Descriptive Grammar handout 10 4/5 April 2009
Verb and adjective complementation dr Kinga Sądej
I. Multi-word verbs: prepositional verbs, phrasal verbs, phrasal-prepositional verbs
(a) They turned on the lights.
(b) We must go into the problem.
(c) They should do away with the death penalty.
How to distinguish between the prepositional verb and the phrasal verb?
The particle of a prepositional verb must precede the prepositional object, but the particle of a
phrasal verb can generally precede or follow the Od.
When the object is a personal pronoun, the pronoun follows the particle of a prepositional verb
but precedes the particle of a phrasal verb.
An adverb can often/potentially be inserted between verb and particle in prepositional verbs, but
not in phrasal verbs.
The particle of a phrasal verb cannot precede a relative pronoun or wh-interrogative.
The particle of a phrasal verb is normally stressed, whereas the particle of a prepositional verb is
normally unstressed.
Ex.1. Respond to the sentences below by completing the responses using pronouns.
1. He took in his parents completely.
How sad! How did he & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & .?
2. Why don t you confide in your mother?
I always do & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & ..
3. I cashed in all my shares.
You mean you & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & .
4. You can rely on your sister.
Of course I can & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & &
5. The dog turned on the postman.
Why did it & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & .& ..?
6. Marie takes after her father.
I don t think she & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & &
7. You should stand by your brother.
I always have & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & .
8. How can I keep out these wasps?
Why do you want to & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & .?
9. They insisted on silence.
How could they & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & .?
10. Look up words you don t know in the dictionary.
I always do & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & &
11. Call off the game!
Why should I & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & ?
12. Swim across the river!
But I don t want to & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & .
Ex.2. Say whether the adverb could fit into position (a), (b), (c) or (d).
1. They looked (a) at (b) the picture (c). [carefully]
2. They turned (a) on (b) the gas (c). [slowly]
3. He s catching (a) up (b) with (c) the leaders (d). [quickly]
4. The crowd made (a) for (b) shelter (c). [hurriedly]
5. I ll look (a) into (b) your complaint (c). [immediately]
6. He puts (a) up (b) with (c) any inconvenience (d) . [patiently]
Ex.3. Change the position of the word underlined if it s possible.
1. The Spartans brought up their children strictly.
2. We must hurry to make up for the lost time.
3. Please send this telegram off urgently.
4. Be careful. Don t run over that child.
5. We must find out the answer somehow.
6. Why don t you take off your coat?
II. Verb complementation: intransitive, (mono)(di)transitive, complex-transitive
1. Intransitive (including copulas)
Ex. 4. Compelete each sentence with a proper copula from the list below. You don t have to use all
verbs.
appear / be / become / feel / get / go / grow / look / make / remain / seem / smell / sound / taste / turn
1. Marie Curie & & . a famous scientist. 7. John & . a very good husband.
2. She & . devoted to her work. 8. The weather & . much warmer.
3. The work & .. more and morer interesting. 9. The poor old woman & . mad.
4. The chair & .. comfortable. 10. She & thin and wizened.
5. The milk & .. sour. 11. These four books & . for you.
6. My coffee & .. rather sweet. 12. He & . rather a fool.
2. Transitive complementation (a direct object can be a noun phrase, a finite clause, a non-
finite clause, an interrogative clause)
Ex. 5. Give the passive transformation, if one is possible, of the following sentences:
1. Builders built the house in 1966.
2. The Great Pyramid contains over two million blocks of stone.
3. Each block weighs two tons.
4. Has anyone weighed them recently?
5. A man with a scar across his face held my attention.
6. He hid himself behind one of the pillars.
7. He must have dyed his hair.
8. His coat didn t fit him properly.
9. I have a picture like it in my house.
10. No one has ever equalled your record.
11. I would like you to measure me for a suit.
12. The vendor has already sold this property.
Ex 6. Combine each of the following pairs of sentences so as to produce one single sentence with a
finite clause as object, omitting what is in brackets.
