Grammar: Verbs and Sentence Patterns

Front

What is a transitive verb (TrV)?

Back

A transitive verb is an action verb that needs another word to complete the idea of the sentence. It transfers its action to a receiver in the predicate called a direct object.

Front

What is a direct object (DO)?

Back

A direct object is a noun or pronoun in the predicate that receives the action of a verb.

Front

How do you find the direct object in a sentence?

Back

First find the subject and the verb; then ask 'whom or what?'.

Front

What is an indirect object (IO)?

Back

An indirect object is a noun or pronoun that tells to whom or for whom the verb’s action is done. It always comes between the transitive verb and the direct object.

Front

How do you find the indirect object in a sentence?

Back

First find the subject, verb, and direct object; then ask 'to whom or for whom?'.

Front

What are the potential sentence patterns involving transitive verbs?

Back

S-InV, S-TrV-DO, S-TrV-IO-DO.

Front

What is a linking verb (LV)?

Back

A linking verb does not show action. It links the subject to a word in the predicate that renames or describes the subject.

Front

What are state-of-being verbs?

Back

State-of-being verbs include am, is, are, was, were, be, being, been. They often act as linking verbs.

Front

What is a predicate noun (PN)?

Back

A predicate noun is a noun or pronoun in the complete predicate that follows the linking verb and renames the subject.

Front

What is a predicate adjective (PA)?

Back

A predicate adjective is an adjective in the complete predicate that follows the linking verb and describes the subject.