"The Intransitive Verb Pattern" lecture I delivered in my English 402--Grammar course at the State University of New York College at Cortland.

1. The Intransitive
Verb Pattern
Ed McCorduck
English 402--Grammar
SUNY Cortland
http://mccorduck.cortland.edu

2. Pattern VI
NP V-int
(subj) (pred vb)
“V-int” is intransitive verb
intransitive:
• does not take an object (traditional grammar definition)
• does not require a direct object or a complement
(descriptive grammar definition)
slide 2: Pattern IV
English 402:
Grammar

3. exx
Jesus | wept.
The boat | has sailed.
The City of Light | may have fallen.
slide 3: examples of Pattern VI sentences with intransitive verbs
English 402:
Grammar

4. slide 4: Reed-Kellogg diagram of a Pattern VI sentence
English 402:
Grammar
As illustrated in the “Sentences” lecture, the basic
structure of a Reed-Kellogg diagram of a Pattern VI
sentence with an intransitive verb is relatively simple.
Here again is the diagram of the sentence Jesus wept:

5. Extra adverbials (see the previous lecture “Optional Slots”)
can be added to Pattern VI sentences:
Jesus wept softly.
optional adverbial
The boat has sailed into the horizon.
optional adverbial
The City of Light fell June 14, 1940.
optional adverbial
slide 5: optional adverbials in Pattern VI sentences
English 402:
Grammar

6. Compare Pattern I sentences where the ADV/TP is required
(i.e., not optional):
*Farnsworth is. (ungrammatical because be
requires a following ADV/TP)
Farnsworth is late.
adverbial of time
Farnsworth is here.
adverbial of place
slide 6: Pattern I adverbial requirement
English 402:
Grammar

7. Compare Pattern I sentences where the ADV/TP is required (i.e., not
optional):
*Farnsworth is quickly. (ungrammatical because quickly is
an adverbial of manner, which
cannot occur after be)
*Farnsworth is often. (ungrammatical because often is
an adverbial of frequency, which
cannot occur after be)
*Farnsworth is from greed. (ungrammatical because from
greed is an adverbial of
reason/cause/purpose, which
cannot occur after be)
slide 7: ungrammaticality of some adverbials with Pattern I sentences
English 402:
Grammar

8. But such adverbials can occur freely in Pattern VI sentences:
Farnsworth worked quickly.
Farnsworth cried often.
Farnsworth cheated from greed.
slide 8: illustration of adverbials’ freedom of occurrence in Pattern VI sentences
English 402:
Grammar