Pattern 5: SVOO (Subject + Verb + Indirect Object + Direct Object]
The mother bought the girl a dress.
In pattern5 there are some important matters to be observed:
1. The verb of this pattern must be transitive.
2. We see two grammatical objects after the verb bought. These two objects are called, in order, the indirect and the direct object. If we omit the first one, the pattern becomes number 4 and dress is seen to be the direct object.
3. The indirect object may often be replaced by a prepositional phrase beginning with to or for, or occasionally with a different preposition.
Examples: a] He sold the student a ticket. b] He sold a ticket to the student. c] He built them a playpen. d] He built a playpen for them. e] He played me a game of chess. f] He played a game of chess with me. g] He asked her a question. h] He asked a question of her.
4. The verbs that can be used in pattern 5 are in a restricted group. Some of the common ones are give, make, find, tell, buy, write, send, ask, play, build, teach, assign, feed, offea throw, hand, pass, sell, pay.
5. A pattern 5 sentence may be transformed into the passive by making either the direct or the indirect object the subject ofthe passive verb: a] A dress was bought the girl by her mother. b] The girl was bought a dress by her mother.
In some cases, however, the passive transformation does not sound fully natural and seems to demand a preposition, as in a] The sergeant found the recruit a rifle. b] A rifle was found (for) the recruit by the sergeant.
6. The grammatical meaning of the indirect object is "beneficiary of the action of the verb-plus-direct-obj ect."
7. If the direct object is a pronoun, it must precede the other object, which is moved back within a prepositional phrase: a] The mother bought it for the girl. Not *The mother bought the girl it.
This movement occurs even if both objects in the sentence are pronouns: a]The mother bought it for her. Not *The mother boueht her it.
rb
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Basic Sentence Pattern 4
"Pattern 4: SVO [Subject + Verb + Direct Object]
The girl bought a dress.
In pattern 4 the verb is transitive and is completed by a noun phrase, for which one can readily substitute him, her, it, or them. This noun phrase is called the direct object of the verb and has the grammatical meaning of 'undergoer of the action' or 'that affected by the verb.'
A direct object does not always experience any actual action. e.g. 'We heard the radio' in which 'the radio' is the direct object but does not experience any real action.
Normally the direct object is not the same person or thing as the subject. However, with two kinds of pronouns, the direct object does have the same referent as the subject.
One is the set of -self/-selves pronouns, generally known as the reflexive pronouns. These occur as direct object in sentences such as: e.g. i]She saw herself. iii]The lifeguards splashed themselves.
The other set consists of the reciprocal pronouns each other and one another, which function as direct objects in such sentences as: e.g. i]They found each other. ii] They fought one another.
Transitive/Intransitive verb:
Iv: She sang beautifully. Tv: She sang a beautiful folk song.
Iv only: The ship had vanished. Tv only: We enjoyed the party.
A transitive verb has two forms, which we call active and passive. The active form is the one that is followed by the direct object, which we have seen in pattern 4. From this active form we can make the passive form: e.g. Active: The chef cooked the meal. Passive: The meal was cooked [by the chef]
In this process there are four things to notice:
1. The object of the active form becomes the subject of the passive form. This is shown above
in the shift of meal.
2. The passive is made up of a form of the verb be plus a past participle, as was cooled.
3. The subject of the active verb may be made the object of the preposition by, or it may be suppressed.
4. In the passive, two grammatical meanings are shifted around. The performer of the action, chef, is now the object of the preposition, and the undergoer, meal, is the subject.
rb
The girl bought a dress.
In pattern 4 the verb is transitive and is completed by a noun phrase, for which one can readily substitute him, her, it, or them. This noun phrase is called the direct object of the verb and has the grammatical meaning of 'undergoer of the action' or 'that affected by the verb.'
A direct object does not always experience any actual action. e.g. 'We heard the radio' in which 'the radio' is the direct object but does not experience any real action.
Normally the direct object is not the same person or thing as the subject. However, with two kinds of pronouns, the direct object does have the same referent as the subject.
