What is a copula Verb?

[hanky]

This definition comes from one dictionary:
A copula (also spelled copular) verb is a verb that connects the subject to the complement. They are sometimes called linking verbs. EG: That food smells nice.

I think that follow this definition almost verbs are copula ones. Am I right?
EG: I do my test. => do is a copula verb? I don't think so.
There must be something misunderstood by me or the definition above doesn't work.

Help me please.
Thank in advance

[Anglika]

See if this helps: Copula Verbs - Glossary Definition - UsingEnglish.com

[hanky]

See if this helps: Copula Verbs - Glossary Definition - UsingEnglish.com

This link is what helped me create my question above.

Please help me answer my question

[Anglika]

Sorry - I thought it was quite clear. Your example sentence does not have a copula.

[hanky]

Look at this sentence

I do my test.

I is the subject,

my test is the complement

do is used to connect the subject to the complement
According to the def of copula verb => do must be called a copula verb.
So, why do is not considered as a copula verb?

I think I misunderstood something.

[2006]

look at this sentence

i do my test.

i is the subject,

my test is the complement

do is used to connect the subject to the complement
according to the def of copula verb => do must be called a copula verb.
So, why do is not considered as a copula verb? because it is an action verb. most verbs are action verbs.

i think i misunderstood something.

2006

[colloquium]

I is the subject,

my test is the complement

Remember that they are called "linking" verbs - or even "equative" verbs by some grammarians, and this is an even better way of looking at them.

The subject equals the complement.

Most complements are either adjectives or nouns, but both are the same in that they describe the subject.

He is big (adj describing feature of sub)

They are cold (adj describing state of sub)

She is a policewoman (noun directly describing/classifying the sub)

Now

I do my test

What relation does my test have to the subject? Is it describing or classifing the sub, or offering any information on the sub? No. It is describing something the subject did: an act. So as is already well established, it is an action verb.

This is by no means an exhustive explanation of how copular verbs wrok, there are many exceptions, but I think understanding the above rules is very important as it applies to so much of the language.