comprehensive english for ielts
TRANSCRIPT
Professional Diploma in
Comprehensive English for IELTS
Lesson 5: Things Verbs Can Do
Lesson
Objectives
Define subjects, verbs, and objects
Comprehend transitivity
Apply knowledge of transitivity to avoid grammatical errors
5
How did it go?
Convert the following sentences into reported speech:
My mother asked, ‘Did Sally make her bed?’
My mother says (to Sally), ‘Make your bed!’
My mother says (to Sally), ‘Please make your bed.’
My mother asks (Sally), ‘Will you please make your bed?’
Lesson 5 challenge feedback
Sentence 1
My mother asked, ‘Did Sally make her bed?’
My mother asked if Sally had made her bed.
Sentence 2
My mother says (to Sally), ‘Make your bed!’
My mother tells Sally to make her bed.
Sentence 3
My mother says (to Sally), ‘Please make your bed.’
My mother asks Sally to make her bed.
Sentence 4
My mother asks (Sally), ‘Will you please make your bed?’
My mother asks Sally to make her bed.
How did it [email protected]
Transitivity
Subjects, verbs, and objects
Subject
What is a subject?
A word or phrase usually at the beginning of a
sentence
Always a noun or noun phrase
Doer
Person or thing that performs the action
Example:Jane kicks the ball.
Person or thing that is undergoing a process
or feeling
Example:Jane is feeling quite
ill today.
Theme
When we talk about a concept or the qualities
of a person
Example:Jane is a wonderful
person.
Experiencer
Practice• The hospital staff are working long hours.
What is the subject of the sentence?
the hospital staff
Verb
What is a verb?
An actionShow relationship
between noun phrases
I ate the bread. Jane appears ill today.
Sentence without verb is incomplete
Tense has the power to change grammatical characteristics
Different verbs demand different types of sentence structures
Verb transitivity
Notes about verbs
Object
What is an object?• Noun phrase usually after the verb
• Affected by the verb
• Jane kicks the ball.
The ball is affected by the action
Subject
Verb
1
2
Object
Active sentences only
3
English word order
PracticeWhat is the object in this sentence?
• I saw her at the shops.
her
at the shops
Types of objects
Direct objects Indirect objects
Example sentence
I gave her a book.
Subject Verb Object Object
Direct object Indirect object
Transitivity
Transitivity defined
Two objects: her and a book
• How many objects a verb takes
• I gave her a book.
What if we remove the
objects?I gave her a
book.I gave her. I gave.
Why can’t you remove the objects?
Transitivity of verb give
Give wants two objects
All verbs are different
Transitivity types
Verbs that require one object
Examples:
He described his favourite book.
I borrowed the book.
She told a joke.
Transitive verbs
Ditransitive verbs• Verbs that require two objects
• Examples:
I gave her a book.
They told her a lie.
No preposition or conjunction that connects verb to object
I borrowed the book.
I borrowed for the book.
Think of a conjunction or preposition as glue
Attaching objects to transitive and
ditransitive verbs
Intransitive verbs
Verbs that don’t take an object
She sneezed.
He ran. They ate.
She sneezed on me.
He ran towards the swimming pool.
Common errors
Transitive and ditransitive error
Using glue when not necessary
Verbs already want the objects – no glue
necessary
Example 1
I discussed about my favourite book.
I discussed my favourite book.
Example 2
She told to me to make my bed.
She told me to make my bed.
Example 3
He described about the benefits of gardening.
He described the benefits of gardening.
Example 4
I requested for another glass of water.
I requested another glass of water.
Example 5
He gave to his sister a cell phone.
He gave his sister a cell phone.
Example 6
She borrowed for the book.
She borrowed the book.
Intransitive error
We have to attach nouns after
verb with glue
Error: forgetting the glue
Example 1She sneezed the table.
She sneezed on the table.
Example 2I complained Abby.
I complained to Abby.
Example 3They arrived the holiday resort.
They arrived at the holiday resort.
RecapTransitive or ditransitive:
No glue necessary
Intransitive: Glue necessary
Challenge
Explain why the following sentences are ungrammatical, and make the necessary changes to correct them:
• She gave to him the keys.
• He showed up the party two hours late.
• The rude mother shouted her children.
#shawtransitivity
See you soon for
6 7
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5 6 7
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Completed lessons
8L e s s o n 6