The Intransitive Verb Pattern Ed McCorduck English 402--Grammar SUNY Cortland

Pattern VI NPV-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 English 402: Grammar

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, 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 English 402: Grammar

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 English 402: Grammar

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