Verb Patterns (1)

H. The structure of the clause depends on the verb.
a. An intransitive verb has the structure, the clause is complete without anything else. (e.g. John smiled): N(=noun) + V(=verb)
b. A transitive verb has the structure, transitive verbs have a noun phrase as object. (e.g. John (Noun phrase (Subject)) wanted (Verb phrase) a new bicycle (Noun phrase (Object)): N + V + N (e.g. We had been playing football.)
c. A link verb has the structure, some verbs are followed by an adjective phrase. The adjective phrase is called the complement. This pattern is N + V + Adj. (e.g. I (Noun phrase (Subject)) am feeling (Verb phrase) hungry (Adjective phrase (complement)) She looked happy.)
d. Some link verbs (be, become, seem, etc.) can have a noun phrase as a complement. This pattern is N + V + N. (e.g. Our neighbour (Noun phrase (Subject)) was (Verb phrase) a strange man (Noun phrase (complement)))
e. A phrasal verb has the structure: N + V + p + N (e.g. She gave back the money.) or N + V + N + p (e.g. She gave the money back.)

 

more Verbs ...

Idiom 365

Back to the Drawing Board: to start something again from beginning because the first plan failed
Example: Your plan doesn't look to be work. Back to the drawing board.

more Idioms ...