ABSTRACT
You now know that the basic sentence consists of a Noun Phrase (functioning as subject) followed by a Verb Phrase (functioning as predicate). You have encountered several examples of VPs, though very little has been said about them. This chapter deals with the general structure (the immediate constituents) of the VP half of the basic sentence. Paddle, sunbathed beside a stream, loves fish, hated the chips, dreads affectionate cats, and seemed happy are all VPs. As these VPs illustrate, categories introduced in previous chapters may appear in the VP, including Noun Phrases. Within the VP, however, NPs have different functions. It is with these different functions of NP and other categories of phrase that I am primarily concerned here.
