SUMMARY OF MAJOR VERB COMPLEMENTATION PATTERNS
1 No-complement patterns with intransitive verbs
V only (‘pure’ intransitive) The post has arrived.
V + implied object That dog bites.
V (reciprocal meaning) They met at a party.
V + obligatory locative She lives in Tokyo.
2 One-complement patterns with copular verbs
V + AdjG The game is very simple.
V + NG This road is the M40.
3 One-complement patterns with monotransitive verbs
V + NG That dog bit me.
V + prep + NG I’ll see to the sandwiches.
4 Finite clause
V + finite that-clause He believes that he is right.
V + finite wh-clause
(indirect interrog.) She asked what I meant.
(nominal relative) He believed what I told him.
(indirect exclamative) I said how glad I was.
5 Non-finite clause
V + non-finite to-infinitive clause
With implicit subject He wants to stay.
With explicit subject He wants us all to stay.
V + non-finite -ing clause
With implicit subject They like staying out late.
With explicit subject She doesn’t like their/ them staying out late.
Two-complement patterns with ditransitive verbs
V + NG NG I gave Jo a copy.
V + NG + prep + NG We reminded her of the time.
Finite clause
V + NG + that-clause He assured her that he cared.
V + NG + wh-interrog. clause She asked me where the library was.
V + NG + nominal wh clause He told me what I needed to know.
Non-finite clause
V + NG + to-inf clause She told us to sit down.
Two-complement patterns with complex-transitive verbs
V + NG + AdjG I found it useful.
V + NG + NG They consider him a genius.
V + NG + as + NG They denounced the bill as unconstitutional.
V + NG + obligatory locative Put the dish in the microwave.
Non-finite clause
V + NG + to-infinitive clause They believe him to be a genius.
V + NG + bare inf clause He made them stand up.
V + NG + bare infinitive She saw two men enter the shop.
V + NG + -ing clause He kept us waiting.
V + NG + -en clause I heard two shots fired.
