English grammar - Roger Berry 2012
C8.1 Analysing clause patterns
C8 Analysing clauses
Section C Exploration
The clause patterns and verb patterns discussed in sections A8 and B8 are in many ways two sides of the same coin. If we have worked out the clause pattern then we generally know the verb pattern. Thus if there is an SVOO pattern this indicates that the verb is ditransitive; if SVOP, then link transitive.
There are some differences, however. The analysis of a passive such as It has been finished in terms of clause pattern - SV - would not correspond to the verb pattern: transitive. And sometimes the classification of the verb is not sensitive enough to distinguish two different underlying structures e.g. to label a verb link transitive would not describe the patterns of a verb fully; see the activity with make below.
Moreover, their purposes are different. Clause pattern analysis is more appropriate for the analysis of texts, i.e. of already-existing language, whereas a knowledge of verb patterns is more useful in constructing texts correctly (though it can also explain cases of ambiguity).
C8.1 Analysing clause patterns
When analysing clauses, we need to be able to distinguish cases where a unit is an element in its own right and where it is only part of an element. This can be particularly tricky when clauses are involved inside the clause we are interested in. Thus in
He’s a man that we can trust.
the underlined clause is a relative clause that postmodifies man; in other words, it is part of a noun phrase which is a predicative: a man that we can trust; it is not a clause element. In
I’m happy that you are here.
that you are here is part of an adjective phrase (again functioning as a predicative) beginning happy . . . However, in
I said that he could go
the underlined clause is a nominal clause that functions as the object of said, i.e. it is a clause element. Clauses beginning with that are described in some detail in A10 and B10.
One way to establish whether something is a clause element or not is to try replacing it with a pronoun or something similar. Thus in the first two examples above it is not possible to replace the underlined clauses (’He’s a man it’, ’I’m happy it’) but in the third it is: I said it.
Activity C8.1
Identify the clause pattern in these simple sentences. Distinguish between subject and object predicatives, and between direct, indirect and prepositional objects. If there is an adverbial element, indicate if it is obligatory or optional using brackets. Remember that one element may consist of several words. Use the substitution test if you are unsure.
Example: My uncle knows the President. → My uncle | knows | the President. SVOd
1. I’ll see you soon.
2. The girl standing over there is my sister.
3. I find it very amusing.
4. The children have been swimming.
5. The train arrives in Guangzhou at night.
6. He told her all his problems.
7. I bought the ring for her.
8. Suddenly, the room felt very cold.
9. I’ll put it on top of the cupboard.
10. They made him emperor.
11. He seems incapable of laughter.
12. The man in the bank was arrested.
13. Her grandmother made her a cake which had 18 candles.
14. Share prices are falling to new levels.
15. She depends on me.
Activity C8.2