This document discusses the syntactic classification of verbs into different categories based on their argument structure. It describes transitive verbs as requiring a direct object and possibly an indirect object. Monotransitive verbs require only a direct object. Bitransitive verbs can take a direct object and indirect object in either order. Complex transitive verbs take a direct object and a locative adverbial complement rather than an indirect object. Intransitive verbs do not take any objects and are divided into IVCP, which do not take any complements, and IVIP, which must be followed by a predicative or adverbial complement.

1. SYNTACTIC CLASIFICATION OF
VERBS
Slide 2: Transitive verbs
Slide 3:Monotransitive verbs
Slide 4: Bitransitive verbs
Slide 5: Complex transitive verbs
Slide 6: Intransitive verbs
Slide 7: IVCP
Slide 8: IVIP

2. MONO TRANSITIVE VERBS
They require only a direct object. They cannot
take and indirect one because we use it as the
reciever of the action that the direct object gives.
For example:
Rob- someone robbed the national bank
In this case the direct object is the national bank so
we say that this verb is monotransitive.
Slide 1: Home

3. TRANSITIVE VERBS
 We call transitive verbs to those verbs that require:
 Direct object
 Indirect object
 Adverbial compliments
 Slide 1: Home

4. BITRANSITIVE VERBS
 They can take direct object + indirect object or the
other way around.
 DO+ IO I gave the book to peter.
 IO + DO I gave peter the book.
 Peter is the IO or to peter in the case of the first
sentence, whereas the book is the direct object.
 Slide 1: Home

5. COMPLEX TRANSITIVE VERBS
 These kind of verbs are more complex because
they do take 3 arguments, but the 3rd one is not the
IO but an adverbial complement, which is usually a
locative one
 For example:
 I put the books on the shelf
 In this case on the shelf is the locative complement
and the book still remains as the DO
 Slide 1: Home

6. INTRANSITIVE VERBS
They don’t require neither a DO nor an IO.
They can be IVCP (intransitive verbs of compele
predication) or IVIP (intransitive verbs of incomplete
predication)
Examples of IVCP
Run,walk,run,shine,glow,burp,light, and so forth.
Examples of IVIP
Appeare, exist,go,arrive,be,remain, and so forth
Home

7. IVCP
Also called unergative verbs, they do not any
complement after them.
They are divided in 4 groups:
Manner or motion: crawl, dance, gallop, jog, etc. Slide 8
Emissionof light: flash, gleam, glitter, glow, etc
Emission of sound belch, burp, bark, cough etc
Emission of smell reek, smell, stink.
Emission of substance bleed, gush, leak, sweat, etc.
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8. IVIP
 They are also called unaccusative verbs.
 They must be followed by: either a predicative complement or
an adverbial compliment (usually locative and time)
 They are divided in 5 groups
 Directed motion: go,arrive,leave,fall,etc.
 Manner or motion + PP: Slide 7
 Spatial configuration: sit, stand, lie, lean, etc.
 Exisatance or apperance exist, appear, flourish, thrive,
emerge, arise.
 Stative verbs: be,remain,look,seem,become,grow.
 Home