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verbs of perception: see, hear, feel – I felt my arm grasped from behind; and verbs of finding and leaving – Airport officials have found an unidentified bag abandoned in the coffee-shop.
Some of the variety of two-complement patterns is illustrated in this extract from the National Enquirer:
Sniffing food for about 30 seconds before you eat it can help you lose weight1 says an expert in weight loss. ‘You’re in fact tricking the brain into thinking2 that you’ve already eaten, explains Dr. Alan Hirsch, ‘so you don’t eat as much.’ In a study, Dr. Hirsch had 20 people sniff their food3 before eating it – and the results were amazing. ‘We found that they each lost between 10 and 12 pounds over a three-month period.’ So if you have an urge for a candy bar, hold it up to your nose4 for 30 seconds, then put it away.5 Usually you’ll be able to resist the urge to eat it! 1
help + Od + infinitive clause (potential action); 2trick + Od + prep. + -ing clause (metaphorical Goal); 3causative have + Od + infinitive clause (action); 4hold + Od + two Loc/Goal Complements; 5put + Od + Loc/Goal Comp.
SUMMARY OF MAJOR VERB COMPLEMENTATION PATTERNS 1
No complement patterns with intransitive verbs V only (‘pure’ intransitive) V + implied object V (reciprocal meaning) V + obligatory locative
2
One-complement patterns with copular verbs V + AdjG V + NG
3
The post has arrived. That dog bites. They met at a party. She lives in Tokyo.
The game is very simple. This road is the M40.
One-complement patterns with monotransitive verbs V + NG V + prep + NG
That dog bit me. I’ll see to the sandwiches.
Finite clause V + finite that-clause V + finite wh-clause
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ENGLISH GRAMMAR
He believes that he is right.