1. I have made a mistake. I admit (it).
2. Have I made a mistake? I wonder.
3. Have I given you the right figures? I doubt (it).
4. You pay me next week. I agree (to that).
5. What do you intend to do next? May I ask (that)?
6. Did we take the upper path or the lower one? Do you remember?
7. How could we find the way? We had to decide (that) quickly.
8. Where did we go wrong? Ah, now I know.
Ex.7. Complete the sentences using the correct non-finite form of the verb given.
1. Avoid (critisise) & & & & & & & & .. people.
2. Don t hesitate (pay) & & & & & & & & & . compliments.
3. Aim (do) & & & & & & & & .. some kind action every day.
4. Don t postpone (do) & & & & & & & & & something just because it s difficult.
5. Never fail (speak)& & & & & & & & .. in a good cause.
6. Try (realize) & & & & & & & .. how the other person feels.
7. Don t deny (be) & & & & & & & & . in the wrong.
8. Be prepared to admit (make) & & & & & & & & . mistakes.
9. Don t even consider (stop) & & & & & & & & . .
10. Resolve (be) & & & & & & & a good listener.
3. Complex-transitive
Ex.8. Complete the sentences with suitable expression from the list
the club / the membership / the present state of the club / the job / the bar / Janet / everyone / her /
herself / it
1. We ve appointed & & & & & .... treasurer.
2. We expect her to make & & & & & .. a success.
3. She called & & & & & & a mess.
4. She declared & & & & & & ... honoured to have been chosen.
5. She finds & & & & & & . challenging.
6. She hopes to keep & & & & & & & happy.
7. She plans to make & & & & & & & larger, to raise subscription income.
8. She wants & & & & & & & & open at lunch-time.
9. We think & & & & & & & .. a good idea to improve the bar.
10. I call & & & & & & & a super person.
Ex. 9. Say whether eac of these sentences is monotransitive or complex transitive:
1. We admitted that a mistake had been made.
2. Everyone considered the mistake to be very serious.
3. We consider you to be one of our most loyal supporters.
4. We fully recognized that you have had great difficulties.
5. We find you innocent of all the charges.
6. The Air Force has reported two planes missing.
4. Ditransitive complementation
Ex. 10. Complete the sentences, beginning as shown. Add suitable prepositions, and make any
necessary grammatical changes.
1. She looks like my cousin.
She reminds me & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & .
2.  Well done. I m so glad you ve passed your exam.
I congratulated her& & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & ..
3. It s wrong to keep offering people drinks.
 Don t keep plying & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & .
4. They said I d borrowed the car without asking.
They accused me & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & ..
5. I d like to meet your parents.
Please introduce me & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & .
6. My aunt sent me a wonderful present.
I must write and thank her & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & &
7. Some people ruin their own lives.
But you just can t prevent & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & .
8. Feminists propbably find it  degrading if anyone wants to buy them a meal.
It is probably very  sexist to try and treat & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & &
III. Adjective complementation (prepostional phrase, finite clause, non-finite clause)
Ex. 11. Supply an acceptable preposition to fill each gap.
1. We re accustomed & .& noise. 11. Are you jealous & & & & her?
2. George is ahead & ..& me. 12. I m glad & & & .. your prize.
3. Are you angry & & . us? 13. Don t be too hard & & .. me.
4. John is anxious & & & Mary. 14. He s hungry & & & knowledge.
5. Aren t you ashamed & & & yourself? 15. I m ignorant & & & . these facts.
6. I m not answerable & & .. anyone. 16. We re grateful & & & your help.
7. Jack is averse & & & .. hard work. 17. I d be glad & & & .. a rest.
8. Now we re bound & & & .. home. 18. He s not equal & & & . the task.
9. I m busy & & & . my accounts. 19. Don t feel inferior & & & . anyone.
10. The judge was deaf & & & . our appeal. 20. We re tired & & & . this exercise.