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Syntax - The Verb Phrase

Total questions: 20

Worksheet time: 40mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

There are two kinds of verb in English __________________. The first type of verbs are the ones that belong to the indefinitely large general vocabulary of the language (e.g. run, eat, seem, explain, recycle, shatter, prepare, depend). While the second is formed by a special and very restricted set of verbs.

a)

lexical and auxiliary

b)

regular and irregular

c)

transitive and intransitive

d)

simple and complex

2.

There are six sub-categories of lexical verbs:

(1) transitive,

(2) intransitive,

(3) ditransitive,

(4) intensive,

(5) complex transitive,

(6) prepositional.

a)

True

b)

False

3.

The head of the VP in the sentence: Phil dreads affectionate cats is an example of:

a)

transitive verb

b)

intransitive verb

c)

ditransitive verb

d)

intensive verb

4.

The head of the VP in the sentence: Omar

sighed is an example of:

a)

transitive verb

b)

intransitive verb

c)

ditransitive verb

d)

prepositional verb

5.

The head of the VP in the sentence: The staff sent the general a message. is an example of:

a)

prepositional verb

b)

complex verb

c)

intransitive verb

d)

ditransitive verb

6.

The head of the VP in the sentence: Ed is rather extravagant is an example of:

a)

complex verb

b)

intensive verb

c)

ditransitive verb

d)

prepositional verb

7.

The head of the VP in the sentence: Max glanced at the falling acrobat is an example of:

a)

complex verb

b)

intensive verb

c)

transitive verb

d)

prepositional verb

8.

The head of the VP in the sentence: Jack finds his own jokes extremely funny is an example of:

a)

complex verb

b)

intensive verb

c)

transitive verb

d)

prepositional verb

9.

The structure of the following sentence is:

The girl in the palace dyed her hair a strange colour.

a)

Subject + Verb + Direct Object

b)

Subject + Verb + Indirect Object + Direct Object

c)

Subject + Verb + Subject-predicative

d)

Subject + Verb + Direct Object + Object-predicative

10.

The structure of the following sentence is:

The sedan-chair proved very useful.

a)

Subject + Verb + Direct Object

b)

Subject + Verb + Indirect Object + Direct Object

c)

Subject + Verb + Subject-predicative

d)

Subject + Verb + Direct Object + Object-predicative

11.

The structure of the following sentence is:

Someone stole my contact-lenses.

a)

Subject + Verb + Direct Object

b)

Subject + Verb + Indirect Object + Direct Object

c)

Subject + Verb + Subject-predicative

d)

Subject + Verb + Direct Object + Object-predicative

12.

The structure of the following sentence is:

Richard promised me his spaghetti machine.

a)

Subject + Verb + Direct Object

b)

Subject + Verb + Indirect Object + Direct Object

c)

Subject + Verb + Subject-predicative

d)

Subject + Verb + Direct Object + Object-predicative

13.

The structure of the following sentence is:

The Venetians submitted to Napoleon’s demands.

a)

Subject + Verb

b)

Subject + Verb + Prepositional Complement

c)

Subject + Verb + Subject-predicative

d)

Subject + Verb + Direct Object + Object-predicative

14.

The structure of the following sentence is:

The main witness for the prosecution disappeared.

a)

Subject + Verb

b)

Subject + Verb + Prepositional Complement

c)

Subject + Verb + Subject-predicative

d)

Subject + Verb + Direct Object + Object-predicative

15.

The structure of the following sentence is:

He applied for a gun licence.

a)

Subject + Verb + Direct Object + Indirect Object

b)

Subject + Verb + Prepositional Complement

c)

Subject + Verb + Subject-predicative

d)

Subject + Verb + Direct Object + Object-predicative

16.

The structure of the following sentence is:

Oscar feeds his cat smoked salmon.

a)

Subject + Verb + Indirect Object + Direct Object

b)

Subject + Verb + Prepositional Complement

c)

Subject + Verb + Subject-predicative

d)

Subject + Verb + Direct Object + Object-predicative

17.

Which analysis corresponds with the interpretation ‘the old teacher of Romanian history’?

a)

b)

c)

18.

Which verbs are of the same type as the verb in this verb phrase?

a)

show, tell, send

b)

search, listen, arrive

c)

be, look, sound

d)

announce, see, watch

19.

What's the difference between the verbs in the two phrase markers?

a)

In the first sentence the verb is intensive, while in the second it's intransitive.

b)

In the first sentence the verb is intensive, while in the second it's transitive.

c)

In the first sentence the verb is complex, while in the second it's intransitive.

d)

In the first sentence the verb is prepositional, while in the second it's transitive.

20.

Explain the difference in meaning between a and b:

4 lines