Section 8.10 Common Misconceptions
Even after learning the six patterns, a handful of recurring errors continue to appear. They are predictable enough that addressing them directly will save considerable confusion. In each case the error comes from applying a rule too broadly, or from failing to apply the removal tests that distinguish core arguments from optional modifiers. The four misconceptions below are the ones students most commonly encounter.
"Adverbials change the pattern".
Wrong: “The birds sang beautifully in the garden.” = Pattern 4?
Right: Adverbials don’t affect pattern. Remove them: “The birds sang.” = Pattern 1 (Intransitive)
"A PP after the verb means transitive".
Wrong: “She walked to the store.” = Transitive with “the store” as object?
Right: “To the store” is a PP functioning as adverbial. Pattern 1 (Intransitive)
"Long sentences must be complex patterns".
Wrong: A long sentence must be Pattern 5 or 6?
Right: Length doesn’t determine pattern. “The exhausted marathon runner from Kenya who had trained for years finally collapsed at the finish line” is still Pattern 1 (Intransitive).
"Linking verbs are always linking".
Wrong: “Feel” is always linking?
Right: Many verbs can be linking OR transitive:
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The silk feels smooth. (Pattern 3—linking)
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She felt the bump. (Pattern 4—transitive)
