Syntax | Homework
1. Identify all the verbs and say if they are transitive (what type of transitive) or intransitive
Do you want any help? No, thanks. I can manage perfectly well on my own.
- want – transitive | monotransitive
- manage – intransitive
He had been managing the business for 6 years before it made a profit.
- managing – transitive | transitive + PP
- made – transitive | monotransitive
She runs a bed-and-breakfast establishment in London.
- runs – transitive | monotransitive
The bull was chasing him so he ran as quickly as he could.
- chasing – transitive | monotransitive
- ran – intransitive | intransitive + AdvP
They haven’t raised the standard of living much, but I still support the government.
- raised – transitive | monotransitive
- support – transitive | monotransitive
My shares have collapsed, so I’m going to have to economize.
- collapsed – intransitive
- have to – transitive | monotransitive
I arrived at the station at 4.00.
- arrived – intransitive | intransitive + PP
I found it difficult.
- found – transitive | complex transitive
My neighbor gave me a cake.
- gave – transitive | ditransitive
They found Mrs. Johnson a good cook.
- found – transitive | complex transitive
Gwen named the puppy. Gwen named the puppy Misty.
- named – transitive | monotransitive
- named – transitive | complex transitive
Call me a taxi.
- call – transitive | ditransitive
2. Decide upon the function of the words (subject, predicate, object, adverbial, adjunct, subject complement, object
complement, conjunctions)
Noun Phrase Verb Phrase
Your article gave readers a glimpse of the truth.
- your article – subject
- gave – predicate
- readers – indirect object
- a glimpse of the truth- direct object
I’d relied on knowledge, imagination, observation and visual memory before I found cheating is easier.
- I – subject
- had relied – predicate
- on knowledge, imagination, observation and visual memory – direct object
- before – conjuction
- I – subject
- found - predicate
- cheating is easier – direct object + object complement
For many years, I taught an introductory theology course for undergraduates.
- for many years – adverbial | adjunct
- I – subject
- taught – predicate
- an introductory theology course for undergraduates – direct object
Somehow, it was similar to email today.
- somehow – sentence adjunct
- it – subject
- was – copula
- similar to email today – subject complement
However, children who were born after 2000 wouldn’t like what we had back then.
- however – sentence adjunct
- children who were born after 2000 – subject
- wouldn’t like – predicate
- what we had back then – direct object
Praise even came from the other side of the world.
- praise – subject
- even – adverbial
- came – predicate
- from the other side of the world – adverbial
This, however, was different than we expected.
- this – subject
- however – adjunct
- was – copula
- different than we expected – subject complement
We are more interested in cars that need little preparation.
- we – subject
- are interested – predicate
- more – adverbial
- cars that need little preparation – direct object + object complement
All in all, the girl who was just here is a bit prettier so I gave her your number.
- all in all – sentence adjunct
- the girl who was just here - subject
- is – copula
- a bit prettier – subject complement
- so - conjuction
- I – subject
- gave – predicate
- her – indirect object
- your number – direct object
I chose him since he is the most intelligent.
- I – subject
- chose – predicate
- him – direct object
- since - conjuction
- he – subject
- is – copula
- the most intelligent – subject complement
Mary was leaning over because she could see me better that way for she was pretty much interested in me.
- Marry – subject
- was leaning – predicate
- over – adverbial
- because – conjuction
- she – subject
- could see – predicate
- me – direct object
- better that way – adverbial
- for – conjuction
- she – subject
- was – copula
- pretty much interested in me – subject complement
All the well-paid jobs are gone so we need another plan after this is over.
- all the well-paid jobs – subject
- are – copula
- gone – subject complement
- so – conjuction
- we – subject
- need – predicate
- another plan – direct object
- after this is over - adverbial
To speak in public for the first time can be a terrifying experience.
- to speak in public for the first time – subject
- can be – copula
- a terrifying experience – subject complement
