Verbs, objects, and complements - Sentence patterns - Grammar Basics

Rules for writers, Tenth edition - Diana Hacker, Nancy Sommers 2021

Verbs, objects, and complements
Sentence patterns
Grammar Basics

Section 47c explains how to find a sentence’s verb. A verb is classified as linking, transitive, or intransitive, depending on the kinds of objects or complements the verb can (or cannot) take.

Linking verbs and subject complements

Linking verbs connect the subject to a subject complement, a word or word group that completes the meaning of the subject by renaming or describing it.

Image

Image

Whenever they appear as main verbs (rather than helping verbs), the forms of be — be, am, is, are, was, were, being, been — usually function as linking verbs. In the preceding examples, for instance, the main verbs are be and were.

Verbs such as appear, become, feel, grow, look, make, seem, smell, sound, and taste are linking when they are followed by a word or word group that renames or describes the subject.

Image

Transitive verbs and direct objects

A transitive verb takes a direct object, a word or word group that names a receiver of the action.

Image

Image

The simple direct object is always a noun or pronoun, in this case bag. To find it, simply strip away all modifiers.

Transitive verbs usually appear in the active voice, with the subject doing the action and a direct object receiving the action. Active-voice sentences can be transformed into the passive voice, with the subject receiving the action.

Transitive verbs, indirect objects, and direct objects

The direct object of a transitive verb is sometimes preceded by an indirect object, a noun or pronoun telling to whom or for whom the action of the sentence is done.

Image

Image

The simple indirect object is always a noun or pronoun. To test for an indirect object, insert the word to or for before the word or word group in question. If the sentence makes sense, the word or word group is an indirect object.

✵ You give [to] her some yarn, and she will knit [for] you a scarf.

Transitive verbs, direct objects, and object complements

The direct object of a transitive verb is sometimes followed by an object complement, a word or word group that renames or describes the object.

Image

Image

When the object complement renames the direct object, it is a noun or pronoun (such as thing). When it describes the direct object, it is an adjective (such as firm and strong).

Intransitive verbs

Intransitive verbs take no objects or complements.

Image

Image

Nothing receives the actions of laughing and accelerating in examples on the previous page, so the verbs are intransitive. Notice that such verbs may or may not be followed by adverbial modifiers. In the second sentence, in the straightaway is an adverbial prepositional phrase modifying accelerated.

NOTE: The dictionary will tell you whether a verb is transitive or intransitive. Some verbs can have either function depending on context.

TRANSITIVE

✵ Sandra flew her small plane over the canyon.

INTRANSITIVE

✵ A flock of migrating geese flew overhead.

In the first example, flew has a direct object that receives the action: her small plane. In the second example, the verb is followed by an adverb (overhead), not by a direct object.

EXERCISE 48-2

Label the subject complements and direct objects in the following sentences, using the labels SC and DO. If a subject complement or direct object consists of more than one word, bracket and label all of it. Answers appear in the back of the book.

Image

a. Mangoes are expensive.

b. Samurai warriors never fear death.

c. Successful coaches always praise their players’ efforts.

d. St. Petersburg was the capital of the Russian Empire for two centuries.

e. The medicine tasted bitter.

EXERCISE 48-3

Each of the following sentences has either an indirect object followed by a direct object or a direct object followed by an object complement. Label the objects and complements, using the labels IO, DO, and OC. If an object or a complement consists of more than one word, bracket and label all of it. Answers appear in the back of the book.

Image

a. Stress can make adults and children weary.

b. The dining hall offered students healthy meal choices.

c. Consider the work finished.

d. We showed the agent our tickets, and she gave us boarding passes.

e. Zita has made community service her priority this year.