BASIC CLAUSE PATTERNS (Delahunty and Garvey, 1994 : 219 – 231)

The basic clause patterns differ from each other by virtue of the type of main verb included in their verb
phrases. The verb types are differentiated from each other by virtue of what functions and phrase they require to be
present or absent in the verb phrase.

(i) Intransitive clauses

This pattern contains an NP with a VP whose head is intransitive. The clause may contain no objects or
complements.

e.g. (a) A swarm of locusts appeared.

(b) Elsie spoke.

The greater length and complexity of some of these sentences do not arise from changes in the basic clause pattern,
but rather, they arise from choices in auxiliaries and modifiers.

(ii) Simple transitive clauses

The head verb in this clause is transitive.

e.g. (a) Adam likes ice-creams.

(b) The snake held a particularly luscious Granny Smith.

Regardless of the complexity of the direct objects NP in (a) to (d) these sentences still represent simple
transitive clauses.

Many clauses of this pattern may be passivised. In particular, the passive test distinguishes clauses of this
pattern from clauses which require complements. Objects may be frequently passivised, complements can never
be.

(iii) Subject complement clauses

The subject complement construction resembles the direct object pattern in having three basic elements. The
main difference between the two lies in the nature of the head verb and the semantic relations it creates.

A pattern which is helpful in distinguishing subject complements from objects and modifiers is the number
agreement that occurs with the subject NP. If we make the subject NP plural, we must also make the subject
complement NP plural.
 e.g. Mary and Tey became doctors.
*Mary and Tey became doctor.
*Mary became doctors.

(iv) Object complement clauses

Object complement clauses are similar to subject complements in four aspects:
 an object complement may be formally expressed as either an NP or an Adj. P.
 in both complements, an NP complement must agree with its antecedent (the subject or the object)
 the semantic relations between the object and its complement are be and become
 the complement phrase and the subject of object to which it is semantically linked refer to a single entity

Object complements have one further defining trait – the meaning of the head verb. The two semantic classes
which unite most of these words are considered to be and cause to become.

e.g. We find his conclusions ridiculous.

The called each other liars.

(v) Indirect object clauses

 This basic clause pattern also involves a head verb followed by two functions: indirect object and direct
object. The last two functions occur in order: first, the indirect object (IO) and second, the direct object
(DO). Formally, both objects are typically NPs.

 In both object complement and indirect object clauses, a verb may be followed by two NPs. These two
structures can be distinguished. In the object complement clause, the two NPs refer to a single entity; in
the indirect object clause, each NP refers to a separate entity.

(vi) Location clauses

 This is a clause pattern in which the verb implied to functions in the verb phrase: the direct object and the
location. The second function in the verb phrase can be represented as either a Prepositional phrase or an
Adverb phrase.

e.g. The maid put the dirty laundry in the laundry room. (PP)
The maid put the laundry away. (Adv. P)

 Sentences of this pattern cannot be rephrased:

e.g. *The maid put the laundry room the laundry.