Aplicación de Cytokin

Activity B7.2:

Phrasal verbs: 2, 4, 6, 7 Prepositional verbs: 1, 3, 5

Break down in sentence 7 is a phrasal verb, even though the particle down cannot be moved.

This is because it is an intransitive verb with no object (as many phrasal verbs are).

Activity B7.3: Sentence 4 is wrong: the object it should not come after the particle in.

The word order in 3 is correct.

Activity B7.4: Both are correct, but for very different reasons. They have different meanings; in sentence 1 turn on is a prepositional verb meaning ‘attack’, while in sentence 2 it is a phrasal verb meaning ‘excite’. In 2 the particle has been obligatorily moved after the object, which is why 1 could only be prepositional. (If we used a noun phrase instead then it would be ambiguous: They turned on the audience.)

VERB PATTERNS

As we have seen, it is the verb that determines the structure of clauses: which elements can be included and which cannot. This mainly involves the use of objects, predica-tives and (to a small extent) adverbials, but can also be extended to subjects (e.g. to the use of there and it, as in It is raining and There seems to be a problem). This is the

‘pattern’ of the verb. (It is sometimes called ‘verb complementation’.)

For example, in addition to a direct object, say allows a prepositional object but not an indirect object, which tell does allow:

I said something to her and not ‘I said her something’.

I told her something.

And discriminate requires a prepositional object, not a direct object (in standard English):

They discriminated against him/He was discriminated against.

B8.1 Five patterns

It is common to classify verbs into five types, according to the pattern that they occur in: intransitive, link, link transitive, monotransitive and ditransitive. However, individual verbs, especially the more common ones, occur in more than one pattern (as we saw with verbs that can be both transitive and intransitive in C6), so it is more accurate to specify which patterns verbs are used in. Indeed, we can go further and identify a number of sub-patterns involving the following types of elements:

phrases (noun, adjective, prepositional)

❏

subordinate finite clauses (beginning with

❏ that or wh-words)

B8

non-finite clauses beginning with infinitives and participles

Intransitive patterns (i.e. with the clause structure SV) I’ve been walking.

We can also include ergative verbs here (see C7):

The lesson ended.

Link (copular) patterns (i.e. with the clause structure SVPs) These verbs have three types of subject predicative:

an adjective phrase:

❏ The girl seemed restless.

Typical verbs: be, appear, feel, look, seem, smell, sound, taste, remain, keep, stay, become, get, go, grow, prove, turn, end up

a noun phrase:

❏ William is my friend.

Typical verbs: be, appear, feel, seem, remain, become a

❏ wh- word clause: He is what we need.

It is usual to include cases where there is an obligatory adverbial in this category (although they are SVA):

The kitchen is downstairs. She is lying on the grass.

Link transitive patterns (i.e. with the clause structure SVOPo)

These generally have a noun phrase as their object, but there are a number of differ-ent elemdiffer-ents that can function as the object predicative, depending on the verb:

an adjective phrase:

❏ We painted it red.

a noun phrase:

❏ They elected him President.

a

❏ to infinitive clause: They forced him to leave.

a bare infinitive clause:

❏ I saw her leave the room.

Typical verbs: have, let, make, feel, hear, see, watch, help an

❏ -ing participle clause: I heard someone shouting.

Typical verbs: feel, hear, notice, see, smell, watch, catch, discover, find, have an

❏ -ed participle clause: f ) I got the watch repaired.

Typical verbs: get, have, want, need, like, see, hear, watch

It is usual to include cases with an object and obligatory adverbial (i.e. SVOA) in this category:

I put it in the cupboard.

Note how verbs of perception have a choice between infinitive and -ing participle, e.g.:

I saw him run/running.

with a difference in meaning (a complete action vs an activity in progress).

V E R B PAT T E R N S 115

Some link and link transitive verbs are closely associated with their predica-tives, in that they may just have a few adjectives that they co-occur with.

Complete these sentences with a subject or object predicative chosen from the list on the right. Think of other adjectives that could be used in these patterns.

1. They’re driving me __________ . guilty

2. It tastes __________ . responsible

3. The judge pronounced him __________ . warmer 4. Day by day the weather grew ________ . silent 5. We hold you __________ . delicious 6. In the end, it proved __________ . alone 7. Please leave me __________ . crazy 8. They remained __________ . impossible

Monotransitive patterns (i.e. with the clause structure SVO)

These have a range of direct objects, depending on the particular verb. These

❏ wh- word clause: Can you guess what she said?

a

❏ wh- word plus to infinitive clause: I learned how to sail a boat.

a

❏ to infinitive clause: We’ve decided to move house.

a

❏ to infinitive clause, with ‘subject’: They want us to help.

an

❏ -ing clause: She enjoys playing tennis.

an

❏ -ing clause, with ‘subject’: I hate the children quarrelling.

a quote: ‘

❏ Leave me alone!’ he said.

As we have seen there can also be a prepositional object (Oi):

They laughed at me.

Ditransitive patterns (i.e. with the clause structure SVOO)

Typically the first element is a noun phrase but there is a variety of second elements.

There are four main combinations:

1. An indirect object followed by a direct object which is:

a noun phrase:

❏ She gave the girl a doll.

a

❏ wh- word clause: I told him what we were doing.

a

❏ to infinitive clause: They advised us to leave.

Typical verbs: advise, ask, forbid, invite, order, persuade, remind, teach, tell a

❏ wh- word plus to infinitive clause: I told him what to do.

Typical verbs: advise, ask, remind, show, teach, tell

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Activity B8.1

a

❏ that clause: You promised us that you would come.

a quote:

❏ ‘I’m used to it’, I told him.

