intransitive verbs
Some verbs require objects or complements to express a complete thought; intransitive verbs do not.
An intransitive verb is an action verb that can end a sentence or, perhaps, have an adverb after it. An intransitive verb will not have a direct object.
Sentence Pattern:
An intransitive verb is an action verb that can end a sentence or, perhaps, have an adverb after it. An intransitive verb will not have a direct object.
Sentence Pattern:
EXAMPLES: Mr. Silvidi laughed.
Mr. Susick whistled well.
Mrs. Coon performed in Romeo and Juliet.
Mr. Susick whistled well.
Mrs. Coon performed in Romeo and Juliet.
transitive verbs
A transitive verb is an action verb that has a noun or pronoun functioning as a direct object after it.
A direct object is a noun or pronoun that answers the question What? or Whom? after a transitive verb. It receives the action of that transitive verb. The direct object will not be found in a prepositional phrase. To find the direct object, take the subject and verb and then ask, “What?” or “Whom?”
Sentence Pattern:
A direct object is a noun or pronoun that answers the question What? or Whom? after a transitive verb. It receives the action of that transitive verb. The direct object will not be found in a prepositional phrase. To find the direct object, take the subject and verb and then ask, “What?” or “Whom?”
Sentence Pattern:
EXAMPLES: Mr. DiCaprio played his guitar.
Mr. Hayes explained the concept.
Mrs. Fagnilli brought her daughter to the museum.
Mr. Hayes explained the concept.
Mrs. Fagnilli brought her daughter to the museum.
two-place transitive verbs
Two-place transitive verbs are action verbs that have not only a direct object but also another complement, either an indirect object or object complement.
Vg Verbs: Many two-place transitive verbs act like the verb give, such as these:
Vg Verbs: Many two-place transitive verbs act like the verb give, such as these:
ask |
award |
bring |
buy |
earn |
give |
lend |
make |
send |
show |
teach |
tell |
throw |
write |
This type of transitive verb may have an indirect object and then a direct object.
An indirect object is a noun or pronoun that answers the question To whom? or For whom? after a transitive verb. The indirect object will not be found in a prepositional phrase. To find the indirect object, take the subject and verb and direct object and then ask, “To whom?” or “For whom?”
Vg Verbs Have This Sentence Pattern:
An indirect object is a noun or pronoun that answers the question To whom? or For whom? after a transitive verb. The indirect object will not be found in a prepositional phrase. To find the indirect object, take the subject and verb and direct object and then ask, “To whom?” or “For whom?”
Vg Verbs Have This Sentence Pattern:
EXAMPLES: Mrs. Coon gave the audience an inspirational message.
Mrs. Lovaty assigned the class a video project.
Ms. Haynam threw me a Jolly Rancher.
NOT: Mrs. Lovaty assigned a video project to the class. (Ignoring "to the class" as a prepositional phrase, project is a direct object for the transitive verb assigned.
Vc Verbs: Many two-place transitive verbs act like the verb consider, such as these:
Mrs. Lovaty assigned the class a video project.
Ms. Haynam threw me a Jolly Rancher.
NOT: Mrs. Lovaty assigned a video project to the class. (Ignoring "to the class" as a prepositional phrase, project is a direct object for the transitive verb assigned.
Vc Verbs: Many two-place transitive verbs act like the verb consider, such as these:
appoint |
call |
choose |
consider |
elect |
find |
make |
name |
render |
view |
This type of transitive verb may have a direct object and then an object complement .
An object complement is a noun, pronoun, or adjective that answers the question To be what? after a direct object. The object complement generally follows a direct object and completes the meaning of the sentence. The object complement will not be found in a prepositional phrase. To find the object complement, take the subject and verb and direct object and then ask, “To be what?”
Vc Verbs Have This Sentence Pattern:
An object complement is a noun, pronoun, or adjective that answers the question To be what? after a direct object. The object complement generally follows a direct object and completes the meaning of the sentence. The object complement will not be found in a prepositional phrase. To find the object complement, take the subject and verb and direct object and then ask, “To be what?”
Vc Verbs Have This Sentence Pattern:
EXAMPLES: Mr. Silvidi considers the Beatles a great band.
Mr. DiCaprio also finds them amazing.
Ms. Haynam considers Blossom Music Center an awesome concert venue.
Mr. DiCaprio also finds them amazing.
Ms. Haynam considers Blossom Music Center an awesome concert venue.
linking verbs
A linking verb needs a subject complement (predicate nominative, predicate adjective, predicate adverb) to complete the thought.
A predicate nominative is a noun or pronoun following a linking verb and renaming the subject.
EXAMPLES: Mrs. Beshara is the library media specialist.
Mr. Susick was a children’s book writer.
A predicate adjective is an adjective following a linking verb and modifying the subject.
EXAMPLES: Mrs. Fagnilli’s salad tasted scrumptious.
Mrs. Lovaty’s breakfast casserole seemed tasty.
A predicate adverb is an adverb or adverb phrase following a BE-verb and indicating Where?
EXAMPLES: Mrs. Fagnilli was here.
Ms. Haynam was at the movies.
The English office is down the hallway.
Sentence Patterns:
EXAMPLES: Mrs. Beshara is the library media specialist.
Mr. Susick was a children’s book writer.
A predicate adjective is an adjective following a linking verb and modifying the subject.
EXAMPLES: Mrs. Fagnilli’s salad tasted scrumptious.
Mrs. Lovaty’s breakfast casserole seemed tasty.
A predicate adverb is an adverb or adverb phrase following a BE-verb and indicating Where?
EXAMPLES: Mrs. Fagnilli was here.
Ms. Haynam was at the movies.
The English office is down the hallway.
Sentence Patterns:
To emphasize a point, try placing a complement at the beginning of a sentence.
EXAMPLES:
- I can enjoy any kind of donut on occasion. I enjoy Krispy Kreme the most.
- I can enjoy any kind of donut on occasion. Krispy Kreme, however, I enjoy the most.
- I love life with technology. I despise two percent battery life.
- I love life with technology. Two percent battery life, I despise.
- I saw Hamilton in Cleveland. I saw Cats on Broadway.
- I saw Hamilton in Cleveland. Cats I saw on Broadway.