Are the 5 basic sentence patterns sacred?

[Tdol]

That's what they mean to me.

[Casiopea]

Originally Posted by RonBee

V =verb
S = subject
O = object
C = complement
DO = direct object
IO = indirect object

Do I have all those right, grammar mavens?

:wink:

Yup. :D

C has two functions: SC (a subject complement) after linking verbs et al (i.e. SVC), and OC (an object complement) after objects (i.e. SVOC).

:D

[Tdol]

Is that a driect or indirect OC? )))

[RonBee]

Originally Posted by Casiopea

Yup. :D

C has two functions: SC (a subject complement) after linking verbs et al (i.e. SVC), and OC (an object complement) after objects (i.e. SVOC).

:D

Thanks, Cas. :D

Originally Posted by Casiopea

That's an interesting analysis.

It'd be SVC is V were a linking verb et al, like this:

My car is brand new. (SVC)

Let's look at an SVOC structure:

They named (V) the baby(O) George (C). (SVOC)

'named' takes an object and that object requires a complement. In fact, if we switch the order of the object and the complement the result is ungrammatical:

*They named (V) George (C) the baby (O).

In short, with SVOC structures the O and the C cannot be switched. On the other hand, with SVOO structures the DO and the IO can be switched:

I sold (V) him (IO) the car (DO) brand new. (SVOO+Adjunct)

I sold (V) it (DO) to him (IO) brand new. (SVOO+Adjunct)

Note, 'brand new' is added information; information not required by the verb to express its basic meaning. The same holds true for 'in a brand new condition', as well as other information that's not stated inside the verb's subcategorization frame:

sold [something, to someone]; [someone, something]

:D

You're right. So, it's SVO, with the "brand-new" as a modifier of O.

Originally Posted by tdol

Is 'brand' an adverb as it modifies 'new'?

Interesting Q.
Looks like it is: like, brand new = very new = like new. If not hypenated:
1. brand new = adverb + adjective (although brand is a noun)
2. very new = adverb + adjective
3. like new = adverb + adjective (although like is a preposition too)
4. slow-burn (cooker) = adjective + infinitive
5. high-octane (fuel) = adjective + noun

Language is too complicated to be sacred! Trouble is, a lot of things are sacred only because they are complicated. Don't understand, don't ask, it's sacred.

[Tdol]

That's what I thought.

Originally Posted by tdol

That's what I thought.

That's enigmatic of you! Thought about the adverb or sacredness, or both?

[Tdol]

Both )

Originally Posted by MikeNewYork

No, "as" is a preposition in that sentence and is used in the normal fashion.

Perhaps it should be, "It struck me as an excellent plan." I don't think you need the "it is" part. The "It" is a problem in this sentence as the "as an excellent plan" part is clearly a complement of "it" rather than of the object, "me". It is different from the "He makes me sick"-type of pattern as I am the one who is sickened by him. "I was struck by how it is an excellent plan.... hmmm.... I 'm confused.