Sentence patterns
Just about all sentences in the English language fall into ten patterns determined by the presence and functions of nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs.
The patterns are most easily classified according to the type of verb used:
Verb of being patterns (1, 2, 3) use a form of the verb to be as the main verb in the sentence.
is are was were has been have been had been
Linking verb patterns (4, 5) use one of the linking verbs as the main verb in the sentence. The linking verb is followed by a noun or adjective functioning as a subjective complement.
smell taste look feel seem become appear grow
Action verb patterns (6, 7, 8, 9, 10) use one of the many action verbs as the main verb in the sentence. The action verb may be either transitive (take a direct object) or intransitive (not take a direct object).
see jump embrace write imagine buy plummet think etc.
Terms used to identify various parts of each sentence pattern include the following:
- NP = noun phrase
This abbreviation refers to a headword noun and its modifiers ("noun phrase") functioning as a subject, direct object, indirect object, subjective complement, or objective complement.
- NP1, NP2, NP3, etc. = designations for different noun phrase functions
Numbers in sequential order are used with each NP to designate its difference from or similarity to other NPs before and after it.
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V-be = verb of being
-
LV = linking verb
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V-int = intransitive verb
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V-tr = transitive verb
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ADV/TP = adverbial of time or place
- ADJ = adjective
THE TEN SENTENCE PATTERNS
1. NP1 + V-be + ADV/TP
The verb of being is followed by an adverb indicating where or when.
More information on subjects
The adverbial indicating where or when may be a prepositional phrase.
2. NP1 + V-be + ADJ
The verb of being is followed by an adjective that functions as the subjective complement.
More information on subjective
complements
The adjectival functioning as the subjective complement may be a prepositional phrase.
3. NP1 + V-be + NP1
The verb of being is followed by a noun that functions as the subjective complement.
Note: The second NP receives the same numerical designation as the first NP because the second NP, the subjective complement, is the same as the subject (Mr. James = teacher).
4. NP1 + LV + ADJ
The linking verb is followed by an adjective functioning as a subjective complement.
The adjectival functioning as the subjective complement may be a prepositional phrase.
5. NP1 + LV + NP1
The linking verb is followed by a noun functioning as a subjective complement.
Note: The second NP receives the same numerical designation as the first NP because the second NP, the subjective complement, is the same as the subject (Joan = Buddhist).
6. NP1 + V-int
The action verb takes no direct object.
Even if the action verb is followed by a prepositional phrase, the verb is still intransitive as long as it does not take a direct object.
7. NP1 + V-tr + NP2
The action verb is followed by a direct object.
More information on direct objects
Note: The second NP, the direct object, receives a different numerical designation (NP2) because it is not the same as the subject (NP1).
8. NP1 + V-tr + NP2 + NP3
The action verb is followed by an indirect object and then a direct object.
More information on indirect objects
Note: The indirect object and the direct object each receive a new numerical designation because each is different from the other and both are different from the subject.
9. NP1 + V-tr + NP2 + ADJ
The action verb is followed by a direct object. The direct object is followed by an adjective functioning as an objective complement.
More information on objective
complements
Note: The second NP, the direct object, receives a different numerical designation (NP2) because it is not the same as the subject (NP1).
10. NP1 + V-tr + NP2 + NP2
The action verb is followed by a direct object. The direct object is followed by a noun functioning as an objective complement.
Note: The second NP, the direct object, receives a different numerical designation (NP2) because it is not the same as the subject (NP1). The third NP, the objective complement, receives the same numerical designation as the direct object (NP2) because it is the same as the direct object (Jacobsen = friend).
Q. What is a noun phrase?
A noun with modifiers.
Q. What is a verb phrase?
A verb with modifiers.
The noun phrase functions as the subject.
The verb phrase functions as the predicate.
The subject is always a noun, noun phrase, or pronoun.
A predicate is always a verb or a verb phrase.
Q. What is the best way to identify patterns of sentences, such as "to be" patterns, linking verb patterns, intransitive verb patterns, or transitive verb patterns?
What are examples of to be verb, linking verb, intransitive verb, and transitive verb?
What is a “to be†pattern?
Examples of forms of be are: been, being, be, am, are, is, was, were, I’m, he’s, we’re, you’re, it’s, isn’t, aren’t, and ain’t. Expanded forms include have been, was being, might be, and will be.
What is a transitive verb?
A transitive verb has two characteristics. First, it is an action verb, expressing a doable activity like kick, want, paint, write, eat, clean, etc. Second, it must have a direct object, something that or someone who receives the action of the verb.
What is an intransitive verb?
If no direct object follows an action verb, the verb is intransitive.
What is a linking verb?
Linking verbs do not express action. Instead, they connect the subject of the verb to additional information about the subject.