One is the set of -self/-selves pronouns, generally known as the reflexive pronouns. These occur as direct object in sentences such as: e.g. i]She saw herself. iii]The lifeguards splashed themselves.
The other set consists of the reciprocal pronouns each other and one another, which function as direct objects in such sentences as: e.g. i]They found each other. ii] They fought one another.
Transitive/Intransitive verb:
Iv: She sang beautifully. Tv: She sang a beautiful folk song.
Iv only: The ship had vanished. Tv only: We enjoyed the party.
A transitive verb has two forms, which we call active and passive. The active form is the one that is followed by the direct object, which we have seen in pattern 4. From this active form we can make the passive form: e.g. Active: The chef cooked the meal. Passive: The meal was cooked [by the chef]
In this process there are four things to notice:
1. The object of the active form becomes the subject of the passive form. This is shown above
in the shift of meal.
2. The passive is made up of a form of the verb be plus a past participle, as was cooled.
3. The subject of the active verb may be made the object of the preposition by, or it may be suppressed.
4. In the passive, two grammatical meanings are shifted around. The performer of the action, chef, is now the object of the preposition, and the undergoer, meal, is the subject.
rb
Basic Sentence Pattern 3
"Pattern 3: SVA [Subject + Verb + ADverbial
The girl is here.
Pattern 3 usually consists of a subject followed by a form of be and an adverb or other word or words that can occupy the same kind of syntactic position and perform an equivalent function to an adverb.
Sometimes the pattern involves an intransitive verb such as reside followed by an obligatory adverbial as in 'The president resides on this street.'
Important differences between Pattern 3 and Subpattern 2A:
1. The verb be in this pattern usually has the meaning of 'be located' or 'occur.'
2. Pattern 3 is not capable of taking the subpattern 2A expansion.
3. The third position is occupied by an adverbial rather than an adjectival. Words of this type are typically uninflected words and include here, there, up, down, in, out, inside, outside, upstairs, downstairs, on, off, now, then, tomorrow, yesterday, over, through, above, below, before, after.
Up, in, and out are partially and/or irregularly inflected with the forms upper, uppermost, inner, inmost, innermost, outer, outermost, utmost, outmost. For most words in the third position one can substitute there or then.
Examples: The pingpong table is downstairs. / The game was yesterday. / The balls are outdoors.
Often a prepositional phrase with a there or then meaning will occupy the third position.
Examples: The wolf is at the door. / The game will be at three o'clock.
Examples of Pattern 3:
1. The picnickers was outside.
2. They are on the lawn.
3. Our appointment is now.
4. The batter is tall. 2A
5. The batter is inside.
rb"
The girl is here.
Pattern 3 usually consists of a subject followed by a form of be and an adverb or other word or words that can occupy the same kind of syntactic position and perform an equivalent function to an adverb.
Sometimes the pattern involves an intransitive verb such as reside followed by an obligatory adverbial as in 'The president resides on this street.'
Important differences between Pattern 3 and Subpattern 2A:
1. The verb be in this pattern usually has the meaning of 'be located' or 'occur.'
2. Pattern 3 is not capable of taking the subpattern 2A expansion.
3. The third position is occupied by an adverbial rather than an adjectival. Words of this type are typically uninflected words and include here, there, up, down, in, out, inside, outside, upstairs, downstairs, on, off, now, then, tomorrow, yesterday, over, through, above, below, before, after.
Up, in, and out are partially and/or irregularly inflected with the forms upper, uppermost, inner, inmost, innermost, outer, outermost, utmost, outmost. For most words in the third position one can substitute there or then.
Examples: The pingpong table is downstairs. / The game was yesterday. / The balls are outdoors.
Often a prepositional phrase with a there or then meaning will occupy the third position.
Examples: The wolf is at the door. / The game will be at three o'clock.
Examples of Pattern 3:
1. The picnickers was outside.
2. They are on the lawn.
3. Our appointment is now.
4. The batter is tall. 2A
5. The batter is inside.
rb"
Basic Sentence Pattern 2 [2A & 2B]
Pattern 2: SVC [Subject + Verb + Subjective Complement]
1. The program became elaborate. 2. Our friend is a senator.
The term Complement is broadly used for referring to an element that is necessary to complete a phrase, but as we label sentence patterns we wll be using the term more specifically to refer to either a subjective or objective complement.
