Page 195 - DENG401_Advance Communication Skills

Advanced Communication Skills

Notes
10. NP + V-tr + NP + NP : The action verb is followed by a direct object. The direct
1 2 2
object is followed by a noun functioning as an objective complement. The second
NP, the direct object, receives a different numerical designation (NP2) because it is
not the same as the subject (NP1). The third NP, the objective complement, receives
the same numerical designation as the direct object (NP2) because it is the same as
the direct object.
10.5 The Sentence: Six Basic Patterns Built on Verb Types

Basic sentence patterns are built around verbs. There are six different verb types that are followed
by structures always associated with those verbs. Therefore, there are six basic sentence patterns,
which are also called sentence nuclei. Once these basic patterns are understood, other structures
may be attached to the sentence nuclei to form larger sentences. These other structures added to
the sentence nuclei are usually phrases or clauses that function as nouns, verbs, adjective and
adverbs.

1. The first verb type is called “intransitive.” This type of verb can end the sentence, or it can
be followed by an adverb phrase. Intransitive verbs do not need to be followed by noun
phrases or adjective phrases.
(a) The president spoke.
(b) Margo slept.
(c) Margo slept soundly.

(d) The small boy jumped from the high oak tree.
(e) Jimmy went to London.
2. The second verb type is called “linking.” This type of verb must be followed by noun
phrases or adjective phrases, which refer to the same person or thing as the subject of the
sentence. Some typical linking verbs are become, appear, grow, remain, stay, and seem. Some
other linking verbs involving the senses are feel, look, smell, sound, and taste. Note that the
forms of the verb “be” are placed in a special category below, because forms of “be,”
unlike other linking verbs, can be followed immediately by an “adverb of place.”
(a) Clark Kent became Superman.
(b) The president looked weary.
(c) Jamal remained an honest man.

3. The third verb type is the word “be” and all its forms, which is a special category of
linking verb. The verb “be,” unlike other linking verbs, can be followed by a phrase
functioning as an “adverb of place,” in addition to the noun phrases or adjective phrases
that follow other types of linking verbs. The word “be” has eight forms: be, is, am, are, was,
were, been, being.
(a) The student is a math whiz.
(b) Marilyn was insecure.
(c) The new houses are around the corner. (The verb is followed by a phrase functioning
as an adverb of place.)
4. The fourth verb type is “one-place transitive.” This verb must be followed by a noun
phrase that functions as a direct object. Often the subject “does something” to this object.

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