Mastering Verb Complementation: Intransitive, Transitive & Complex Forms

Understanding Verb Complementation Types

Verb complementation describes the grammatical elements that follow a verb to complete its meaning. This document details four primary types: intransitive, monotransitive, ditransitive, and complex-transitive verbs.

Intransitive Verbs

An intransitive verb does not require any complements. Some verbs are always intransitive, as seen in these examples: John has arrived or Your views do not matter.

Monotransitive Verbs

Monotransitive verbs require a direct object, which can manifest in several forms:

• Noun Phrase: Noun phrases can become the subject of a corresponding passive clause. For example: The problem was understood (by everyone).
• Finite Clause: These include various types:
  • That-clause as Object: Everyone hoped that she would sing.
  • Factual Verbs: They agreed that she was misled.
  • Suasive Verbs: People are demanding that he should leave the company.
• Non-finite Clause: As a direct object, these can be:
  • Wh-infinitive Clauses: The Curies discovered how to isolate radioactive elements.
  • Subjectless Infinitive Clauses: Ruth prefers to go by bus.

Complex-Transitive Verbs

In complex-transitive complementation, the two elements following the complex-transitive verb exhibit a subject-predicate relationship. An example is: She considered her mother to be a sensible woman. The main types of relationships are between:

• Direct Object and Object Complement: The secretary left all the letters unopened.
• Direct Object and To-infinitive Clause: The police reported the traffic to be heavy.
• Direct Object and Adjunct: Here, the verb is complemented by a direct object followed by a predication adjunct. For instance: I slipped the key into the lock.

Ditransitive Verbs

Ditransitive complementation involves two object noun phrases: an indirect object (usually animate) and a direct object (normally inanimate). Most ditransitive verbs can also be used monotransitively. For example: He gave the girl a doll.

However, ditransitive verbs can also take other types of complements:

• Prepositional Objects: We addressed our remarks to the children, where the second object is a prepositional object.
• That-clause: Natalie convinced Derek (that) she was right or Estelle mentioned (to me) that her daughter was getting married.
• Wh-clause Object: Martin asked what time the meeting would end, where the second object is a finite wh-clause.
• To-infinitive Clause Objects: This pattern is used with verbs to introduce indirect directives.