The verb phrase

Presented by: Hanan Saleh Al-gomari

ID:0765385

The verb phrase:The verb phrase may consist of the main verb, and auxiliary verb, plus optional complements, and other modifiers.

The material of verb phrase ( VP ) depends on the type or CLASS of verb used.

Types or classes of verb-:

Transitive Verb.Intransitive Verb.Ditransitive verb.Intensive Verb.Complex-trasitive Verb.Prepositional verb.

Rules to remember-:Transitive verb: VP transitive verb + dO dO NPIntransitive verb: VP intransitive verbDitransitive verb: VP ditransitive verb + iO + dOiO NPdO NPOR

ditransitive verb + dO + iO VP NP dONP iO

Complex – transitive verb : VP Complex – transitive verb + dO + oC dO NP oC NP or PP or AP Prepositional verb: VP prepositional verb + pO pO PP

Transitive Verb:A verb phrase using a transitive verb normally has to have a direct object to be complete.There are many transitive verbs

for example:Kate hugged the babyThe dog found a bone

The rule: VP transitive verb + dOdO NP

The tree diagram for this class of verb is as follows:Kate hugged the baby

S

NP VP

N V NP

[ trans ]DET N

Kate hugged the baby .

P dO S

Intransitive verb:By contrast, the intransitive Verb, is a class of verb doesn’t take an object. In fact it requires nothing else to complete the verb phrase.for example :

Ken snores .

The rule: Transitive verb: VP transitive verb + dO dO NP

The tree diagram for this class of verb is as follows:Ken snores

S NP VP

N V

[ intrans] Ken snores .

Ditransitive Verb: Another class of verb is ditransitive. This type of Verb requeires two objects. One of these is the familiar direct object dO, the other an INDIRECT OBJECT or iO for short.for example :Ray told the children a story .

The rule: VP ditransitive verb + iO + dOiO NPdO NPOR

ditransitive verb + dO + iO VP NP dONP iO

The tree diagram for this class of verb is as

follows:Ray told the children a story. S

NP VP

N V NP NP DET N DET N

Ray told the children a story .

[ditrans]

S P dOiO

Ray told a story to the children. S

NP VP

N V NP PP

DET N P NP DET

N Ray told a story to the children .

[ditrans]

dO iOPS

Intensive verb:Belong to a small group which include verbs like, be,seem appear, become, look and so on.for example :

Sally became a doctor.George is in the gardenSue seems unhappy.The rule:

VP intensive verb + sCsC NP or PP or AP

The tree diagram for this class of verb is as follows:Sally become a doctor.

S NP VP

N V NP DET N

Sally become a doctor.

[intens]

Complex-transitive Verb: A verb that takes a direct object (dO) plus an object complement ( oC ).for example :Kate thought John a fool .

The rule: VP complex-transitive verb + dO + oC

NP dO oC NP or PP or AP

The tree diagram for this class of verb is as follows:Kate thought John a fool.

S

NP VP

N V NP NP

N DET N

kate thought John a fool.

[Complex]

S oCdOP

Prepositional Verb :Prepositional verb is one which requires a prepositional phrase in order to be complete .

Verbs like glance at, lean on, refer to, fall into this class.for example :

sally leant on the table .The rule:

VP prepositional verb + pO pO PP

The tree diagram for this class of verb is as follows:Sally leant on the table.

S NP VP N V PP P NP DET N Sally leant on the table.

[Complex]

S P pO

Imperative Verb.

Used to give commands or instructions. e.g. Close the door! S VP

V NP [trans] DET N close the door

p do

Thank you