2. A prepositional object followed by a direct object which is:

a

❏ that clause: He wrote to me that he was coming.

a

❏ wh- word clause: She described to me what was happening.

3. A direct object followed by a prepositional object:

He described the situation to everyone.

4. An indirect object followed by a prepositional object: She told him about the secret.

You may have noticed that some of the different patterns above appear to be identical in that there is a pronoun and a to infinitive following the verb in each case e.g.

1. They forced him to leave. (link transitive) 2. They want us to help. (monotransitive) 3. They advised us to leave. (ditransitive)

However, we can discover the differences by trying to ask questions.

First of all, try to make a wh- interrogative by replacing everything after the verb. Then, where it is not possible, try to make a wh- interrogative by replacing the two separate parts.

B8.2 Describing verbs

The different patterns and sub-patterns above can be used to establish a picture of the various ways in which a verb is used. It is often assumed that a verb is used in only one pattern; for example, that run is only an intransitive verb (meaning a particular way of moving). But in fact it is also common as a monotransitive verb:

She’s been running businesses since she was 16.

Note the different meaning here. It is quite common for different patterns to be associated with different meanings. Also, the more common verbs are, the more likely they are to have different patterns.

We also saw with verbs of perception (see etc.) under link transitive verbs that the sub-pattern itself may imply a different meaning. Here is another example.

He remembered putting the keys in his pocket.

He remembered to put the keys in his pocket.

Here the first example he put the keys in his pocket and he remembered doing this;

in the second he remembered that he was supposed to put the keys in his pocket (so he did).

Look at the six sub-patterns above under ‘Ditransitive patterns’, combination 1 (indirect object followed by direct object). Which apply to the verb warn?

Activity B8.2

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Activity B8.3

✪

V E R B PAT T E R N S 117

Think of which patterns these verbs can be used in; give examples:

look, stand, find, tell

Remember that the above examples show single-word verbs, but the patterns can also apply to phrasal and prepositional verbs (see B7). You do not always need the level of detail in the list above.

B8.3 Conclusion

For learners of English a knowledge of the patterns that each verb can occur in is of vital importance. However, the most common verbs occur in many sub-patterns, and it would take a long book to describe all of them. Many can be predicted because of the semantic nature of the verb, but many cannot.

Learners tend to take one of two extreme positions. Some use a verb in only one pattern, ignoring all the other possibilities, with the result that their English is correct but very limited. Others assume that all patterns are available with every verb, resulting in errors.

A final activity can drive home this point.

Which of the following verbs can appear in the gap below?

described, told, informed, explained I __________ her my problem.

Comments

Activity B8.1: 1 crazy; 2 delicious; 3 guilty; 4 warmer; 5 responsible; 6 impossible;

7 alone; 8 silent Activity B8.2:

1. Not possible: ‘What did they force?’ i.e. it is not monotransitive.

2. Possible: What do they want? (Us to help) i.e. it is monotransitive.

3. Not possible: What did they advise? i.e. it is not monotransitive. (This would be a feasible question if the answer involved one element e.g. a bath, but not us to leave.) When the elements are treated separately, in a) only him can be questioned:

Who did they force to leave?

But this is not possible with force to leave (‘What did they force him?’), showing that it is a predicative and the pattern is link transitive (see Activity A8.5). On the other hand, in c) both elements can be questioned:

What did they advise us? (to leave) Who did they advise to leave? (us) This shows that there are two objects.

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Activity B8.4

✪

Activity B8.5

Activity B8.3: These are the possibilities (with the indirect object also underlined):

a

❏ to infinitive clause: They warned us to avoid uncooked vegetables.

a

❏ wh- word plus to infinitive clause: They warned us what not to eat.

a

❏ that clause: They warned us that a storm was coming.

a quote:

❏ ‘Stop messing around!’ I warned them.

There are, of course, other ditransitive patterns, for example, an indirect object followed by prepositional object:

I warned them against taking me for granted.

Activity B8.4: Here are just some of the more obvious patterns for these verbs; you may have thought of others:

LOOK: He looks tired. link

We looked away. intransitive, phrasal

He looked at her. monotransitive, prepositional She looked after him. monotransitive, prepositional I looked up the word. monotransitive, phrasal We look up to them. monotransitive, phrasal-

prepositional STAND: I’ve been standing here for ages. intransitive

The house stands on the corner. link (with obligatory adverbial) I can’t stand them. (= ‘tolerate’) monotransitive

I won’t stand for such behaviour. monotransitive, prepositional He’s standing for re-election. monotransitive, prepositional Let me stand you a drink. (= ‘buy’) ditransitive (Oi + Od)

FIND: I found your ring. monotransitive

We’ve found you a job. ditransitive (Oi + Od) We’ve found a job for you. ditransitive (Od + Op) I find it very amusing. link transitive

We found the children watching TV. link transitive (with -ing clause as Po)

He’s found out the truth. monotransitive, phrasal TELL: The pressure has told on him. monotransitive, prepositional

The book tells of his health problems. monotransitive, prepositional You’ve been telling lies. monotransitive

He told them a long story. ditransitive (Oi + Od) She told the audience about her mother. ditransitive (Oi + Op)

We told them to go home/where to go/ ditransitive (Oi + Od, consisting where we would be waiting. of to infinitive clause/wh- word

+ to infinitive clause/wh- word clause

Activity B8.5: Only told is possible. For the others we would have to use other patterns:

I described/explained the problem to her. (Od + Op) I informed her about the problem. (Oi + Op) See also Activity B12.2 in B12.

In document UNIVERSIDAD TÉCNICA DEL NORTE (página 41-0)