Before we review a sample passage, recall the strategy for recognizing Clause Types described earlier:

First, find the Main Verb Phrase. Everything that you do from here on out will be determined by your ability to find the Main Verb Phrase. If you are having any trouble with this, please talk to your instructor or start a conversation in your work group.

Once you find the main verb phrase, ask yourself this question:

1. Is the Main Verb Phrase a BE main verb? If yes, then the Clause Type is Type II, Type III, or Type IV. Always.
2. If the Main Verb Phrase is NOT a BE main verb, then the Clause Type is Type I or Type V.

• The woman is a doctor. --> BE main verb? YES --> Complement? --> NOMINAL --> Clause Type IV
• The boy is reading. --> BE main verb? NO --> BE + [-ing] + READ --> Direct Object? --> NO --> Clause Type I

Building on this strategy, we also want to make a couple of points about intransitive and transitive verbs.

A simple definition would define intransitive as a main verb phrase that does not require any other modifying elements. In this case, the main verb is intransitive, which means that the whole main verb phrase can stand alone. Transitive is a main verb phrase requires a (nominal) direct object. Like an intransitive, the main verb is transitive, therefore the whole main verb phrase (one word or an entire phrase) is transitive.

Seems pretty simple, eh?

The tricky part is recognizing that a large number of verbs can be both intransitive and transitive, so it is imperative that you analyze in context (see "who they're hanging out with"):

1. Savannah reads with Grandpa. Savannah can read with Grandpa. Savannah is reading with Grandpa. Savannah had read with Grandpa. Savannah has been reading with Grandpa.
2. Savannah reads a book with Grandpa. Savannah can read a book with Grandpa. Savannah is reading a book with Grandpa. Savannah had read a book with Grandpa. Savannah has been reading a book with Grandpa.

In the first set, the MVPs are all intransitive because none of the clauses have a direct object. In the second set, the MVPs are all transitive because each clause has a direct object. Even though both sets have the same MVP, you must identify all elements and understand how all of the pieces are working in each clause. Too often in the past, students have made the mistake of thinking that "READ can stand alone, so it must be intransitive," even if a nominal direct object is right there. Likewise, students have made the mistake of thinking that "READ can take a direct object, so it must be transitive," even when no nominal is present.

You must analyze in context. More importantly, for our purposes in this textbook, only analyze what you see. Don't add, don't subtract, don't try to determine deep or underlying structures.

Sentences often consist of a collection of clauses. As we stated previously, you might find multiple clause types embedded in a single sentence! The examples we have reviewed thus far have primarily been simple sentences, normally with a single clause; however, when analyzing in context, the work may be trickier.

Let’s review an example.

Margot’s mind reeled. She could hear the listless, scraping sounds of fingertips against the door. It haunted her to consider the sea of faces outside. They were faces she once knew in a different light, but now they were putrid reflections of squalor and decay. There was nothing left for her to glean from their lifeless eyes except the grim reminder that she was alone. She tried to ignore the thought, but it was difficult to swallow when she was the last bastion of humanity. Death awaited her outside.

When we are searching for clauses, we first need to identify all main verb phrases:

Margot’s mind reeled. She could hear the listless, scraping sounds of fingertips against the door. It haunted her to consider the sea of faces outside. They were faces she once knew in a different light, but now they were putrid reflections of squalor and decay. There was nothing left for her to glean from their lifeless eyes except the grim reminder that she was alone. She tried to ignore the thought, but she was the last bastion of humanity. And only death awaited her outside.

Once we know where the clauses are, we can proceed to break them apart and analyze them:

Margot’s mind reeled - Type I

• There is a noun and a verb, and not much else. Also, reeled does not require a direct object to receive its action. We can assume this clause is Type I

She could hear the listless, scraping sounds of fingertips against the door - Type V

• While the verb hear can be intransitive, hear is most commonly transitive: HEAR [something]. And if we analyze this sentence in context, there are two noun phrases that refer to different entities (i.e she and listless, scraping sounds are unrelated—they do not complement each other): Type V

It haunted her to consider the sea of faces outside - Type V

• Like the previous example, we have two noun phrases that do not refer back to each other, as well as a transitive verb that requires someone or something to receive the action.

They were faces - Type IV

• In this clause, we start with the presence of a BE Main Verb. Next, we recognize that they and faces refer to the same thing: they are complements. Since there is a nominal in the predicate that serves as a subject complement, we can assume this is a Type IV clause.

she once knew in a different light - Type I

• Knew appears like it can be be a transitive verb (KNEW [something]); however, if we analyze what we see, what follows knew is an adverbial prepositional phrase and can be deleted, therefore not required.

but now they were putrid reflections of squalor and decay - Type IV

• In this clause, we once again have a BE Main Verb, and we can see that they and putrid reflections are complements. What can be tricky is determining the function of PUTRID. In this case, the adjective PUTRID is modifying REFLECTIONS (and notTHEY). So the nominal REFLECTIONS serves as the subject complement.

There was nothing left for her to glean from their lifeless eyes - Type IV

• Again, BE Main Verb. NOTHING (a noun) is in the predicate. The subject (THERE) is followed by a linking verb (WAS), which is followed by a nominal subject complement (NOTHING).

except the grim reminder that she was alone - Type III

• Notice how this structure is extremely similar to Type IV clauses; however, we have an adjective in the predicate rather than a nominal. BE Main Verb followed by an adjectival subject complement: Type III.

She tried to ignore the thought - Type V

• Once again, TRIED can be either an intransitive or a transitive; however, do not allow the infinitive phrase to fool you. When reading this clause, attempt to replace the infinitive phrase with “something” (e.g. “she tried [something]”). If it makes sense, then we can assess that the infinitive phrase is functioning in a nominal role. Since the Main Verb is transitive, we can assume this is a Type V structure.

but she was the last bastion of humanity - Type IV

• Similar to previous examples, we have a BE Main Verb followed by a nominal phrase (THE LAST BASTION). OF HUMANITY is an adjectival prepositional phrase modifying BASTION.

And only death awaited her outside - Type V

• Once again, AWAITED could be either intransitive or transitive, but DEATH and HER refer to different entities, so HER is the direct object of AWAITED: Type V.

Finally, remember when analyzing clauses, always begin by identifying the main verb phrase. If your goal is then to determine the Clause Type of each clause, first determine the type of verb (linking = Type II-IV; intransitive = Type I; transitive = Type V), and then what follows the main verb phrase in the complement slot (Type I = nothing critical; Type II = adverb of time/place; Type III = adjectival; Type IV = nominal that renames subject; Type V = direct object, or nominal that is different from the subject).

To test your understanding of the concepts discussed on this page, begin with the link below for an example practice exercise:

CLAUSE TYPE PRACTICE EXERCISE

For a bit more of a challenge, analyze the following passage adapted from Heart of Darkness for clause types.

The sea-reach of the Thames stretched before us like the beginning of an interminable waterway. In the offing the sea and the sky were welded together without a joint, and in the luminous space the tanned sails of the barges drifting up with the tide seemed to stand still in red clusters of canvas sharply peaked, with gleams of varnished sprits. A haze rested on the low shores that ran out to sea in vanishing flatness. 

To review your answers to these two samples, check the CLAUSE TYPE SAMPLES ANALYSES page.