Clause Patterns

8 Grade 10 English questions on Clause Patterns, with worked marking schemes. 8 questions are available on this topic in full.

1. Question 1

   1 mark

   Identify the sentence with the pattern Subject + Verb + Complement (SVC).

   A. Kibet's essay was surprisingly original.

   B. Our Form One class planted two hundred seedlings.

   C. The visitors arrived at dawn.

   D. The teacher gave Njoki a new exercise book.

   (1 mark)

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2. Question 2

   1 mark

   Which sentence uses an intransitive verb, giving the pattern Subject + Verb (SV)?

   A. The chief warned the traders.

   B. The sisal plantation covers three hundred acres.

   C. The soup tasted salty.

   D. The chameleon vanished.

   (1 mark)

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3. Question 3

   4 marks

   Explain the difference between a direct object and an object complement, using the sentence "The committee named Otieno the chairperson" in your explanation.

   (4 marks)

   Marking scheme

   1 mark each, max 4: (i) A direct object names the person or thing that receives the action of the verb. (ii) An object complement renames or describes the direct object. (iii) In the sentence, "Otieno" is the direct object. (iv) "the chairperson" is the object complement because it renames Otieno (accept: it does not refer to a second, different person, which is what distinguishes it from an indirect object).

4. Question 4

   3 marks

   Explain why the SVC pattern requires a linking verb such as "became" and cannot be formed with an action verb such as "kicked".

   (3 marks)

   Marking scheme

   1 mark each: (i) SVC requires a linking (copular) verb such as be, become, seem, appear, taste, grow. (ii) A linking verb joins the subject to a word that renames or describes the subject rather than transferring action to a receiver. (iii) An action verb like "kicked" takes an object that is a different entity from the subject, so it produces SVO, not SVC (accept an illustrative pair, e.g. "The porridge tasted sour" vs "The boy kicked the ball").

5. Question 5

   1 mark

   Which sentence follows the clause pattern Subject + Verb + Indirect Object + Direct Object (SVOO)?

   A. The fish market is very busy.

   B. Mama Zainab sold us fresh tilapia.

   C. The county government built a new market.

   D. The watchman slept in the gatehouse.

   (1 mark)

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6. Question 6

   1 mark

   "The club members elected Wanjiru their treasurer." What is the clause pattern of this sentence?

   A. Subject + Verb + Indirect Object + Direct Object

   B. Subject + Verb + Object + Object Complement

   C. Subject + Verb + Complement

   D. Subject + Verb + Object + Adverbial

   (1 mark)

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7. Question 7

   3 marks

   State the clause pattern of each of the following sentences.

   (a) The cooperative bought a new milk cooler.

   (b) The road became impassable.

   (c) The librarian showed the visitors the reading room.

   (3 marks)

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8. Question 8

   4 marks

   Construct one sentence of your own for each of the following clause patterns, using a Kenyan setting.

   (a) SVA (Subject + Verb + Adverbial)

   (b) SVOA (Subject + Verb + Object + Adverbial)

   (4 marks)

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