Final answer:
The linking verb in the sentence is 'taste' and the predicate adjective is 'sweeter.' 'Fruits and vegetables' is the compound subject, and 'taste' connects the subject to the predicate adjective that describes the subject's perceived taste to a specific group of people.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the sentence 'Fruits and vegetables often taste sweeter to people who follow a sugar-free diet,' we need to identify the linking verb and either the predicate noun or predicate adjective. The subject of the sentence is 'fruits and vegetables,' which is a compound subject since it is made up of two nouns joined by 'and.' According to standard English agreement rules, a plural subject must have a plural verb, which in this case is 'taste.'
'Taste' is the linking verb because it connects the subject 'fruits and vegetables' with the predicate adjective 'sweeter,' which describes the subject. Linking verbs, such as 'taste,' do not express action but instead indicate a state of being or condition, and they are completed by a subject complement that describes or identifies the subject.
Here is a breakdown of the sentence:
- Subject: Fruits and vegetables
- Linking Verb: taste
- Predicate Adjective: sweeter
Remember, linking verbs are often used with descriptions that characterize the subject, and in our case, 'sweeter' is the characteristic being attributed to 'fruits and vegetables' by people on a sugar-free diet.