like
prefer
serve
show
want
Sometimes an -ed participle or an -ing participle describing a state is used.
She found herself caught in a strong tidal current.
Maureen came in and found Kate sitting on a chair staring at the window.
Using a prepositional phrase after a linking verb
3.172 When you want to give information about someone or something by describing their circumstances, you can sometimes use a prepositional phrase after a linking verb.
use after be
3.173 You can use many kinds of prepositional phrase after be.
He was still in a state of shock.
I walked home with Bill, who was in a very good mood.
She had an older brother who was in the army.
I’m from Dortmund originally.
…people who are under pressure.
Your comments are of great interest to me.
This book is for any woman who has a child.
use after other verbs
3.174 Some other linking verbs can be used with a more restricted range of prepositional phrases.
He seemed in excellent health.
We do ask people to keep in touch with us.
These methods have gradually fallen into disuse.
He got into trouble with the police.
Here is a list of other linking verbs that are used with prepositional phrases:
appear
fall
feel
get
keep
remain
seem
stay
referring to place
3.175 Some verbs that are always or often followed by an adjective can also be used with prepositional phrases relating to place.
She’s in California.
I’ll stay here with the children.
The cat was now lying on the sofa.
Here is a list of these verbs:
be
keep
remain
stay
~
hang
lie
sit
stand
For more information about prepositional phrases and adverbs relating to place, see paragraphs 6.73 to 6.92 and 6.53 to 6.72.
referring to time
3.176 Be can be used with time expressions to say when something took place or will take place.
That final meeting was on 3 November.
For more information about time expressions, see paragraphs 4.85 to 4.111.
use in transitive structures
3.177 Prepositional phrases can also be used in transitive structures to say that someone or something is caused to be in a particular state.
They’ll get me out of trouble.
The fear of being discovered kept me on the alert.
Talking about what role something has or how it is perceived: the preposition as
3.178 Prepositional phrases beginning with as can be used after some verbs.
use in intransitive structures
3.179 Prepositional phrases beginning with as are used after certain intransitive verbs to show what role or function the subject has, or what identity they pretend to have.
Bleach removes colour and acts as an antiseptic and deodoriser.
He served as Kennedy’s ambassador to India.
The sitting room doubles as her office.
Here is a list of verbs that can be followed by as in this way:
act
come
double
function
pass
pose
serve
Work can also be used in this way, when it has a human subject.
She works as a counsellor with an AIDS charity.
use in transitive structures
3.180 A number of transitive verbs can be used with as after their object.
With some, a noun phrase is used after as. The as phrase describes the role of the object or what it is thought to be.
I wanted to use him as an agent.
I treated business as a game.
Here is a list of transitive verbs that can be used with as and a noun phrase:
brand
cast
categorize
certify
characterize
choose
class
condemn
consider
define
denounce
depict
describe
diagnose
elect
establish
give
hail
identify
intend
interpret
label
name
perceive
recognize
regard
scorn
see
suggest
take
treat
use
view
With others, an adjective is used after as. The adjective indicates what quality or characteristic the object is thought to have.
Party members and officials described him as brilliant.
They regarded manual work as degrading.
Here is a list of transitive verbs that can be used with as and an adjective:
brand
categorize
certify
characterize
class
condemn
define
denounce
depict
describe
diagnose
establish
label
perceive
regard
scorn
see
view
3.181 Look upon, refer to, and think of are also used with as in this way. As must be followed by a noun when used with refer to.
In some households the man was referred to as the master.
Talking about closely linked actions: using two main verbs together
3.182 This section describes the ways in which you use two main verbs together to talk about two actions or states that are closely linked.
These two actions may be performed by the same person. See paragraphs 3.189 to 3.201.
She stopped speaking.
Davis likes to talk about horses.
Alternatively, the actions may be performed by different people. If they are, the performer of the second action is the object of the first verb. See paragraphs 3.202 to 3.212.
I don’t want them to feel I’ve slighted them.
One of the group began pumping her chest to help her breathe.
3.183 Note that the first verb needs the second verb after it because it does not give enough information on its own. For example, I want does not give enough information to be a useful statement, but I want to talk to you does.