The English Language english language

Basic Clause Patterns

overt or “understood.”
Pattern 2 has the functional structure (81a), exemplified by (81b):

(81) a. Basic clause pattern 2 (81) b. Adam likes ribs
Subject Verb Head Direct Object

The formal pattern, (82a), contains a VP consisting of a transitive verb, (Vt),
and an NP. Its corresponding tree diagram is (82b):

(82) a. NP AUX [VPVt NP] (82) b. S

NP AUX VP

N Vt NP

N

Adam likes ribs

By definition any verb that takes an object is transitive. The objects are itali-
cized in the following examples of pattern 2:

(83) a. Adam likes ribs.

b. Eve enjoys apples.

c. The snake held a particularly luscious Granny Smith.

d. Occasionally, Adam would accept small appealing gifts from Eve.

e. Adam likes those who offer something for nothing.

Regardless of the complexity of the direct object NPs in (83), these sen-
tences still represent pattern 2.
A convenient test for this pattern is to replace the NPs with appropriate
pronouns. The result will be of the following pattern:

(84) He/she/it/they - Verb - him/her/it/them
Nominative Accusative

The nominative pronouns replace the subject NP; the accusative pronouns
replace the object. By this test, sentences (83a) and (83e) both reduce to He