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Basic Sentence Patterns

This document discusses the 5 basic sentence patterns in English: subject + verb, subject + verb + object, subject + verb + complement, subject + verb + indirect object + direct object, and subject + verb + object + complement. It provides examples of sentences for each pattern and notes the elements that can be added or modified for each type of sentence. Key elements that must be present for each pattern are identified.

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4K views

Basic Sentence Patterns

This document discusses the 5 basic sentence patterns in English: subject + verb, subject + verb + object, subject + verb + complement, subject + verb + indirect object + direct object, and subject + verb + object + complement. It provides examples of sentences for each pattern and notes the elements that can be added or modified for each type of sentence. Key elements that must be present for each pattern are identified.

Uploaded by

redalps
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
Available Formats
Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Basic Sentence Patterns

In this lesson, you will learn the elements of a sentence. There are 5 basic sentence patterns in English. Before we start this lesson (or after class in the lab) go to these 5 websites. Click the buttons on the screen at each site to see sentences with these patterns. The 5 Basic Patterns Subject + Verb
(http://www.manythings.org/rs/sv.html)

I swim. Joe swims. They swam. Subject + Verb + Object

(http://www.manythings.org/rs/svo.html)

I drive a car. Joe plays the guitar. They ate dinner. Subject + Verb + Complement
(http://www.manythings.org/rs/svc.html)

I am busy. Joe became a doctor. They look sick. Subject + Verb + Indirect Object + Direct Object
(http://www.manythings.org/rs/sviodo.html)

I gave her a gift. She teaches us English. The last pattern is for level 5 and grammar, and you will not see it in your level 4 classes, but you can look at it now if you want. Subject + Verb + Object + Complement (http://www.manythings.org/rs/svoc.html) I left the door open. We elected him president. They named her Jane.

Basic Sentence Structure Click for Audio There are five basic patterns around which most English sentences are built.* They are as follows: S-V Subject-Verb John sleeps.

Jill is eating. Jack will arrive next week. S-V-O Subject-Verb-Object I like rice. She loves her job. He's eating an orange. S-V-Adj Subject-Verb-Adjective He is funny. The workers are lazy. Karen seems angry. S-V-Adv Subject-Verb-Adverb Jim is here. Flowers are everywhere. No one was there. S-V-N Subject-Verb-Noun She is my mom. The men are doctors. Mr. Jones is the teacher. At the heart of every English sentence is the Subject-Verb relationship. Other elements can be added to make a sentence more interesting, but they are not essential to its formation.

The following sentences are examples of the S-V pattern. She sleeps. She sleeps soundly. She sleeps on the sofa. She sleeps every afternoon. She is sleeping right now. Mary will sleep later. Core sentence An adverb is added to describe how she sleeps. A prepositional phrase is added to tell where she sleeps. A time expression is added to tell when she sleeps. Verb tense is changed, but S-V relationship remains the same. Subject is named and another tense is used.

The dogs are sleeping in the New subject may require a different form of the verb. garage. Note: Any action verb can be used with this sentence pattern.

The following sentences are examples of the S-V-O pattern. They like rice. The people like rice. The friendly people like rice. Core sentence Specific subject Subject modified with an adjective

The people in the restaurant like Subject modified with an adjective rice. The people like boiled rice. Object modified with an adjective The people like hot, white rice. Object modified with more than one adjective

Note: Only transitive action verbs can be used with this sentence pattern.

The following sentences are examples of the S-V-Adj pattern. He is fine. He seems happy. Basic sentence with "be" verb Basic sentence with another linking verb

Jordan is tall, dark and handsome.Series of adjectives He appears very comfortable. George became sick last night. Adverb or intensifier added Different tense and linking verb

Note: Only linking verbs can be used with this sentence pattern.

The following sentences are examples of the S-V-Adv pattern. The teacher is here. The teacher is over there. Teachers are everywhere. The teachers are in the lobby. Basic sentence Using an adverb phrase Plural noun and verb used Prepositional phrase functioning as adverb

Note: Only linking verbs can be used with this sentence pattern.

The following sentences are examples of the S-V-N pattern. The man is a doctor. The women are doctors. My father is a nice guy. Basic sentence Using plural noun and verb Modified subject and complement

My grandparents are senior Modified plural subject and complement citizens. Note: Only linking verbs can be used with this sentence pattern.

*Other, less common structures are dealt with in another unit.

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