[Grammar] Can "make" be a linking verb?

[Talmid]

Can make be a linking verb in some cases? And if/when so, would a pronoun following it be a special kind of indirect object?
Here is an example of what I mean:

Eating spinach will make you strong.

Obviously, eating spinach does not create or fabricate you.
So I am thinking that make here is a linking verb with strong as its predicate adjective. But if I am right, I still am not quite sure what you would be. Linking verbs do not have indirect objects do they? Unless... Maybe like this?:

Mom is a taxi driver to me.

In this case, to me would probably be seen as an adverbial prepositional phrase modifying the linking verb is. But the use of the to is less like the preposition and more like the marker of the indirect object, as in: I gave the flowers to Mom.

So there it is. I would appreciate any help understanding both make and you in my spinach sentence.

 

[MikeNewYork]

I don't see "make" as a linking verb there. "You" is the direct object and "strong" is an object complement.

In your second, I see "to me" as a modifier of "taxi driver" not the verb.

 

[Tdol]

Can make be a linking verb in some cases?

Not in this case.

 

[mawes12]

Not in this case.

Yeah, but in "make sure" it can.

In your second, I see "to me" as a modifier of "taxi driver" not the verb.

I think "to me" can be a modifier of the verb too. I might be wrong though.

 

[Tdol]

Yeah, but in "make sure" it can.

How would you define linking verb?

 

[mawes12]

How would you define linking verb?

I mean it looks like a linking verb and I think a linking verb is a verb that can connect with an adjective or a noun. Right?

 

[MikeNewYork]

"I think "to me" can be a modifier of the verb too. I might be wrong though."

When "is" is used as a linking verb it does not usually take an adverb.

 

[Matthew Wai]

I think 'make' is a linking verb in 'You can make a strong person by eating spinach', but I am not a teacher.

 

[MikeNewYork]

I don't see it as a linking verb there.

 

[Matthew Wai]

I think it is a linking verb there because I have seen the following definition and example, but I am not a teacher.

'Make
11 have a quality [linking verb]
to have the qualities that are necessary for a particular job, use, or purpose
I'm sure you will make a very good teacher.'── quoted from http://www.ldoceonline.com/dictionary/make_1

 

[Matthew Wai]

1. 'You will make a very good teacher.'── 'Make' is a linking verb according to the dictionary in post#10.
2. 'You can make a strong person.'──'Make' is not a linking verb according to MikeNewYork in post#9.

In both cases, 'make' is followed by a noun, a person, so why is it a linking verb in #1 but not in #2?

 

[MikeNewYork]

I think 'make' is a linking verb in 'You can make a strong person by eating spinach', but I am not a teacher.

For that sentence to work, it needs "yourself" after "make". Without that, the sentence makes no sense.

 

[Matthew Wai]

'You will make a strong leader.'
Does it make sense without 'yourself'?

 

[Matthew Wai]

For me it's not a matter of whether or not 'make' is a linking verb in that sentence but that the sentence itself seems very unnatural. Where did you find it?

I think you should have noticed that I often write unnatural sentences.

 

[MikeNewYork]

Yes, Matthew, that makes sense.

 

[emsr2d2]

I think you should have noticed that I often write unnatural sentences.

Why do you do that?

 

[Talmid]

I don't see "make" as a linking verb there. "You" is the direct object and "strong" is an object complement.

In your second, I see "to me" as a modifier of "taxi driver" not the verb.

Okay. I think I follow you.
So, it all turns on the definition of the verb "make," right?
If "make" means something like 'create' or 'fabricate,' "you" certainly can't be the direct object in the spinach sentence. Spinach is not said to be creating "you."
But if "make" means something like causing [someone/something] to come to be in the state of, then "you" would be the direct object.
Have I figured out what you're saying, MikeNewYork?

On the second point, I am pretty sure I disagree. If "to me" modifies "taxi driver," it means I am the destination to which Mom is driving the taxi. But the point of the utterer of the sentence is to say that Mom functions in his/her life as a taxi driver. Therefore, it has to communicate that, "to me," a taxi driver is what Mom is.

Thanks for your help! I'd love more feedback.

 

[Matthew Wai]

Why do you do that?

Do you think I do that intentionally?

 

[emsr2d2]

Do you think I do that intentionally?

Actually, I thought that was exactly what you meant by "I think you should have noticed that I often write unnatural sentences".

I realise that you regularly start your suggestions with "I think you can say ..." and end with "but I am not a teacher" but perhaps it would be better to write "Can we say ...?"

 

[Rover_KE]

I suggested a while ago that you could put 'Not a teacher' in your signature line to save you the trouble of writing '...but I am not a teacher' and to save us the irritation of having to keep reading it in nearly every post. It works well for a number of other members.

You did this for a while and then abandoned the idea. I can't remember the reason but it might be worth trying again.