch. 6Consider this example. A television show broadcasts a "live" interview with a news reporter. The reporter's teenage daughter is filming him on her mobile phone. 7She uses unusual Snapchat filters to film her father. He does not realize what she is doing. 8If you are just tuning in, the funny filters on Brian are not us. 9Yeah, my daughter said the camera looks fine, so...not sure what is going on, guys. 10These lines give you an example of a common grammatical feature of video calls: linking verbs. 11What are linking verbs? 12Linking verbs are verbs that link an adjective or noun with a subject. Let me explain. 13Imagine you are on a video call. One person might say, "The sound is good." 14The verb BE links the adjective good with the subject of the sentence, the sound. 15Linking verbs are generally used to describe a state of existence or a change of state. 16So, in the example sentence, by saying "The sound is good," the speaker is describing the quality of the video's sound. Other kinds of linking verbs show changes of state or condition. We will explore that issue a little later in the program. 17Common linking verbs 18The good news for you is this: There are not too many linking verbs. English speakers use maybe 20 or 30 of them in everyday speech. Examples include verbs such as seem, appear, or become, as well as verbs of the senses - sound, feel, taste and so on. 19The words go and get are often used as linking verbs. As linking verbs, they generally carry a bad or negative meaning. They suggest a change to a negative state, and usually go with adjectives that have a negative meaning. 20Imagine you hear someone describe what happened after a failed video call: 21"He got angry after something went wrong with the video." 22In the example, the linking verb got connects the adjective angry with the subject, he. Got shows that the person's emotional state changed. 23The sentence also has a second linking verb, went, the past tense of go. It links the word something with the adjective wrong. 24Any number of sentences with linking verbs could be used in a video call, or to describe a video call. 25Imagine you are talking to a friend who is beginning to suffer from 'Zoom fatigue' - a term that means growing tired of using Zoom too much. 26Your friend might say, "I have to go now, I'm getting tired." or "I need to take a break, I'm getting frustrated." 27As I said before - and as the examples show - linking verbs are generally followed by an adjective or a noun. In other words, they do not usually end sentences. 28Keep that point in mind if you try writing sentences with linking verbs! 29Closing thoughts 30The next time that you do a video call, try to think of linking verbs that might be useful to describe the state - or change of state - in each call. Over time, you will begin to use common linking verbs and adjectives with ease. 31We end the report today with a short quiz. At the beginning of the story, we played the following exchange: 32If you are just tuning in, the funny filters on Brian are not us. 33Yeah, my daughter said the camera looks fine, so...not sure what is going on, guys. 34Can you identify the linking verb? What are the important clues for telling you where the linking verb is? Write to us in the Comments Section of our website, learningenglish.voanews.com. 35And that's Everyday Grammar. 36I'm John Russell. 37John Russell wrote this story for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. 38________________________________________________________________ 39Words in This Story 40application - n. a computer program that performs a particular task (such as word processing) 41sketch -- n. a short, funny performance 42interview -- n. a meeting between a reporter and another person in order to get information for a news story 43mobile -- adj. able to be moved 44filter - n. a device that prevents some kinds of light, sound, electronic noises, etc., from passing through; OR an app that adds some kind of light, sound, electronic noise, etc. 45feature - n. an interesting or important part, quality, ability, etc. 46frustrated - adj. discouraged or upset because of being unable to do or complete something 47quiz -- n. a short spoken or written test that is often taken without preparation 48clue -- n. something that helps a person find something, understand something, or solve a mystery or puzzle