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ALL sentences begin with a noun phrase (NP) and a verb phrase (VP). The make up the
tradition Subject and Predicate. Morenberg prefers to label the function of major constituents.
NP:subj VP:pred
The VP further expands to the Main Verb and anything else. This includes the AUX (for
auxiliary verbs) and the Verb (V) itself:
NP:subj VP:pred
AUX V
SENTENCE TYPES are determined by the VERB. The verb will be marked to indicate what
kind of verb it is. The structure of the VP:pred will be determined by the type of verb.
NP:subj VP:pred
AUX VI
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Intransitive sentences may have additional constituents (which provide additional information),
but the basic structure remains the same. Heres an example with an ADVERB (Adv) added to
the VP:
NP:subj VP:pred
AUX VI Adv
2. TRANSITIVE VERB sentences must show action from the subject (NP:subj) to another
NP in the VP:predicate. The second NP is called the Direct Object (NP:DO). ONLY
noun phrases may be subjects or objects. [This means that if another part of speechsay
an adjective or a verbis used as a subject or an object, then that part of speech
automatically functions as a noun phrase.]
NP:subj VP:pred
AUX VT NP:DO
Again, the sentence may become more complicated, but the basic structure remains the same.
Heres an example with an Adverb (Adv) added to the VP:
NP:Subj VP:Pred
MV NP:DO Adv
AUX VT
The professor should print the exam tomorrow
3. Vg VERBS: Another kind of Transitive verb has both Direct Objects (NP:DO) and
INDIRECT Objects (IO). Morenberg calls these verbs Vg because they model after the
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verb give. Verbs that take Indirect Objects show action from the Subject NP to the
direct object, but they also show the beneficiary (so to speak). For example, in a give
sentence, the subject gives something to Somebody. So the SomeTHING is the Direct
Obect and the SomeBODY is the Indirect Object:
NP:Subj VP:Pred
MV NP:IO NP:DO
AUX Vg
The professor should give the students the exam
Again, you can add more. The same sentence with an adverb:
NP:Subj VP:Pred
AUX Vg
The professor should give the students the exam tomorrow
MV NP:DO PP
3. Vc VERBS. Still another kind of transitive verb has a Direct Object noun phrase, AND a
noun or an adjective immediately after the direct object NP which modifies it. That
second noun is called a complement (as in completing). Usually, adjectives come
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before the noun in English, as in beautiful garden, but in these sentences the adjective
(or noun) comes after. This happens ONLY with these verbs. Its the difference between
The students should see a beautiful garden and The students should call the garden
beautiful (BTW: I put the should in so yall could see a sentence with something in
the AUX.)
NP:Subj VP:Pred
AUX Vc
The students should call the garden beautiful
We get a similar structure is the Object Complement (the word or phrase describing the
Direct Object) is a NOUN instead of an adjective:
NP:Subj VP:Pred
AUX Vc
The students should call the garden a masterpiece
The remaining types of verbs create sentences with SUBJECT COMPLEMENTS in the verb
phrase. OBJECT Complements rename or describe the DIRECT OBJECT. SUBJECT
Complements rename or describe the SUBJECT.
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4. LINKING VERBS (VL). Verbs of the senses (taste, feel, etc.) or of states of being
(become, remain, etc.) take Subject complements. That is the Adjective or Noun Phrase
that appears in the verb phrase renames or describes the Subject. Some example sentences
are I feel happy. This hamburger tastes funny. Alice became a dancer.
NP:Subj VP:Pred
MV Adj:Subj Comp
AUX VL
The hamburger should taste funny
NP:Subj VP:Pred
MV NP:Subj Comp
AUX VL
Alice should become a dancer
5. BE Verbs (VBE) Regardless of tense, the MAIN verb BE shows a state of existence:
Something IS something. [Do not confuse it with the *auxiliary* verb be used in
Progressive and Passive.)
BE verb sentences have three forms. The first two take SUBJECT Complementsi.e., a
noun or an adjective renames or describes the Subject of the sentence.
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So
1. Josh is happy (adjective subject complement AKA Predicate Adjective)
2. Josh is a mechanic (Noun phrase subject complement AKA Predicate Nominative)
So
1. Josh is in the classroom (Adverb of placehere a Prepositional Phrase)
2. The test is tomorrow (Adverb of time)
NP:Subj VP:Pred
MV ADJ:Subj Comp
AUX VL
Josh should BE happy
NP:Subj VP:Pred
MV NP:Subj Comp
AUX VL
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Josh should BE a mechanic
NP:Subj VP:Pred
AUX VBE
Josh should BE in the classroom
NP:Subj VP:Pred
MV ADV: time
AUX VBE
The test should BE tomorrow