I
infinikyte
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Hi there! This is a message for grammar diehards only, so if you are not interested in sentence structures please do click the BACK button on your browser right away!! 8)
Now, I'm sure you know that there are five basic sentence patterns, consisting of necessay elements which are S(subject), V(verb), O(object), and C(complement).
I list out the 5 patterns here:
S+V
S+V+C
S+V+O
S+V+O+C
S+V+O+O
Recently I've begun to pay more attention to a few sentences that are suspiciously similar to the 5 basic patterns but yet not quite conforming to the rules. Because I'm an EFL learner but I also teach English to others in Taiwan, these "exceptional" sentences have given me a headache!! I have suggestions saying some of these "exceptions" would actually create new patterns, such as S+V+A(Adverbial) and S+V+O+A. Some, however, do not seem to fall into any patterns at all. I would like opinions on the following sentences, see what you think their patterns are. I really appreciate if you could come up with any ideas, I NEED YOUR HELP!!
Sentence 1
She is upstairs.
This is not S+V since "upstairs" necessarily modifies "is", and not S+V+C either since "upstairs" is an adverb and usually the C in S+V+C means nouns or adjectives. (But can I argue that the C in S+V+C include prepositional phrases?) So does S+V+A justify the pattern? I'm not particularly clear about the term "adverbial"; can it mean both adverbs and prepositional phrases?
Sentence 2
She lives in London.
Again, not S+V since "in London" is necessary to complete the sentence. Also not S+V+C since "in London" is a prepositional phrase.
sentence 3
She put her hands in her pockets.
This is not S+V+O+C since "in the pockets" does not complement "her hands" , and not S+V+O either since "in the pockets" necessarily modifies the verb "put". Surely we can argue that "put something in somewhere" is a verb phrase so S+V+O fits in this case, but does S+V+O+A clarify the pattern better?
Sentence 4
She introduced me to her brother.
Again, S+V+O+A or "introduce...to..."?
Sentence 5
She left the room exhausted.
The word "exhausted" describes the subject "she", so it apparently has this pattern: S+V+O+SC(subject complement). On the contrary, can I argue that "exhausted" here modifies the verb "left" rather than the subject "She"? Then "exhausted" would have to become an adverb!? :shock:
Sentence 6
I sold him my car brand-new.
Apparent pattern: S+V+O+O+OC. "brand-new" complements "my car", the direct object. Can I argue that this sentence is in fact "I sold him my brand-new car, an authentic S+V+O+O?
Sentence 7
The plan struck me as excellent.
A bit like sentence 5, "as excellent" describe the subject "THe plan". In this case is "as excellent" prepositional?
I wonder if sentences 5 and 6 are more conversational so they do not have a clear grammar structure?
I feel I can classify all of the above in any 5 basic patterns, but that is in a loose manner. I'm looking for a more strict approach to analyze these problems. So if you have any thought, please please post it!!
Now, I'm sure you know that there are five basic sentence patterns, consisting of necessay elements which are S(subject), V(verb), O(object), and C(complement).
I list out the 5 patterns here:
S+V
S+V+C
S+V+O
S+V+O+C
S+V+O+O
Recently I've begun to pay more attention to a few sentences that are suspiciously similar to the 5 basic patterns but yet not quite conforming to the rules. Because I'm an EFL learner but I also teach English to others in Taiwan, these "exceptional" sentences have given me a headache!! I have suggestions saying some of these "exceptions" would actually create new patterns, such as S+V+A(Adverbial) and S+V+O+A. Some, however, do not seem to fall into any patterns at all. I would like opinions on the following sentences, see what you think their patterns are. I really appreciate if you could come up with any ideas, I NEED YOUR HELP!!
Sentence 1
She is upstairs.
This is not S+V since "upstairs" necessarily modifies "is", and not S+V+C either since "upstairs" is an adverb and usually the C in S+V+C means nouns or adjectives. (But can I argue that the C in S+V+C include prepositional phrases?) So does S+V+A justify the pattern? I'm not particularly clear about the term "adverbial"; can it mean both adverbs and prepositional phrases?
Sentence 2
She lives in London.
Again, not S+V since "in London" is necessary to complete the sentence. Also not S+V+C since "in London" is a prepositional phrase.
sentence 3
She put her hands in her pockets.
This is not S+V+O+C since "in the pockets" does not complement "her hands" , and not S+V+O either since "in the pockets" necessarily modifies the verb "put". Surely we can argue that "put something in somewhere" is a verb phrase so S+V+O fits in this case, but does S+V+O+A clarify the pattern better?
Sentence 4
She introduced me to her brother.
Again, S+V+O+A or "introduce...to..."?
Sentence 5
She left the room exhausted.
The word "exhausted" describes the subject "she", so it apparently has this pattern: S+V+O+SC(subject complement). On the contrary, can I argue that "exhausted" here modifies the verb "left" rather than the subject "She"? Then "exhausted" would have to become an adverb!? :shock:
Sentence 6
I sold him my car brand-new.
Apparent pattern: S+V+O+O+OC. "brand-new" complements "my car", the direct object. Can I argue that this sentence is in fact "I sold him my brand-new car, an authentic S+V+O+O?
Sentence 7
The plan struck me as excellent.
A bit like sentence 5, "as excellent" describe the subject "THe plan". In this case is "as excellent" prepositional?
I wonder if sentences 5 and 6 are more conversational so they do not have a clear grammar structure?
I feel I can classify all of the above in any 5 basic patterns, but that is in a loose manner. I'm looking for a more strict approach to analyze these problems. So if you have any thought, please please post it!!