An example of this pattern is:
The player looks tired.
In Pattern 4 the verb is called a linking verb (acronomized as LV) because it links the adjective (or adjectival) with the subject (in the first slot). Any verb except be that may replace looks in the example sentence, or a sentence like it, is a linking verb. Some of the common linking verbs are: seem, appear, become, grow, remain, taste, look, feel, smell, sound, get, continue, and go, among other verbs. It is to be noted, however, that some of these linking verbs may also be used as intransitive verbs (i.e. verbs that can stand alone with their subject). This is the case when the verb is followed by an adverb or an adverbial, e.g. The actress appeared quickly on the stage, and The scientist grew rapidly in knowledge. When this happens the sentence does not belong to Pattern 4, but rather to Pattern 6, which we will deal with below.
In addition to the common linking verbs listed above, other verbs that are not usually considered linking may occasionally be followed by an adjective (or an adjectival) and hence belong to Pattern 4, e.g.
1. The well ran dry.
2. The woman's face went pale.
3. He proved innocent.
It is to be noted that we can use be or linking verbs (e.g. become and remain) in place of the underlined verbs with no substantial change in meaning, e.g.
The well is dry.
The woman's face became pale.
Linking verbs may be preceded by auxiliaries, e.g.
The game may become lively.
Your brother must have seemed exhausted.
As in Pattern 1, the grammatical meaning of the adjective (or the adjectival) is "a modifier of the subject.