The predicate. Ditransitive and copular verbs.

The predicate is the verbal component of a sentence or clause which expresses a state, an action, or an event. The predicate may consist simply of a verb as in Tom disappeared or of a verb followed by one or more complements, that is words or phrases added to a verb to complete the predicate, without which sentences would be incomplete as in All the men wore* [dark suits], or have a different meaning as in They found the test [difficult].

Every verb or class of verbs can be followed by the particular number and type of objects and complements.

Ditransitive verbs take two objects, a direct object and an indirect one. These verbs denote actions which involve someone in addition to the people or things that are the subject and object of the sentence. This third participant is someone who benefits from the action or receives something as a result. They become the indirect beneficiary and indirect recipient objects. The direct object as usual is the person or thing that something is done to. For example, / gave John a book, where John is the indirect recipient object and the book is the direct object. Each of these objects can become subject in a passive structure: John was given a book. A book was given to John. Ditransitive verbs can also take one object followed by a predicate complement: It reminds me of Italy, both of which are obligatory, but the latter cannot become subject in the passive.

The possible realizations of these two main complementation patterns can be summarized as follows:.

1. Indirect Object + Direct Object He gave Esther a present.

2. Object + Predicate Complement He wished me success.

NG (noun group)+ infinitive phrase He told us to sit down.

Sometimes instead of a NG as a direct object, a nominal relative clause can be used: Tell whoever calls to leave the keys.

Order of objects. The indirect object is put immediately after the verb group, in front of the direct object. He had lent Tim the money.

Instead of putting the indirect object in front of the direct object, it is possible to put it in a prepositional phrase that comes after the direct object. Ralph passed a message to Jack.

Here is a list of verbs which can have an indirect object introduced by to: accord, give, mail, quote, show, advance grant, offer, read, sing. I had lent my apartment to a friend for the weekend.

If the action you are describing involves one person doing something which will benefit another person, you can use the preposition for to introduce the indirect object. Here is a list of verbs which can have an indirect object introduced by for: fetch, mix, save, find, order secure, fix, pain, set.

There are some ditransitive verbs where the indirect object almost always comes in front of the direct object rather than being introduced by to or for. allow, bet, cost, envy, promise, ask.

She allowed her son only two pounds a week.

COPULAR VERBS

Copular verbs take one complement and serve as a link to what the referent'of the subject is or becomes. The complement of a copular verb is often called the subject complement and can be expressed by a noun phrase, or a prepositional phrase. The most common copular (link verb) is be. Other verbs used as copulas in English provide additional meaning to mere linking.

They may be sensory (look, feel, smell, sound, taste); situational, or current (remain, keep, seem, appear) or refer to a process of becoming or changing (become, get, grow, turn, prove, come, turn out, end up).

The reason is simple. He kept quiet about his win at the lottery.

The show turned out a success.

Verbs referring to a process of becoming or change of state (get, become, come, fall, go, grow, run, turn) usually occur in certain fixed idiomatic expressions. Get is normal with imperatives referring to a temporary personal condition, as in angry. Don't get excited.

Become is normal with more abstract characteristics. He became ambitious. It gets dark early these days, doesn't it? The weather gradually became colder and colder, (more formal)

Idiomatic expressions with come include: The handle has come loose. The buttons on my coat came undone. His dream of winning a gold medal has come true. Fall denotes passing, especially suddenly or unintentionally, into a new state or condition.

Go shows passing into a different, often less favorable state, either by a natural change or by changing on purpose.Her hair's going grey. The milk went sour.

Go also shows changes in colour (not long lasting). His face went red when they made fun of him.

Grow means 'become gradually' (especially in a formal and literary style). She's growing fat.

Run can be used to show developing or passing into the stated (usually undesirable) condition.

The well has run dry.

Turn is used with adjectives of colour. His skin had turned / gone brown from the weeks he spent

working in the sun.

Some intransitive verbs can be used with complements in the same way as link verbs.

George stood motionless for at least a minute.

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