13. Verb Valencies

Clause Constituents

When we talk about clauses, we’re referring to groups of words that form complete ideas with a predicate. Every clause contains constituents that perform specific functions in the sentence.

Here are the key components:

  • Subject: Who or what the sentence is about (often a noun phrase).
  • Verb (Predicator): The action or state in the sentence (with the main verb).
  • Object: The entity that is affected by the action (sometimes not needed).

In diagrams, we label both the form (what type of phrase it is) and the function (what role it plays in the sentence). For example:

  • NP: Subj (Noun Phrase as Subject)

Example Sentence:
The news outlet retracted the story about the accident.

  • the news outlet is the subject.
  • retracted the story about the accident is the predicative long verb phrase.
  • retracted is the verb phrase.
  • the story about the accident is the direct object (what got retracted).

Tree Diagram: image

Verb Valency Explained

The term valency refers to how many extra pieces (constituents) a verb needs to form a complete sentence. Verbs can require different numbers of these pieces, depending on their type.

Some examples to show you what this means:

  • e.g.: Intransitive verbs (IT): These verbs don’t need anything beyond a subject and a verb phrase. Example: I slept.
  • e.g.: Monotransitive verbs (MT): These verbs need a subject, a verb phrase, and a direct object (DO). Example: I ate the pizza slice.

Full list of Verb Valency

Valency Type Abbreviation Clause Pattern
Copular cop Subj + Vcop + SC / Advloblig
Intransitive IT Subj + VIT
Monotransitive MT Subj + VMT + DO
Ditransitive DT Subj + VDT + IO + DO / Subj + VDT + DO + to IO
Complex Transitive CT Subj + VCT + DO + OC / Advloblig

Grammatical Functions and Valency Patterns

Let’s break down the different parts of a sentence and how verbs interact with them:

Function Abbreviation Description
Subject Subj The entity the sentence is about, typically placed before the verb.
Subject complement SC Describes the subject, often an adjective or noun phrase.
Direct object DO The entity affected by the verb.
Indirect object IO The entity receiving the direct object.
Object complement OC Provides information about the direct object.
Optional adverbial Advl Additional information on time, place, manner, etc., not required to form a complete clause.
Obligatory adverbial Advloblig Necessary adverbial information required to complete the clause.

Copular (cop)

Copular verbs (also called linking verbs) are a special type of verb. Instead of showing an action, they connect the subject to something that gives more information about it. These verbs usually need one of two things to complete the sentence:

  1. A subject complement (SC): This describes the subject.
  2. An obligatory adverbial (Advloblig): This tells something like where or when the subject is.

Pattern 1: Subj + Vcop + SC

The subject complement (SC) describes the subject, often adding more information or identifying it.

  • Example:
    • Frank is a cardiologist.
    • The music sounds fantastic.

    Tree Diagram:
    image

Pattern 2: Subj + Vcop + Advloblig

The obligatory adverbial is needed to complete the sentence, often describing where or when something is happening.

  • Example:
    • Paul was in power at that moment.

    Tree Diagram: image

Test for copular verbs

To see if a verb is copular, try replacing the verb with an equals sign. If the sentence still makes sense, it’s a copular verb:

  • Frank = a cardiologist.
  • The music = fantastic.

More diagram examples

  1. The final exam proved difficult.
    • Difficult is describing the subject. 378984004-b45901fe-4a4b-44b8-9c9f-df158b360bac
  2. Annie and Janine look surprised.
    • Surprised is describing Annie and Janine. 378984063-8b70cdc7-7376-4234-bc0e-78ae1f09c91a
  3. Her sincerest wish is that Bill makes a speedy and full recovery.
    • The subject complement here is a whole clause. image

Introduction to long verb phrase (LVP)

The LVP consists of the verb phrase plus all other constituents that are required by the main verb.

Copula Valency Practice

Diagram these:

  • That painting looks amazing.
  • I was a different person yesterday.
  • She is downstairs.
  • Dad is in the kitchen now.

Optional vs. Obligatory Adverbials

This distinction is important because adverbials can either be optional or necessary for the sentence to be complete:

  • Optional Adverbials: These are extra details about the action. If we remove them, the sentence still makes sense.
    • Example: The news outlet retracted the story by the next day.
      • by the next day is optional—it tells when the action happened but is not essential.

    Tree Diagram: image

  • Obligatory Adverbials (Advloblig): These are necessary for the sentence to make sense. Without them, the sentence would be incomplete.
    • Example: Paul was in power at that moment.
      • in power is essential here. Without it, Paul was sounds incomplete.

    Tree Diagram: image

Intransitive (IT)

intransitive → not transitive → no objects

  • Intransitive verbs are verbs that do not require any object to complete their meaning. They need only a subject and a verb to form a grammatically correct clause. In other words, the action of the verb doesn’t transfer to any object.

Example:

  • Tim smiled throughout the concert.
    • Here, the verb smiled does not act on any object. The prepositional phrase throughout the concert provides additional information about when the action happened, but it’s not required to complete the sentence.
    • The sentence still makes sense without the optional adverbial: Tim smiled.

