| No | Pattern | Freq | Relations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | [vb past] be [adv] a [noun sg] | 100 |
|
| 2 | [vb past] been [adv] a [noun sg] | 81 |
|
| 3 | [vb past] [been] [adv] a [noun sg] | 81 |
|
| 4 | had [be] [adv] a [noun sg] | 68 |
|
| 5 | [vb past] [was/were] [adv] a [noun sg] | 18 |
|
| 6 | [vb past] was [adv] a [noun sg] | 17 |
|
| 7 | [vb past] [be] quite a [noun sg] | 15 |
|
| 8 | 'd [be] [adv] a [noun sg] | 13 |
|
| 9 | [vb past] [be] there a [noun sg] | 13 |
|
| 10 | [vb past] [be] only a [noun sg] | 13 |
|
| 11 | [vb past] [be] [adv] a year | 9 |
|
| 12 | [vb past] [be] [adv] a couple | 8 |
|
| 13 | [vb past] [be] just a [noun sg] | 8 |
|
| 14 | [vb past] [be] [adv] a week | 7 |
|
| 15 | [vb past] [be] merely a [noun sg] | 7 |
|
| 16 | [vb past] [be] [adv] a matter | 5 |
|
