Verbs and Nouns and Their Positions in A Sentence

[cade axton]

Hi,

I wanted to know if there's a book or chart which shows all the positions a nouns and verbs can take in a sentence. I remember, years ago, reading a book where it mentioned how someone found all the positions a verb can take.

Can you help me?

[beascarpetta]

Maybe you should have a look there to get you started.

[cade axton]

Thanks. Not exactly what I was looking for but it's a start at least.

[beascarpetta]

There seems to be a ton of knowledge there.

Maybe if you told me what exactly you need the charts for I could dig up some more.

[Soup]

Here are the 7 basic sentence types for English:

1. S-V Angry customers complain.
2. S-V-O The manager helped us gladly.
3. S-LV-N Her decision was a terrible mistake.
4. S-LV-Adj My friend suddenly looked pale.
5. S-V-IO-O Her cousin often showed visitors the capital.
6. S-V-O-OC They called the anonymous benefactor a saint.
7. S-V-O-Adj We painted the house green again.


From Structure of English

Clause elements combine to form clauses. The number of patterns is small. According to David Crystal (The Cambridge Encyclopedia of the English Language, p. 221) there are only seven basic types.

S + V: I / yawned
S + V + O: Fred / opened / the door
S + V + C: The dinner / is / ready
S + V + A: Dick Whittington / went / to London
S + V + O + O: Romeo / gave / Juliet / a kiss
S + V + O + C: Henry/ got/ his feet/ very wet
S + V + O + A: Sam / put / the beer / in the cellar

We can vary these patterns using directives (such as advising, instructing or commanding): Turn left at the junction. Help yourself to a beer. Go to hell! You be quiet.

We can also vary the patterns through pro-forms (words which replace long constructions) and ellipsis (omitting an understood element).

Pro-forms: I've got a lovely cold drink and you've got one as well.

Ellipsis: I'd like to drink some beer, but I won't. (drink some beer understood)

[cade axton]

Originally Posted by beascarpetta

There seems to be a ton of knowledge there.

Maybe if you told me what exactly you need the charts for I could dig up some more.

I wanted to get a head start on my TESOL training which won't happen until the end of August. It's just for my own edification. Also, I was a bit disturbed by a study I read concerning the lack of proper training in TESOL programs. Many students who were interviewed in this study felt that they weren't sufficiently prepared to teach students of other languages.

I don't want to be ignorant when I finally get my masters in TESOL which won't be for another two years or so based on my calculations.

That's the reason why I'm asking for these charts or books which show all the possible patterns for nouns and verbs.

Thanks.

[cade axton]

Originally Posted by Soup

Here are the 7 basic sentence types for English:

1. S-V Angry customers complain.
2. S-V-O The manager helped us gladly.
3. S-LV-N Her decision was a terrible mistake.
4. S-LV-Adj My friend suddenly looked pale.
5. S-V-IO-O Her cousin often showed visitors the capital.
6. S-V-O-OC They called the anonymous benefactor a saint.
7. S-V-O-Adj We painted the house green again.


From Structure of English

Clause elements combine to form clauses. The number of patterns is small. According to David Crystal (The Cambridge Encyclopedia of the English Language, p. 221) there are only seven basic types.

S + V: I / yawned
S + V + O: Fred / opened / the door
S + V + C: The dinner / is / ready
S + V + A: Dick Whittington / went / to London
S + V + O + O: Romeo / gave / Juliet / a kiss
S + V + O + C: Henry/ got/ his feet/ very wet
S + V + O + A: Sam / put / the beer / in the cellar

We can vary these patterns using directives (such as advising, instructing or commanding): Turn left at the junction. Help yourself to a beer. Go to hell! You be quiet.

We can also vary the patterns through pro-forms (words which replace long constructions) and ellipsis (omitting an understood element).

Pro-forms: I've got a lovely cold drink and you've got one as well.

Ellipsis: I'd like to drink some beer, but I won't. (drink some beer understood)

That's useful information. Thanks. It's a beginning.

[Soup]

Originally Posted by cade axton

That's useful information. Thanks. It's a beginning.

What about noun--function of in english grammar?

[cade axton]

Originally Posted by Soup

What about noun--function of in english grammar?

I need that as well. I think I'm going to compile a list for future reference. I hope to make some kind of chart as well.

Thanks for your help and to everyone else who's offered a hand.