Diagram: image

Another example:

  • They arrived next week.
    • Here, next week is an optional adverbial indicating time. It’s not essential to the sentence’s meaning, but it provides extra information about when the action happened. The sentence has no object.

Diagram: image

Summary of intransitive verbs

  • Do not require any object.
  • May be accompanied by optional adverbials that provide extra information about time, place, or manner, but the sentence can stand alone without them.

Monotransitive (MT)

monotransitive → ONE transitive → ONE object

  • Monotransitive verbs are verbs that require one additional element after the verb, specifically a direct object (DO). The direct object is the entity affected by the verb’s action.

Example:

  • The man hit the table with full force.
    • The verb hit needs a direct object to complete the sentence. Without it (The man hit Ø), the sentence becomes incomplete.
    • The table is the direct object because it’s the thing being acted upon (the thing that was hit).
    • With full force is an optional adverbial describing how the action happened, but it’s not necessary to complete the sentence.

Diagram: image

  • In this sentence, the direct object (DO) is essential for the sentence to be complete, but the prepositional phrase (PP:Advl) with full force is optional, providing extra detail about the manner of the action.

Another example:

  • The dressmaker cut the expensive fabric.
    • The verb cut requires a direct object (the expensive fabric). The sentence would be incomplete without it: The dressmaker cut Ø.

Diagram: image

You can also put a clause in the direct object slot:
image image

Summary of monotransitive verbs

  • The verb must be followed by a direct object.
  • Optional adverbials may also be present but aren’t required for grammatical completeness.

Ditransitive (DT)

ditransitive → TWO transitive → TWO objects

  • Ditransitive verbs are more complex because they require two objects: a direct object (DO) and an indirect object (IO). The indirect object is typically the recipient of the direct object.

There are two common patterns for ditransitive verbs:

Pattern 1: Subj + VDT + IO + DO

In this pattern, the indirect object comes before the direct object.

Example Sentence:

  • John gave me the money.
    • Me is the indirect object (the person receiving the money).
    • The money is the direct object (the thing being given).

Diagram: image

Another example image

Pattern 2: Subj + VDT + DO + to/for IO

In this pattern, the direct object comes first, followed by a prepositional phrase with to or for indicating the indirect object.

Example Sentence:

  • The teacher sent the homework to the absent student.
    • The homework is the direct object (the thing being sent).
    • To the absent student is the indirect object (the recipient of the homework).

image

More examples image
image

Again, sometimes we can put a clause in the object slots, for example: image

Ditransitive verb with ellipted direct object

Occasionally, the direct object of a ditransitive verb is ellipted, or not explicitly stated. However, logically, we know that something has to be serving as the direct object.

  • For example: Her mother had promised her.
    • her ≠ direct object (her is not what she promised)
    • her = indirect object (her is who received the promise) image

Summary of ditransitive verbs

  • Pattern 1: The indirect object comes before the direct object.
  • Pattern 2: The direct object comes before the indirect object, which is indicated by a prepositional phrase (with to or for).

Complex Transitive (CT)

Complex transitive verbs are verbs that require two additional elements after the verb to complete their meaning. These verbs are unique because, unlike ditransitive verbs, they require a direct object (DO) followed by an object complement (OC) or an obligatory adverbial (Advloblig).

Here’s a breakdown of the key features:

  1. Direct Object (DO): The first element following the verb, which is the entity affected by the action.
  2. Object Complement (OC) or Obligatory Adverbial (Advloblig):
    • The object complement (OC) provides extra information about the direct object, describing or renaming it.
    • The obligatory adverbial (Advloblig) provides essential circumstantial information such as location or state, completing the meaning of the verb.

Pattern 1: Subj + VCT + DO + OC

  • The object complement (OC) adds more detail or description to the direct object (DO). It can be an adjective phrase, noun phrase, or clause that provides additional information about the direct object.

Example Sentence:

  • Still, he considered himself lucky.
    • Himself is the direct object (the person affected by the verb).
    • Lucky is the object complement, describing the state of the direct object.

Diagram: image

Another Example:

  • They found the boy friendly.
    • The boy is the direct object.
    • Friendly is the object complement describing the boy.

Diagram:
image

The above examples use adjective phrases as object complements. Sometimes, object complements can also be noun phrases: image image

Pattern 2: Subj + VCT + DO + Advloblig

  • In this pattern, the verb requires an obligatory adverbial instead of an object complement. This adverbial often indicates the location or state of the direct object.

Example Sentence:

  • The verdict left their hope in pieces.
    • Their hope is the direct object (the thing affected by the verb).
    • In pieces is the obligatory adverbial indicating the resulting state of the direct object.

Diagram:
image

Another Example:

  • Americans’ debts are driving the economy into a danger zone.
    • The economy is the direct object.
    • Into a danger zone is the obligatory adverbial providing necessary detail about the state or location of the direct object.

Diagram: image

Reading: Diagramming Supplement Part 3