Valency¶
In CGEL, valency refers to the number and type of complements a predicator (verb) licenses to form a grammatical clause.
It is the “combinatory potential” of the verb. The Core Components
Valency is determined by two factors:
Quantitative: How many complements are required (e.g., zero, one, or two).
Qualitative: What grammatical categories those complements must be (e.g., NP, AdjP, or a content clause).
Valency vs. Complementation¶
While the two are related, there is a distinction:
Complementation describes the actual elements present in the VP.
Valency is the inherent property of the verb that dictates those needs.
Verb valency patterns¶
Verb Type |
What It Licenses |
Complement Pattern |
Example |
|---|---|---|---|
Intransitive |
Subject only |
None |
The sun shines. |
Monotransitive |
Subject + one Direct Object |
One (Object) |
She reads books. |
Ditransitive |
Subject + Indirect Object + Direct Object |
Two (Indirect + Direct Object) |
He gave her a gift. |
Complex-Transitive |
Object + Predicative Complement (of the object) |
Two (Object + Predicative Complement) |
They considered the plan genius. |
Copular (Linking) |
Predicative Complement (of the subject) |
One (Subject Predicative Complement) |
The soup tastes spicy. |