Is there a difference between patterns of sentences and newspaper presentations of these sentences?
Yes.
What is the difference?
There are ten patterns of sentences. There are more than thirty different ways of presenting them in newspapers.
Newspapers use a specific pattern of sentence, often using a prefix or suffix such as: "he/she said, he asserted, he added, he stated, he claimed, the statement said, the spokesman said, insiders said, an official handout said, a statement issued here said, he says, he told a meeting, he added, he maintained, it added, He added that, He said the truth is that, He asked the people to ensure that, As one colleague said, In a statement issued here, In a statement, a spokesman of the department said, In addition, he asked.
What are the commonly used sentence patterns?
Following are the commonly used sentence patterns:
1. Subject + Verb
I swim. Asif swims. They swam. Billy sleeps.
This is the simplest kind of sentence. It consists of a subject and a verb.
There possibly may be some adjectives, adverbs, or prepositional phrases. There are no direct
objects, indirect objects, or complements.
What is the pattern of this sentence?
Asif speaks fluently. (Subject, verb, adverb)
Asif is here. (Subject, verb, adverb)
Flowers are everywhere. (Subject, verb, adverb)
No one was there. (Subject, verb, adverb)
He is funny. (Subject, verb, adjective)
The workers are lazy. (Subject, verb, adjective)
The patient seems angry. (Subject, verb, adjective)
2. Subject + Verb + Object
They ate dinner.
Elephants frighten mice
. I drive a car. Asif plays the guitar.
I like rice.
He loves his job.
He's eating an orange.
Asif composes music. (subject, verb, direct object.)
Asif helps others in several English practice rooms. (subject, verb, direct object, adverb)
She tells jokes to make people smile. (subject, verb, direct object, adverb)
3. Subject + Verb + Complement
I am busy. Asif became a doctor. They look sick.
A complement is a word or group of words that describe or rename the subject. Complements follow linking verbs. There are two kinds of subject complements: 1) predicate nominative, which is a noun or pronoun that renames or classifies the subject of the sentence, and 2) predicate adjective, which is an adjective that describes the subject of the sentence.
My brother looks tired. (Subject, verb, complement – predicate adjective) Some students in the class are engineers. (The noun phrase ‘Some students in the class’ is the complete subject, verb, complement – predicate nominative) You can form compound sentences with each pattern of sentence. The men are handsome, the women are clever, and the children are above-average. (Compound sentence of three independent clauses, so three subjects, three verbs, three complements – all predicate adjectives)
4. Subject + Verb + Object + Complement
I left the door open. We elected him president. They named him Asif.
5. Subject + Verb + Indirect Object + Direct Object
She teaches us English.
She gave him a gift.
She baked Asif a cake.
The Object
Some verbs have an object. It is always a noun or pronoun. The object is the person or thing
affected by the action described in the verb.
Objects come in two types, direct and indirect.
The direct object refers to a person or thing affected by the action of the verb.
For example:
He opened the door.
Here the door is the direct object, as it is the thing being affected by the verb opened.
The indirect object refers to a person or thing who/that receives the direct object.
For example:
I gave him the book.
Here him (he) is the indirect object as he is the beneficiary of the action.
I sent her a birthday present. (Subject, verb, indirect object, direct object)
Asif gave his dog a bone. (Subject, verb, indirect object, direct object)
She left Gary all of her money. (Subject, verb, indirect object, direct object)
Granny gave every last asset to Gary. (Subject, verb, direct object, indirect object in a prepositional phrase)
6. There - Verb - Subject.
There have been objections.
7. Auxiliary - Subject Verb?
Do coyotes howl in the distance?
8. Auxiliary - Subject - Verb - Object?
Have mice ever frightened elephants?
9. Auxiliary - Subject - Verb - Indirect Object - Direct Object?
Will she bake Asif a cake?
10. Question word (Some call it Object) - Auxiliary - Subject -Verb?
Whom did the hooligan frighten?
Exception! verb be simple present and simple past
Question word (Some call it Object) - Subject -Verb?
Where is Chicago?
11. Verb - There - Subject?
Were there any objections?
12. Auxiliary - there - Verb - Subject?
Have there been any objections?
Imperative sentences are derived from the first three statement patterns.
Many exclamatory sentences also are derived from these patterns.
There have been a hundred objections.
She baked Asif a cake.
How many objections were there?
What a cake she baked Asif!
Do you know any other patterns of sentences in the English language?
What are the minimum requirements for a sentence?
Two words: subject and verb.
Why do we use few words in some sentences and many more in others?
In certain situations, we can't communicate a complete thought with few words.
What can be the parts of a sentence?
Subject, Predicate, Objects, Complements.
What is the object of a preposition?
What are an object complement, a subject complement, and a verb complement?