SENTENCE ANALYSIS

LAST NIGHT, AS I WAS EATING MY DINNER, SOMEONE KNOCKED AT THE DOOR. IT WAS VERY DARK OUTSIDE, SO I DIDN'T WANT TO OPEN IT. HOWEVER, I HAD TO DO IT SINCE I COULD HEAR A PERSON CALLING MY NAME. WHEN I OPENED THE DOOR, I COULD SEE NOBODY OUTSIDE. I GOT REALLY FRIGHTENED. I NEEDED TO KNOW WHO HAD UTTERED THOSE WORDS. THEN, I NOTICED THAT THE ROSES IN MY GARDEN HAD BEEN CUT. AFTERWARDS, A COLD HAND TOUCHED MY HAIR, WHICH MADE ME TREMBLE. MY FACE, WHICH IS USALLY PALE, WENT EVEN WHITER. IF I HAD KNOWN WHOSE HAND THAT WAS, I WOULDN'T HAVE FRIGHTENED THAT MUCH. MY BROTHER COULDN'T HELP LAUGHING FRANTICALLY AFTER THE INCIDENT, BUT I WAS TOTALLY ANGRY. THE SMILE THAT IS ALWAYS ON MY FACE DISAPPEARED COMPLETELY.

tenses

ENGLISH VERB TENSES -- TIME and ASPECT = MEANING

There are three times that can be indicated by verb tenses in English:

• present (or "non-past" -- the "default" time)
• past
• future

These times refer to the relationship of the "story" to the speaker (or writer).

There are three "aspects" that can be expressed:

• simple (the "default" aspect -- the time of focus)
• perfect (completion -- before the time of focus)
• progressive (or continuous) (duration -- in progress at the time of focus)
  (one verb phrase can indicate both perfect and progressive aspect)

These aspects refer to the relationship between the events inside the "story."

Verb Tense Final Test

Cumulative Verb Tense Review

Complete questions 1-10 below with the appropriate tenses, answer questions 11-15, then click the "Check" button to check your answers.

1. When Carol (call) last night, I (watch) my favorite show on television.

2. I (work) for this company for more than thirty years, and I intend to stay here until I retire!

3. Sharon (love) to travel. She (go) abroad almost every summer. Next year, she plans to go to Peru.

4. Thomas is an author. He (write) mystery novels and travel memoirs. He (write) since he was twenty-eight. Altogether, he (write) seven novels, three collections of short stories and a book of poetry.

5. We were late because we had some car problems. By the time we (get) to the train station, Susan (wait) for us for more than two hours.

6. Sam (try) to change a light bulb when he (slip) and (fell) .

7. Everyday I (wake) up at 6 o'clock, (eat) breakfast at 7 o'clock and (leave) for work at 8 o'clock. However, this morning I (get) up at 6:30, (skip) breakfast and (leave) for work late because I (forget) to set my alarm.

8. Right now, Jim (read) the newspaper and Kathy (make) dinner. Last night at this time, they (do) the same thing. She (cook) and he (read) the newspaper. Tomorrow at this time, they (do, also) the same thing. She (prepare) dinner and he (read) . They are very predictable people!

9. By this time next summer, you (complete) your studies and (find) a job. I, on the other hand, (accomplish, not) anything. I (study, still) and you (work) in some new high paying job.

10. The students (be, usually) taught by Mrs. Monty. However, this week they (be) taught by Mr. Tanzer.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

11.
Jane talks on the phone.
Bob has been talking on the phone for an hour.
Mary is talking on the phone.

Who is not necessarily on the phone now?

12.
I'm going to make dinner for Frank.
I'm making dinner for Judy.
I'll make dinner for Mary.
I make dinner for Ted.
I will be making dinner for Tony.

Who are you offering to make dinner for?

13.
Jane left when Tim arrived.
Bob left when Tim had arrived.
Tim arrived when Mary was leaving.
John had left when Tim arrived.
After Tim arrived, Frank left.

Who did not run into Tim?

14.
Jane is talking in class.
Bob always talks in class.
Mary is always talking in class.

Whose action bothers you?

15.
Jane never left Jamestown.
Bob has never left Jamestown.

Who is still alive?

SENTENCES FOR ANALYSIS

1) I CONSIDER STUDYING A WASTE OF TIME, BUT I SPEND THE WHOLE DAY WITH MY BOOKS ON SCIENCE.


2) JOHN'S MOTHER GOT OLD, SO HER LOVERS DESERTED HER.


