Thank you, Dick. 

Just as you did, I have my students look at grammar alwasys in terms of meaning. 

Ed

>>> "Dick Veit, UNCW English Dept." <[log in to unmask]> 03/25 9:35 AM >>>
At 11:27 PM 3/24/99 -0600, you wrote:
>Just to add one more point to the "John is" construction.  One of the
>famous aphorisms in Western thought is:
>
>I think, therefore I am.
>
>I have no sense that "I am" is incomplete.
>
>Bob Yates


Yes, but in this case, "am" is not a linking verb.  It's being used
intrasitively, as a synonym for "exist" or "live."  Same with "To be, or
not to be."

Dick Veit