Review of Basic Sentence Elements:
Transitive vs. Intransitive Verbs and Active vs. Passive Voice

Transitive Verbs and Objects

A transitive verb must be followed by a direct object. Transitive verb can be abbreviated vt. A transitive verb is an action verb. The subject is the agent of a transitive verb; it performs the action of the verb. The object can be a noun, pronoun, gerund or infinitive.

These symbols [ ] _ _ < > ( ) are used to identify the parts of each sentence below

[subject]

_verb, transitive_

<direct object>

(prepositional phrases)

 

[Kay] _has_ a <job> as a software engineer. (n obj)

[She] _prefers_ <writing> software (for games). (ger obj)

[She] _likes_ <to make> the computer execute complex instructions. (inf obj)

[She] _enjoys_ <it> very much. (pron obj)

 

Intransitive Verbs

An intransitive can not be followed by an object. Intransitive verb can be abbreviated vi. An intransitive verb can be an acion verb or a nonaction (stative) verb. Some sentence with vi are complete without any words after the vi.

These symbols [ ] _ _ < > ( ) are used to identify the parts of each sentence below

[subject]

_verb, intransitive_

<complement>

(prepositional phrases)

 

[Bill] _hurried_.

[He] _ran_.

The [bus] _left_.

[Bill] _waited_.

Other words may be added to give more information to verbs like those above.

[Bill] _hurried_ (to the bus stop).

[He] _ran_ (after the bus), but the [bus] _left_ (without him).

[Bill] _waited_ silently (for the next bus).

 

Some intransitive verbs are not complete unless they have a word or phrase after the vi.

They are. INCOMPLETE

I felt. INCOMPLETE

She became. INCOMPLETE

This kind of intransitive verb requires a complement to complete the meaning of the sentence. This kind of vi is often called a linking verb. The most common linking verb is BE. The complement describes the subject.

[They] _are_ <excited>. (adj comp)

[They] _are_ <students>. (n comp) THEY = STUDENTS

[I] _felt_ <unhappy>. (adj comp)

[She] _became_ a <dancer>. (n comp) SHE = DANCER

 

Active Voice vs. Passive Voice

Only transitive verbs can be used in both active voice and passive voice constructions. The object of the active construction is used as the subject of the passive construction. Sometimes a by phrase is used to identify the agent of the verb.

A [mosquito] _bit_ me. ACTIVE

[I] _was bitten_ (by a mosquito). PASSIVE

The by phrase is not used if the agent of the verb is unnecessary, unimportant, unknown, or understood from the context.

[Students] _have used_ that textbook (for many years).ACTIVE

That [textbook] _has been used_ (for many years). PASSIVE

An intransitive verb must used in the active voice. A vi cannot be used in the passive voice because it has no object.

An [accident] _occurred_ (at the corner) (of Main Street and Carpenter Blvd).

NOT An accident was occurred at the corner of Main Street and Carpenter Blvd.

 

Compound Sentence Elements

Many parts of a sentence can be compounded. When joining two of the same type of element into a compound, the coordinating conjunctions and and or are used. Note the use of commas in the compounding patterns

The compound elements below are marked with the symbols [ ].

Compound subjects:

[Mary], [Tom], and [Bill] went out for lunch.

[Tigers], [pandas], and [monkeys] can be seen at the zoo.

Compound verbs:

The students [have read] the chapter, [done] the exercises and [submitted] their papers to the teacher.

Sharon [doesn't smoke], [drink], or [use] drugs.

Compound objects:

Patricia bought a new [computer], a 17-inch [monitor], and a color [printer].

Henry doesn't know how to use a microwave [oven], an answering [machine], or a [VCR].

Compound adjective complements:

Dillon is [intelligent], [outgoing], and [enthusiastic].

Commuting at rush hour isn't [relaxing], [pleasant], or [healthy].

Compound noun complements:

Leonardo da Vinci was a brilliant [scientist], [artist], and [inventor].

Sue isn't a hard [worker] or a team [player].