3) WHICH CAR DO YOU LIKE?

4) I LIKE THE RED ONE.

5) WHEN DID YOU GO TO PARIS?

6) I WENT THERE IN 1962.

ANOTHER QUIZ ON PRONOUNS

Choosing the Correct Pronoun Case
In each of the following sentences, there are drop-down option menus where you must select the appropriate pronoun form. Submit the quiz using the CHECK ANSWERS button at the end of the exercise. Incorrect answers will be marked with an X and correct answers will get a sideways grin: :) The computer will also give you the percentage of correct answers. If you miss any, retake the quiz (by reloading the quiz) until you get them all correct.

1)It's up to (US/WE) geologists to warn the people of impending volcanic activity.

2)The principal made Jayden and (I/ME) repair the damage to the auditorium wall.

3) The writers of the bylaws, Micki and (HE/HIM) presented a report to the senate.

4) If it were up to Marylynn and (I/ME), the room would have been painted yellow.

5) Josie, Mary, and (HE/ HIM) rode their bikes all the way to New Hampshire.

6) The boss was worried that (WE/US) secretaries wouldn't do the work without additional compensation.

7) The family's running out of money, but that's a secret between his mother and (HE/HIM)

8) I really don't appreciate (YOU/ YOUR) walking late into class every morning.

9) The only students in the cafeteria this morning were Jayden and (I/ME)

10) I don't want anybody but (SHE/HER) working on this project.

TRANSITIVE- INTRANSITIVE- COPULATIVE VERBS

Verbs can be classified according to whether they are action verbs or linking verbs.

Action verbs
There are two types of action verbs: transitive and intransitive.

Transitive verbs
A transitive verb expresses an action and is followed by an object that receives the action of the verb.
In the following examples, transitive verbs are shown in color and direct objects of these verbs are underlined.


I washed (what?) the car yesterday.
I took (whom?) my sister to the movie.
John studies (what?) English.

Intransitive verbs An intransitive verb expresses an action but is not followed by an object. Applying (what?) or (whom?) test to an intransitive verb shows immediately that an object cannot follow.

Tom’s grades improved (what? whom?) with the help of a tutor.
The child cried (what? whom?) loudly.
The mother sang (what? whom?) to her children.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Many verbs can be both transitive and intransitive.

In the following examples, transitive verbs are shown in color and direct objects of transitive verbs are underlined. Intransitive verbs are shown in color and underlined.


John studies (what?) English.
John studies hard.
The mother sang (what?) the song to her children.
The mother sang to her children.
Linking Verbs
Linking verbs do not show action.


A linking verb (also called copulative verb) links or establishes a relationship between the subject and its complement. It describes or renames the subject.

She is angry.
The word is (a form of the verb to be) links the subject she to the subject complement angry.

Linking Verb followed by predicate nouns:
My friend is a teacher.
Mike became the president of the company.

Linking Verb followed by predicate adjectives:
I feel nervous.
That pie tastes delicious.

List of common linking verbs
appear, become, feel, get, go, grow, look, prove, remain, seem, smell, sound, taste, turn and any form of the verb be. See The verb "To Be" below.

Only become and seem are always linking verbs. Other verbs from the list above sometimes can function as action verbs.
In the following examples, verbs feel and taste are functioning as action verbs.
I feel pain from the injury.
Taste the pie and tell me if you like it.

To determine whether a verb is a linking verb substitute am, is, or are for the verb. If it fits – the substituted verb is a linking verb.
In the following examples, verb feel is substituted with am.

I feel nervous.
I am nervous.
Makes sense so feel is linking verb.


I feel pain from the injury.
I am pain from the injury.
Does not make sense so feel is action verb.

EXERCISE ON REFLEXIVE PRONOUNS

Reflexive and Reciprocal Pronouns
Decide whether you have to use the reflexive pronoun, the reciprocal pronoun (each other) or nothing.

John hurt ( himself - each other) when climbing the tree.
Peter and Sue helped (themselves- each other-) with the homework.
I feel (myself-each other-) much better today.
Did she make( herself- each other-)a cup of tea?
The wild monkey looked at (itself- each other-) in the mirror.
Brigit and Billy smiled at (themselves-each other-).
We're meeting (ourselves- each other-) at the station.
During the meeting, Jane and Mary were talking to (themselves-each other-).
I don't remember (myself-each other-) where we spent our holiday last year.
We need to concentrate (ourselves-each other-.)

