Name: ______Block
Parts of the Predicate: Transitive, Intransitive, and Linking Verbs
As you know, the predicate of the sentence is where the action occurs. It is where the verb is found. Verbs are classified as Transitive or Intransitive.
1. A Transitive Verb requires an object, a noun, to complete its meaning. The object of a transitive verb is affected, however slightly, by whatever the verb expresses:
Example - Mrs. Kaplan teaches sophomore literature. [The object sophomore literature is taught.
Example – The students read novels. [The object novels are read]
In the two examples above, literature and novels are the direct objects of the transitive verbs teaches and reads.
TRY IT! Look through your writing selections and find an example of a sentence that has a transitive verb. Copy the sentence below drawing a line from the VT to the DO.
2. An Intransitive Verbmakes an assertion without requiring any object.
Example – The Yankees lost.
Example – Andy Pettite pitched poorly on Friday.
TRY IT! Look through your writing selections and find an example of a sentence that has an intransitive verb. Copy the sentence below.
3. A Linking Verb, a special kind of intransitive verb, is one, which connects the subject to a noun, pronoun, or adjective in the predicate.
Example – Evan is going to Vassar College. [ is going connects Evan to Vassar College].
Example – Evan has been wait listed at Harvard College. [ has been connects Evan to wait listed]
The most frequently used linking verb is to be. Other commonly used linking verbs are become, seem, look, feel, get, and appear.
TRY IT - Look through one of your writing selections to find an example of a sentence that uses a linking verb. Copy it in the space below drawing a line from the verb to the noun it links.
Independent and Subordinate Clauses: Recognition of Prepositions and Subordinating Conjunctions
As you know, an independent clause is a Sentence. A subordinate clause is a dependent phrase or a fragment that is dependent on a missing subject. These fragments are often part of a prepositional or subordinating clause.
Prepositions and subordinating conjunctions can be distinguished from each other by what follows them and by the fact that there are a limited number of subordinating conjunctions.
Prepositions:Subordinating Conjunctions:
inif
bywhy
forhow
beneathalthough
because ofbecause
in spite ofinasmuch as
consideringprovided that
aboardwhere
exceptthat
thanthan
asas
1. A preposition is followed by a nominal (noun, pronoun, gerund phrase, or noun clause).
Example -
Because the grammar lesson was confusing [because is a subordinating conjunction introducing the subordinate clause which is dependent on the subject of the sentence, the students were distraught.
TRY IT! Write the complete sentence below with proper punctuation.
Example -
Before the lesson began [before is a subordinating conjunction introducing the subordinate clause the lesson began which is dependent on the subject of the sentence, the students took out their writing selections.
TRY IT! Write the complete sentence below with the proper punctuation.
2. Before, after, since, as, until are both preposition and subordinating conjunction depending on what follows:
Example –
Since this unit began [subordinating conjunction dependent on a subject]
Since the students were preparing for the SAT exam [prepositional conjunction dependent on a subject
TRY IT! Write two complete sentences using each of each of the clauses above.
TRY IT! Look through your writing selections, circling all the prepositional and subordinating conjunctions. Then, make sure they are punctuated correctly. Copy them in the space provided.