The complement is a subjective complement, describing or identifying the subject of the sentence. The subjective complement is joined to the subject with a linking verb.
Two main subpatterns:
1. Subpattern 2A: NP + Linking Verb + Adjective
1. The food is good. 2. The manager seems upset.
The third term must be an adjective or adjectival [adjective-like element].
The verb must be a linking verb. In addition to be [or one of its forms] the set of linking verbs includes the following verbs or their respective forms: seem, appear, become, grow, remain, taste, look, feel, smell, sound, get, continue, or go.
The tests how to recognize and distinguish subpattern 2A from other patterns containg the same verbs:
1. It involves expansion:
e.g. a. That food is good > That good food is very good. b. That food is poisonous > That poisonous food is very poisonous.
If a sentence will not undergo this expansion, it usually belongs to some pattern other than subpattern 2A. e.g. My mother is outside. If it cannot be expanded to My outside mother is very outside. <> John appeared weary. [John seemed weary]; Subject + Verb + Adverbial > John grew quickly. [John seemed quickly.]
In the examples above, the first sentence is a subpattern 2A and involves a linking verb that could replace its main verb with a form of seem, whereas the second one does not.
Linking verbs may of course be preceded by auxiliaries. e.g. The party may become lively. Your sister must have seemed friendly.
The second subpattern of 2 is
Subpattern 2B: NP + Linking Verb + NP
1. My friend is a doctor. 2. The girl remained a good student.
The superscript after the second NP indicates that this noun phrase has the same referent as the first noun phrase; that is, in the first sentence both my friend and a doctor refer to the same person, and in the second sentence both the girl and a good student refer to the same person.
The linking verbs in subpattern 2B mean "be identified or classified as." The first NP [subject] has the grammatical meaning of "that which is identified." The second NP means grammatically "that which identifies the subject" and is a subjective complement just as the adjective is in subpattern 2A.
The linking verbs that may occupy the verbal position are be, remain, become, appear, seem, continue, stay, and make.
Subpattern 2B should not be confused with those in which the noun phrase after the verb does not have the same referent as the first noun phrase.
Examples: 2B Donald continued my friend, despite our differences.
other Donald met my friend in the barber shop.
2B My brother became a doctor.
other My brother was seeking a doctor.
Pronoun can also serve as a subjective complement besides Noun as in sentence "This is she." This observation does not invalidate our structural description of subpattern 2B because, as you will probably recall, the term noun phrase does not include only nouns but can also be used to refer to pronouns.
The subjective complement essentially renames the subject of the sentence, the traditional prescriptive grammar rule requires that any pronoun being used as a subjective complement use the subject form of the pronoun.
We would not say "This is her" but rather "This is she" because her is an object form.
rb
1. The program became elaborate. 2. Our friend is a senator.
The term Complement is broadly used for referring to an element that is necessary to complete a phrase, but as we label sentence patterns we wll be using the term more specifically to refer to either a subjective or objective complement.
The complement is a subjective complement, describing or identifying the subject of the sentence. The subjective complement is joined to the subject with a linking verb.
Two main subpatterns:
1. Subpattern 2A: NP + Linking Verb + Adjective
1. The food is good. 2. The manager seems upset.
The third term must be an adjective or adjectival [adjective-like element].
The verb must be a linking verb. In addition to be [or one of its forms] the set of linking verbs includes the following verbs or their respective forms: seem, appear, become, grow, remain, taste, look, feel, smell, sound, get, continue, or go.
The tests how to recognize and distinguish subpattern 2A from other patterns containg the same verbs:
1. It involves expansion:
e.g. a. That food is good > That good food is very good. b. That food is poisonous > That poisonous food is very poisonous.
If a sentence will not undergo this expansion, it usually belongs to some pattern other than subpattern 2A. e.g. My mother is outside. If it cannot be expanded to My outside mother is very outside. <> John appeared weary. [John seemed weary]; Subject + Verb + Adverbial > John grew quickly. [John seemed quickly.]
