1. The Intransitive Verb Pattern
Ed McCorduck
English 402--Grammar
SUNY Cortland

2. “V-int” is intransitive verb intransitive:
slide 2: Pattern IV
Pattern VI
NP V-int
(subj) (pred vb)
“V-int” is intransitive verb
intransitive:
does not take an object (traditional grammar definition)
does not require a direct object or a complement
(descriptive grammar definition)
English 402: Grammar

3. slide 3: examples of Pattern VI sentences with intransitive verbs
exx
Jesus | wept.
The boat | has sailed.
The City of Lights | may have fallen.
English 402: Grammar

4. slide 4: Reed-Kellogg diagram of a Pattern VI sentence
As illustrated in the “Sentences” lecture, the basic structure of a Reed-Kellogg diagram of a Pattern VI sentence with an intransitive verb is relatively simple. Here again is the diagram of the sentence Jesus wept:
English 402: Grammar

5. slide 5: optional adverbials in Pattern VI sentences
Extra adverbials (see the previous lecture “Optional Slots”) can be added to Pattern VI sentences:
Jesus wept softly.
optional adverbial
The boat has sailed into the horizon.
The City of Lights fell June 14, 1940.
English 402: Grammar

6. slide 6: Pattern I adverbial requirement
Compare Pattern I sentences where the ADV/TP is required (i.e., not optional):
*Farnsworth is. (ungrammatical because be requires a following ADV/TP)
Farnsworth is late.
adverbial of time
Farnsworth is here.
adverbial of place
English 402: Grammar

7. slide 7: ungrammaticality of some adverbials with Pattern I sentences
Compare Pattern I sentences where the ADV/TP is required (i.e., not optional):
*Farnsworth is quickly. (ungrammatical because quickly is an adverbial of manner, which cannot occur after be)
*Farnsworth is often. (ungrammatical because often is an adverbial of frequency, which cannot occur after be)
*Farnsworth is from greed. (ungrammatical because from greed is an adverbial of reason/cause/purpose, which cannot occur after be)
English 402: Grammar

8. But such adverbials can occur freely in Pattern VI sentences:
slide 8: illustration of adverbials’ freedom of occurrence in Pattern VI sentences
But such adverbials can occur freely in Pattern VI sentences:
Farnsworth worked quickly.
Farnsworth cried often.
Farnsworth cheated from greed.
English 402: Grammar