Describing something in other ways: adjuncts instead of complements

3.173 When you want to give information about someone or something by describing their circumstances, you can sometimes use a prepositional phrase after a link verb, rather than a complement.

3.174 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.

Summerhill is a school in which play is of the greatest importance.

This book is for any woman who has ever said 'If only I knew where to find help.'

use after other verbs 3.175 Some other link 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 link verbs that are used with prepositional phrases:

appear fall

feel get

keep remain

seem stay

adjuncts of place 3.176 Some verbs which are used with complements can also be used with adjuncts of place after them.

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 adjuncts of place, see paragraphs 6.53 to 6.72 and 6.82 to 6.93.

adjuncts of time 3.177 'Be' can be used with adjuncts of time to say when something took place or will take place.

That final meeting was on 3 November.

For more information about adjuncts of time, see paragraphs 5.84 to 5.110.

use in transitive structures 3.178 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 our of trouble.

The fear of being discovered keep me on the alert.

Indicating what role something has or how it is perceived: the preposition 'as'

3.179 Prepositional phrases beginning with 'as' can be used after some intransitive and transitive verbs. The noun groups following 'as' have a similar meaning to complements.

use in intransitive structures 3.180 Prepositional phrases beginning with 'as' can be used after certain intransitive verbs to indicate what role or function the subject has, or what identity they pretend to have.

Bleach removes colour art acts as an antiseptic and deodoriser.

He served as Kennedy's ambassador to India.

They attempted to get an agent posing as a telephone repairman into the Stein residence.

Here is a list of verbs which 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.

My father worked as a draughtsman in a shipyard.

3.181 A number of transitive verbs can be used with 'as' after their object.

With some, a noun group 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 which can be used with 'as' and a noun group:

grand cast categorize certify characterize choose class

condemn consider define denounce depict describe diagnose

elect establish give hall 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 which 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

3.182 'Look upon', 'refer to', and 'think of' can also be used with 'as' in this way. 'As' must be followed by a noun group when used with 'refer to'.

In some households the man was referred to as 'the master'.