How to Remember the 5 Canonical Clause Structures

The five canonical clause structures are 

• Ordinary Intransitive: Subject - Predicate
• Complex Intransitive: Subject - Predicate - Predicative Complement
• Ordinary Monotransitive: Subject - Predicate - Direct Object
• Complex Transitive: Subject - Predicate - Direct Object - Predicative Complement
• Ditransitive: Subject - Predicate - Indirect Object - Direct Object

How do we identify each structure? Easy!

• We hesitated. 

We is the subject. Hesitated is the verb/predicator. 

This is an ordinary intransitive clause structure.

• We felt happy. 

We is the subject. Felt is the verb/predicator. Happy modifies the verb/predicator, which makes it the predicative complement. 

This is a complex intransitive clause structure.

• We sold our house. 

We is the subject. Sold is the verb/predicator. Our is the dependent genitive that shows the ownership of the object. House is the object directly influenced by the verb.

This is an ordinary monotransitive clause structure.

• We made them happy. 

We is the subject. Made is the verb/predicator. Them is the direct object because it is influenced by the verb. Happy is the predicative complement because it modifies the verb.

This is a complex transitive clause structure.

• We gave them some food.

We is the subject. Gave is the verb/predicator. Them is the indirect object because it is the receiver in this clause. Some Food is the direct object because it is the element that is influenced by the verb.