English Grammar Units 1 - 3

The following is NOT a type of verbal complementation:

• a) Complex-transitive

• b) Copular

• c) Objective

Answer explanation

Objective is not a verbal complementation. Verb complementation patterns include, among others:
-One-complement patterns with copular verbs
-Two-complement patterns with complex-transitive verbs.

What is the syntactic valency of the verb “to wait”?

• a) One

• b) two

• c) three

Answer explanation

Syntactic valency refers to the number of nominal elements present in any given clause that have a direct grammatical relation to the verb.

What is the semantic valency of the verb “to wait”?

• a) One

• b) Two

• c) Three

Answer explanation

The potential number of participants, including the subject- that is, the number of places in the clause that the verb controls is the semantic valency.

What type of element canot be found in intransitive constructions?

• a) Locative complements

• b) Subject complements

• c) Object complements

Answer explanation

Where there is no complementation the verb is said to be intransitive. However, some intransitive verbs of position or movement may require a Locative or Goal Complement respectively, and copular verbs usually require a Subject Complement.

What is “to talk to” in: He became grumpy and difficult to talk to”?

• a) Adjectival complement

• b) Supplementive clause

• c) An attributive

Answer explanation

An adjective complement is a clause or phrase that adds to the meaning of an adjective or modifies it. The adjective complement always follows the adjective it complements and it is a noun clause or a prepositional phrase. Attributive Complements are realised by AdjGs and NGs.

Which of the following sentences does NOT contain a linking verb?

• a) The laces came undone.

• b) That proved to be a bad idea.

• c) He ran a marathon.

Answer explanation

Linking verbs do not express action. Instead, they connect the subject of the verb to additional information about the subject. The following verbs are true linking verbs: any form of the verb be [am, is, are, was, were, has been, are being, might have been, etc.], become, and seem.

Which two functions are played by the same element in an ergative pair?

• a) subject and predicate

• b) subject and direct object

• c) direct object and indirect object

Answer explanation

When the Affected object of a transitive clause is the same as the Affected Subject of an intransitive clause, we have an ergative pair. Subject and direct object are the two functions played by the same element in an ergative pair.

Which of the following sentences has NOT undergone valency reduction?

• a) I am.

• b) You eat.

• c) He sighs.

Answer explanation

Valency is reduced when one or more elements are omitted in use. For example, eat has a semantic valency of 2 as in He ate an orange; the valency is reduced to 1 in What time do you eat here?
Many three-place verbs allow valency reduction from 3 to 2 when there is contextual support. The valency is reduced from three to two, or from two to one when participants are not actualised.

What is the correct analysis of the predicate in: I believe in peace?

• a) V (believe) + adjunct (in peace)

• b) V (believe in) + PO (peace)

• c) V (believe) + in peace (Locative complement)

Answer explanation

Believe is a verb that takes a Prepositional Complement (a prepositional phrase with “in”). Thus, option b. is correct. Options a and c. are incorrect because “in peace” in neither an adjunct nor a locative complement.

What is the analysis of the predicate in: “I gave an ultimatum to the enemy”?

• a) DO+PO

• b) DO+IO

• c) DO+OC

Answer explanation

It is a Prepositional Object because the book considers the alternative prepositional paraphrase of the Oi as a Op. It is simply the mere presence of the preposition that makes this object a Prepositional Object.