The Intransitive Verb Pattern

Ed McCorduckEnglish 402--GrammarSUNY Cortland http://mccorduck.cortland.edu

Pattern VI

NP V-int(subj) (pred vb)

“V-int” is intransitive verb

intransitive: • does not take an object (traditional grammar definition)• does not require a direct object or a complement (descriptive grammar definition)

slide 2: Pattern IV

English 402: Grammar

exx

Jesus | wept.

The boat | has sailed.

The City of Light | may have fallen.

slide 3: examples of Pattern VI sentences with intransitive verbs

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slide 4: Reed-Kellogg diagram of a Pattern VI sentence

English 402: Grammar

As illustrated in the “Sentences” lecture, the basic structure of a Reed-Kellogg diagram of a Pattern VI sentence with an intransitive verb is relatively simple. Here again is the diagram of the sentence Jesus wept:

Extra adverbials (see the previous lecture “Optional Slots”) can be added to Pattern VI sentences:

Jesus wept softly. optional adverbial

The boat has sailed into the horizon. optional adverbial

The City of Light fell June 14, 1940. optional adverbial

slide 5: optional adverbials in Pattern VI sentences

English 402: Grammar

Compare Pattern I sentences where the ADV/TP is required (i.e., not optional):

*Farnsworth is. (ungrammatical because be requires a following

ADV/TP)

Farnsworth is late. adverbial of time

Farnsworth is here. adverbial of place

slide 6: Pattern I adverbial requirement

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Compare Pattern I sentences where the ADV/TP is required (i.e., not optional):

*Farnsworth is quickly. (ungrammatical because quickly is an adverbial of manner, which

cannot occur after be) *Farnsworth is often. (ungrammatical because often is an adverbial of frequency, which cannot occur after be)

*Farnsworth is from greed. (ungrammatical because from

greed is an adverbial of reason/cause/purpose, which cannot occur after be)

slide 7: ungrammaticality of some adverbials with Pattern I sentences

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But such adverbials can occur freely in Pattern VI sentences:

Farnsworth worked quickly.Farnsworth cried often.Farnsworth cheated from greed.

slide 8: illustration of adverbials’ freedom of occurrence in Pattern VI sentences

English 402: Grammar