In the examples above, the first sentence is a subpattern 2A and involves a linking verb that could replace its main verb with a form of seem, whereas the second one does not.
Linking verbs may of course be preceded by auxiliaries. e.g. The party may become lively. Your sister must have seemed friendly.
The second subpattern of 2 is
Subpattern 2B: NP + Linking Verb + NP
1. My friend is a doctor. 2. The girl remained a good student.
The superscript after the second NP indicates that this noun phrase has the same referent as the first noun phrase; that is, in the first sentence both my friend and a doctor refer to the same person, and in the second sentence both the girl and a good student refer to the same person.
The linking verbs in subpattern 2B mean "be identified or classified as." The first NP [subject] has the grammatical meaning of "that which is identified." The second NP means grammatically "that which identifies the subject" and is a subjective complement just as the adjective is in subpattern 2A.
The linking verbs that may occupy the verbal position are be, remain, become, appear, seem, continue, stay, and make.
Subpattern 2B should not be confused with those in which the noun phrase after the verb does not have the same referent as the first noun phrase.
Examples: 2B Donald continued my friend, despite our differences.
other Donald met my friend in the barber shop.
2B My brother became a doctor.
other My brother was seeking a doctor.
Pronoun can also serve as a subjective complement besides Noun as in sentence "This is she." This observation does not invalidate our structural description of subpattern 2B because, as you will probably recall, the term noun phrase does not include only nouns but can also be used to refer to pronouns.
The subjective complement essentially renames the subject of the sentence, the traditional prescriptive grammar rule requires that any pronoun being used as a subjective complement use the subject form of the pronoun.
We would not say "This is her" but rather "This is she" because her is an object form.
rb
Basic Sentence Pattern 1
"BASIC SENTENCE PATTERNS
Pattern 1: SV [Subject + Verb]
1. Our girls smile.
The subject always occurs in the first noun phrase position.
The subject performs the action.
The verb in pattern 1 is Intransitive. It can stand alone with its subject.
Examples: 1. The sportsman fished. 2. The sportsmen were fishing.
The verb can be modified by words and word groups known as adverbs and adverbials. Examples: 1. The sportsmen fished early. 2. The sportsmen were fishing in the stream. 3. The sportsmen were fishing when we drove up.
An Intransitive verb is usually not completed by a noun phrase [which could involve a noun or pronoun]. Example: 1. They finished late. [finished is intransitive] 2. They finished the game. 3. They finished it.
2 & 3, finished is not intransitive because it is completed by a noun phrase. If a word following the verb is a modifier that goes with an intransitive verb or a completer of a transitive verb. Completers are him, her, it, or them.
Examples: 1. He hammered fast. 2. He hammered the nail. In the second sentence, He hammered it is a suitable equivalent for He hammered the nail. The first hammered is Intransitive and the second one transitive.
Intransitive Verb sentences are examples of pattern 1, an SV sentence pattern..
1. The audience clapped.
2. The audience clapped loudly.
3. The audience clapped loudly after the main act.
rb"
Pattern 1: SV [Subject + Verb]
1. Our girls smile.
The subject always occurs in the first noun phrase position.
The subject performs the action.
The verb in pattern 1 is Intransitive. It can stand alone with its subject.
Examples: 1. The sportsman fished. 2. The sportsmen were fishing.
The verb can be modified by words and word groups known as adverbs and adverbials. Examples: 1. The sportsmen fished early. 2. The sportsmen were fishing in the stream. 3. The sportsmen were fishing when we drove up.
An Intransitive verb is usually not completed by a noun phrase [which could involve a noun or pronoun]. Example: 1. They finished late. [finished is intransitive] 2. They finished the game. 3. They finished it.
2 & 3, finished is not intransitive because it is completed by a noun phrase. If a word following the verb is a modifier that goes with an intransitive verb or a completer of a transitive verb. Completers are him, her, it, or them.
Examples: 1. He hammered fast. 2. He hammered the nail. In the second sentence, He hammered it is a suitable equivalent for He hammered the nail. The first hammered is Intransitive and the second one transitive.
