English as Second Language

Question

1.Nancy Pelosi just appointed Donald Trump “Dictator for Life.”

2. The baby slept soundly through the night.

3. Bob gave Doug a swift kick in the pants.

4. Sarah looks ravishing.

In the following sentences identify the subjects (Sub), the simple predicates (V – verb only), the direct objects (DO), indirect objects (IO), subject complements (SC), and object complements (OC). Then identify whether the verb is intransitive, monotransitive, intensive/linking, ditransitive, complex transitive or auxiliary.

Answer 1

Hello Christina,

I would have to disagree with Nadia G. on sentence #4.

The verb "looks" is a linking verb which links what follows it (subject complement) to the subject. Subject complements either renames the subject (if they are nouns or pronouns) or describe the subject (if they are adjectives) In this sentence "ravishing" describes the subject (Sarah).

The verb "be" is always a linking verb when it is the only verb or the main verb. Other verbs such as "look" can be linking or transitive/intransitive depending on their use. For example the following sentences use "looks" as a transitive and then intransitive verb.

John looks at the car.

John looks around.

Hope this helps.

Julie

Answer 2

Hi Christina,

Here are some possibilities:

1- Nancy Pelosi just appointed Donald Trump “Dictator for Life.”

Nancy Pelosi (S)

Appointed (V + ditransitive)

Donald Trump (DO)

Dictator for Life (OC)

2. The baby slept soundly through the night.

The baby (S)

slept (V+ Intransitive)

soundly through the night (predicate that describes the verb/How did the baby sleep? soundly through the night)

3. Bob gave Doug a swift kick in the pants.

Bob (S)

gave (V+ complex transitive+ditransitive)

Doug (IO)

a swift kick (DO)

in the pants (OC)

4. Sarah looks ravishing.

Sarah (S)

looks (V + intransitive)

ravishing (predicate that describes the verb/How does she look? ravishing)

If you need further help, you can contact me.

Best,

Nadia Greasley