Searching ‘COBUILD Grammar Patterns’
Getting started
First of all, decide whether you are interested in looking at adjectives, nouns, or verbs. Select
‘Adjectives’, ‘Nouns’ or ‘Verbs’ from the menu. If you choose ‘Adjectives’ or ‘Nouns’ you will see all
the patterns straight away. If you choose ‘Verbs’ you will have a further choice to make from a list of
chapters. You can see what is in each chapter by clicking on the link in the menu. Then, choose from
the list of patterns.
Example: an adjective pattern
For example, you may want to look at the adjectives in the pattern ‘It is adjective that’ (e.g. it is
interesting that; it is likely that; it is unfortunate that). This is what you do:
Using the menu, select ‘Adjectives’.
Scroll down the list until you come to it v-link ADJ that. Select that pattern.
You will now see a description of the pattern, some examples in a table, and a list of the
groups of adjectives - the ‘meaning groups’. There are 8 groups.
If you know which meaning you are most interested in, select that group. For example, you
may wish to see adjectives that mean something like ‘obvious’. Click on The ‘obvious’ group.
You will see the explanation, some examples, and a list of the adjectives in this group:
apparent, clear, evident, manifest, obvious, plain and transparent. The adjectives are in
alphabetical order.
If you are interested in all the groups, click on each in turn and you will see all the adjectives
that are used with this pattern.
Example: a noun pattern
Suppose you want to look at nouns followed by the preposition in (e.g. faith in, a rise in, a role in).
This is what you do:
Using the menu, select ‘Nouns’.
Scroll down the list until you come to N in n. Select that pattern.
You will now see a description of the pattern, some examples in a table, and a list of the
groups of nouns – the ‘meaning groups’. There are 19 groups.
You may know approximately what meaning you are interested in. For example, you may
wish to see nouns relating to change – things getting larger or smaller, better or worse. Click
on The ‘increase’ and ‘decrease’ group. You will see the explanation, some examples, and a
list of the nouns in this group. There are 53 nouns in this group.
If you are interested in all the groups, click on each in turn and you will see all the nouns that
are used with this pattern.
Example: a verb pattern
You may want to look at verbs such as give him a book, tell me a story, save them some money.
These verbs are followed by two noun phrases (‘give’ + ‘him’ + ‘a book’ etc), so you need to find the
pattern V n n. This is what you do:
Using the menu, select ‘Verbs’.
Select Chapter 3: Complex Patterns.
Select the pattern V n n.
You will see that this pattern has three structures, exemplified by gave her a present,
appointed him chairman and won the game 4-2. You can look at each in turn, or select one.
To get verbs such as give, tell, save, select structure 1: Verbs with two Objects.
You will see the structure explained in tables. There are four tables showing active voice,
passive voice, phrasal verbs active voice and phrasal verbs passive voice.
On the menu you can see 6 meaning groups: ‘give’, ‘bring’, ‘tell and send’, ‘cost and save’,
‘envy’ and ‘other meanings’.
If you are interested in one of these groups, select that one. For example, you may want to
see verbs about communication, like tell. In that case, click on group 1.3 The ‘tell’ and ‘send’
group. You will now see an explanation of the group, some examples, and list of the 23 verbs
in this group. Some of the verbs have additional information. For example, the verb bid is
used with farewell (she will have to bid her children farewell).
If you are interested in all the groups, click on each one in turn and you will see all the verbs
that are used with this pattern and structure.
Finding the pattern you want to look at
You probably have in mind an example of the pattern you want to search for. Below are some
example sentences, highlighting a target adjective, noun or verb and showing what the target
pattern is.
Sentence Target word Pattern
I was uncertain how to begin. UNCERTAIN (adjective) ADJ wh
Everyone is afraid of him. AFRAID (adjective) ADJ of n
They said it would be impossible for me to get IMPOSSIBLE (adjective) it v-link ADJ for n to-inf
fit enough to ride.
The government ruled out proposals to make PROPOSAL (noun) N to-inf
police forces compete with each other…
Their policies have failed to take into account DAMAGE (noun) N to n
damage to the environment.
It’s my belief that she’s devoid of feelings. BELIEF (noun) it v-link poss N that
She started walking. START (verb) V -ing
I’m told I come across as hard and COME ACROSS (verb) V as n
intimidating…
Email me your details… EMAIL (verb) Vnn
Can a machine fool a human judge into thinking FOOL (verb) V n into -ing
it was a person?
You’ll need to compare yourself with the COMPARE (verb) V n with n
competition to determine your strengths and
weaknesses.