Intransitive Verb sentences are examples of pattern 1, an SV sentence pattern..
1. The audience clapped.
2. The audience clapped loudly.
3. The audience clapped loudly after the main act.
rb"
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Scrambled Sentences
Rearrange each sentence's words and write them in the correct order. Use correct punctuation.
1. Did glass shatter the?
= Did the glass shatter?
2. please door you go Before the lock.
= Before you go, please lock the door.
3. Our for fifteen warm up minutes us to coach told.
= Our coach told us to warm up for fifteen minutes.
4. water swimming let's go warm is Since the.
= Since the water is warm, let's go swimming.
5. shop repair in are Both cars the.
= Both cars are in the repair shop.
6. room fan Will entire the cool this?
= Will this fan cool the entire room?
7. The garage is hammock the in.
= The hammock is in the garage.
8. and then envelope the Seal it mail.
= Seal the envelope and then mail it.
9. movie drama and police officers about is a The work their
= The movie is a drama about police officers and their work.
10. These CD's bought I ever the are best have new
= These new CD's are the best I have ever bought.
rb
1. Did glass shatter the?
= Did the glass shatter?
2. please door you go Before the lock.
= Before you go, please lock the door.
3. Our for fifteen warm up minutes us to coach told.
= Our coach told us to warm up for fifteen minutes.
4. water swimming let's go warm is Since the.
= Since the water is warm, let's go swimming.
5. shop repair in are Both cars the.
= Both cars are in the repair shop.
6. room fan Will entire the cool this?
= Will this fan cool the entire room?
7. The garage is hammock the in.
= The hammock is in the garage.
8. and then envelope the Seal it mail.
= Seal the envelope and then mail it.
9. movie drama and police officers about is a The work their
= The movie is a drama about police officers and their work.
10. These CD's bought I ever the are best have new
= These new CD's are the best I have ever bought.
rb
Friday, February 20, 2009
The Proper Arrangement
Rearrange each jumbled sentence's words so that the sentence reads correctly.
1. served at was o'clock promptly seven Dinner.
= Dinner was served promptly at seven o'clock.
2. from received groups funds different had They.
= They had received funds from different groups.
3. the people stranded storm At least by seventy were.
= At least seventy people were stranded by the storm.
4. could laugh his humorous The easily make teachers student.
= The humorous student could easily make his teachers laugh.
5. economy is declining challenging Dealing a with.
= Dealing with a declining economy is challenging.
6. bicentennial invited Our officials town's our foreign to dignitaries.
= Our officials invited foreign dignitaries to our town's bicentennial.
7. fast can't build accommodate We to enough rising population the houses.
= We can't build houses fast enough to accommodate the rising population.
8. Bobby and his colleagues of pay raises for most asked.
= Bobby and most of his colleagues asked for pay raises.
9. Be clams them eating cook these sure to before.
= Be sure to cook these clams before eating them.
10. for the customers confusing new fees produced charges Hidden.
= Hidden charges produced confusing new fees for the customers.
rb
1. served at was o'clock promptly seven Dinner.
= Dinner was served promptly at seven o'clock.
2. from received groups funds different had They.
= They had received funds from different groups.
3. the people stranded storm At least by seventy were.
= At least seventy people were stranded by the storm.
4. could laugh his humorous The easily make teachers student.
= The humorous student could easily make his teachers laugh.
5. economy is declining challenging Dealing a with.
= Dealing with a declining economy is challenging.
6. bicentennial invited Our officials town's our foreign to dignitaries.
= Our officials invited foreign dignitaries to our town's bicentennial.
7. fast can't build accommodate We to enough rising population the houses.
= We can't build houses fast enough to accommodate the rising population.
8. Bobby and his colleagues of pay raises for most asked.
= Bobby and most of his colleagues asked for pay raises.
9. Be clams them eating cook these sure to before.
= Be sure to cook these clams before eating them.
10. for the customers confusing new fees produced charges Hidden.
= Hidden charges produced confusing new fees for the customers.
rb
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