TRANSITIVE INTRANSITIVE VERBS -ARTICLE AND EXERCISE

Transitive verbs
A transitive verb takes a direct object; that is, the verb transmits action to an object.

He sent the letter. ( letter = direct object of sent)

She gave the lecture. ( lecture = direct object of gave)


In these sentences, something is being done to an object.

A transitive verb can also have an indirect object that precedes the direct object. The indirect object tells to or for whom the action is done, although the words to and for are not used. In the following examples, notice the difference between the direct and indirect objects.

The direct object (letter) receives the action (sent). The indirect object (Robert) is the person to whom the letter is sent.

He sent Robert the letter.


The direct object (lecture) receives the action ( gave). The indirect object ( class) is the group to whom the lecture is given.

She gave her class the lecture.


Learn to recognize words that are direct and indirect objects of verbs. When these words are pronouns, they must be in the objective case.

Intransitive verbs
An intransitive verb does not take an object.

She sleeps too much.

He complains frequently.


In these sentences, nothing receives the action of the verbs sleep and complain.

Many verbs can be either transitive or intransitive.

She sings every day. (no object = intransitive)
She sings spirituals. (spirituals receives the action of sings = transit



Transitive and Intransitive Verbs
Depending on the type of object they take, verbs may be transitive, intransitive, or linking.

The meaning of a transitive verb is incomplete without a direct object, as in the following examples:

INCOMPLETE
The shelf holds.
COMPLETE
The shelf holds three books and a vase of flowers.
INCOMPLETE
The committee named.
COMPLETE
The committee named a new chairperson.
INCOMPLETE
The child broke.
COMPLETE
The child broke the plate.
An intransitive verb, on the other hand, cannot take a direct object:

This plant has thrived on the south windowsill.
The compound verb "has thrived" is intransitive and takes no direct object in this sentence. The prepositional phrase "on the south windowsill" acts as an adverb describing where the plant thrives.

The sound of the choir carried through the cathedral.
The verb "carried" is used intransitively in this sentence and takes no direct object. The prepositional phrase "through the cathedral" acts as an adverb describing where the sound carried.

The train from Montreal arrived four hours late.
The intransitive verb "arrived" takes no direct object, and the noun phrase "four hours late" acts as an adverb describing when the train arrived.

Since the company was pleasant and the coffee both plentiful and good, we lingered in the restaurant for several hours.
The verb "lingered" is used intransitively and takes no direct object. The prepositional phrase "in the restaurant for several hours" acts as an adverb modifying "lingered."

The painting was hung on the south wall of the reception room.
The compound verb "was hung" is used intransitively and the sentence has no direct object. The prepositional phrase "on the south wall of the reception room" acts as a adverb describing where the paint hung.

Many verbs can be either transitive or intransitive, depending on their context in the sentence. In the following pairs of sentences, the first sentence uses the verb transitively and the second uses the same verb intransitively:

transitive
According to the instructions, we must leave this goo in our hair for twenty minutes.
In this example, the verb "leave" takes a direct object, the noun phrase "this goo."

intransitive
We would like to stay longer, but we must leave.
In this example, the verb "leave" does not take a direct object.

transitive
The audience attentively watched the latest production of The Trojan Women.
In this example, the verb "watch" is used transitively and takes the noun phrase "the latest production of The Trojan Women" as a direct object.

intransitive
The cook watched while the new dishwasher surreptitiously picked up the fragments of the broken dish.
In this example, the verb "watched" is used intransitively and takes no direct object.

intransitive
The crowd moves across the field in an attempt to see the rock star get into her helicopter.
Here the verb "moves" is used as an intransitive verb and takes no direct object.

transitive
Every spring, William moves all boxes and trunks from one side of the attic to the other.
In this sentence "moves" is used as a transitive verb and takes the noun phrase "all the boxes and trunk" as a direct object.



Written by Heather MacFadyen







FIND THE FINITE VERB IN EACH SENTENCE AND STATE WHETHER IT IS TRANSITIVE OR INTRANSITIVE

1) Kim Worked all day long.
2) James Oglethorpe founded Georgia.
3) The class nominated Ella for the position.
4) In 1847, Abe Lincoln gave his first speech as a member of the House of Representatives.
5) Actor Tom Selleck turned down the role of Indiana Jones for the film Raiders of the Lost Ark.
6) Deb and Simon have been jogging all morning long.
7) The conductor fell during the concert.
8) Professor Zeeman proved the difficult theorem in under five minutes.
9) My mother lived in Peru during her childhood.
10) My grandmother makes a great cake.