Group assignments Unit 1

1. Sentence Collection

Find an example of a sentence of each type in a written source, diagram each sentence, and provide, using appropriate tests (e.g., considering coreference) a clear explanation in grammatical terms of the reasoning behind your analyses. Please provide citations for the sources of your sentences.

  1. Pattern III sentence
  2. Pattern IV sentence
  3. Pattern VI sentence
  4. Pattern VII sentence
  5. Pattern VIII sentence
  6. Pattern IX sentence
  7. Pattern X sentence
  8. Sentence with expletive there

2. Sentence Construction

Construct each sentence according to the instructions, and diagram each sentence. You do NOT have to provide a written explanation for the sentences.

  1. Pattern I sentence ( be plus obligatory adverbial) in which a NP (noun phrase) is modified by an adjective or possessive.
  2. Pattern II sentence ( be plus adjectival subjective complement) in which there is also an adverbial PP (prepositional phrase).
  3. Pattern V sentence (linking verb plus NP subjective complement) linked by a coordinating conjunction to a sentence of any other pattern (compound sentence).
  4. Pattern VI sentence (sentence with intransitive verb) linked by a coordinating conjunction to a sentence of any other pattern (compound sentence).
  5. Pattern VII sentence (sentence with transitive verb and Direct Object) in which a NP is modified by an adjectival PP.
  6. Pattern IX sentence (sentence with adjective as objective complement) which has an adverbial PP.
  7. Pattern X sentence (sentence with NP as objective complement) in which a NP is modified by a adjectival PP.

3. Comments on Problematical Sentences

Each of these sentences has a problem. Some of the sentences are ungrammatical, because they violate basic rules of English sentence structure or restrictions on the use of specific lexical items (words). Others violate rules of usage, are not standard English, or are simply unfortunate in some way. For each sentence, describe the problem, providing an explanation in accurate grammatical terminology, and provide a corrected version. You do not have to diagram the sentences, but in some cases, you may find diagrams helpful in illustrating your explanations.

  1. Wilhelmina feels badly about her behavior toward Alfred.
  2. George wanted to go to the movies, nevertheless, Alberta refused.
  3. Josephine behaved themselves.
  4. Matthew put the cat.
  5. Out the trash Wilhelmina took.
  6. Beowulf died the monster.

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Comments to: Sara Kimball
Last updated January, 2001