Sales of automobiles are up this year.

[newkeenlearner]

Is "up" an adverb or a verb here?

Sales of automobiles are up this year.

 

[newkeenlearner]

It's an adverb or, for some recent schools of grammar, a preposition.

Thanks.
Is it possible to use "adverbs" after a linking or to-be verbs?

 

[emsr2d2]

Well, since the adverb "up" is used after "are" in that sentence, and the sentence is correct, what do you think the answer is?

 

[newkeenlearner]

What makes me confused most is that I 've come across with the definition of "up" in the following dictionary:

http://learnersdictionary.com/definition/up. Up is an adjective hare in #3 definition.

3 not used before a noun : higher than usual
Gas prices are up again.
The interest rate is up (by) three percent.
Profits are up on last year. [=profits are higher than they were last year]

 

[SoothingDave]

I'd call it an adjective, but I learned grammar a long time ago.

 

[newkeenlearner]

This dictionary has it as an adverb (my underlining added):

What a good dictionary. I'll use it. Thanks for link mentioned.