CHAPTER V.

SENTENCE PATTERNS

A. Basic Sentence Patterns

1. Subject-Verb (S-V) 6. Special Sentence Patterns

2. Subject-Verb- Direct Object (S- 7. Other Sentence Patterns
V-DO) 8. Expanding Sentence Patterns
3. Subject-Verb-Indirect Object- 9. Question Patterns
Direct Object (S-V-IO-DO) 10. Conversational Sentence
4a. Subject-Linking Verb- Patterns
Complement (S-LV-C (N)) 11. Tag Question Patterns
4b. Subject-Linking Verb-Adjective 12. Requests and Commands
Complement (S-LV-C (A)) 13. Connected Statements in
5. Subject-Verb-Object-Objective Sentences
Complement (S-V-O-OC) 14. Elliptical Sentences

OBJECTIVES

At the end of the chapter, the students must have:

1. identified the different basic sentence and special sentence patterns;
2. constructed and read question and answer patterns with the proper intonation
and stress;
3. used other patterns such as requests and commands, connected statements,
elliptical structures;
4. expanded basic patterns; and
5. composed an essay or a speech using the different sentence patterns.

INTRODUCTION

This chapter provides an in-depth discussion on the different sentence patterns

embedded in the English language. Knowing the different sentence patterns will help you to
construct coherent paragraphs for academic writing. When you are writing an assignment,
the pattern and structure of a sentence will be the most important things for you to consider.
In order to make your sentences meaningful and effective, you will have to learn how to make
correct sentences using different patterns.

If you are a student or a beginner in the writing field, learning and mastering the
patterns will help you perform well in your English language tests. It will also help you improve
your writing skills in English. There are several patterns of sentences, but we will discuss some
of the most common and basic patterns.

TIME ALLOTMENT

10 hours

Learning Outcomes

At the end of the lesson, the students must have:

a. differentiated the different sentence patterns;
b. constructed sentences using the different sentence patterns; and
c. composed paragraphs using the different sentence patterns.
 LESSON PROPER

Before we go to the basic sentence patterns, it is necessary to review the different

types of verbs which are the transitive verb, the intransitive verb and the linking verb. You
have learned in the previous chapters that the transitive verb always needs an object to
complete the meaning of the sentence while the intransitive verb does not need an object;
and the linking verb links the predicate to the subject, it is not an action word. Following are
the simple basic patterns.

Subject + Verb (S-V)

Subject + verb. The simplest sentence pattern is composed of a subject and verb without a
direct object or subject complement. It uses an intransitive verb, that is, a verb requiring no
direct object.

Dogs bark.
S V
God rescues at the right time.
S V
That beautiful lady talks so loud when people are around.
S V
The bell rings every hour.
S V
The players shout with joy when they were declared winners.
S V
 Subject + Verb + Direct Object (S-V-DO)

Subject + verb + direct object. This sentence pattern uses a transitive verb which needs a
direct object to complete the meaning of the sentence. Notice that the direct object in the
following sentences answer the question “What is the object of the verb?”

The teacher uploaded the lesson.

S V DO

The students answered the questions in the exercises.

S V DO

The employees receive their salary today.

S V DO
We demand some explanations of what happened.
S V DO

The supervisor mailed the applicant a description of the job .

S V DO

Subject-Verb-Indirect Object-Direct Object (S-V-IO-DO)

Subject + verb + indirect object + direct object. This sentence pattern is a lengthened version
of the S – V – DO pattern. The only difference is that there is a receiver of the action, the
indirect object. There are instances, however, when the direct object comes first before the
indirect object, thus the arrangement becomes S -V – IO – DO as in the last example. Notice
that the indirect object in the following examples answer the question “ Who is the receiver
of the action?”

The government will give us assistance when needed.

S V IO DO
The teacher gave his students more time to do the work.
S V IO O
The management, in order to be fair, is giving the culprit
S V IO
 a chance to explain.
DO
Children must render the due respect to their parents.
S V DO IO

Subject + Linking Verb + Complement (S+LV+C)

Subject + linking verb + subject complement. Another simple pattern uses the linking verb.
The sentence uses the S-LV-C pattern when the verb is a linking verb, not an action word.

The chain reaction is the basis of nuclear power.

S LV C

Windmills are great help to the scarcity of energy.

S LV C

Folding and faulting of the earth's surface are

S LV
important geologic processes.
C

Windspeed seems to be highest during the middle of the day.

S LV C

The silicon solar cell can be difficult and expensive to

S LV C
manufacture.

Subject + Verb + Object + Objective Complement

In this pattern, the direct object is followed by a group of words that completes the
object’s meaning by renaming or describing it. After some verbs, an object alone does not
make complete sense. In addition to the object, a word is needed to complete its meaning.
This word is called its complement.
 I consider money useless without God.
S V O OC

The judge found the suspect innocent.

S V O OC

They have proven themselves to be worthy of our trust.

S V O OC

The politician’s donations during the pandemic made

S V
him popular.
O OC

The thieves found the rich man penniless.

S V O OC

INVERTED PATTERNS

a. Statement Form

Sentences in which the verb comes first before the subject are inverted sentence. This
is done to put emphasis on the verbs.

Examples:

1. Love exists in this house. (Regular Pattern)

S V
In this house exists love. (Inverted Pattern)
V S
2. My medical certificate is attached. (Regular Pattern)
S V
Attached is my medical certificate. (Inverted Pattern)
V S
3. The rich man is very greedy indeed. (Regular Pattern)
S LV C
4. Very greedy is the rich man indeed. (Inverted Pattern)
C LV S
 In sentences, such as those that begin with everywhere, here, there etc., the
subject comes after the verb.

Examples:

There will come a time of rejoicing.

V S

Here is your reward.

LV S

b. Question Form

Most questions are inverted patterns. Here, the subject follows the verb or is
found between a helping verb and its main verb. A complement usually follows the subject
and the verb but may at times come before the verb.

Examples:

Was the doctor at the building?

V S

Did the doctor leave already?

Helping S Main
Verb Verb

Expanding Sentence Patterns

Sentences may not always be simple. Most of the times, these simple sentences are
expanded in order to express the idea completely and to avoid monotony.

The simple basic sentence pattern can be expanded by means of adding modifiers and
doing subordination.

1. Adding of modifiers

Alan eats bananas. (Simple basic sentence)

S V O

By means of adding a modifier to the subject, the sentence can be expanded:

Choosy Alan eats bananas.

If the object, banana is modified, the sentence is expanded further:

 Choosy Alan eats yellow bananas.

2. Subordination

Subordination, or constructing a complex sentence also expands a sentence:

Though Choosy Alan eats yellow bananas, he does not like green bananas.

Although the sentence is expanded, the original sentence still exists, Alan eats
bananas.

Tag Questions

Tag questions are questions to ask about information and at the same time to confirm
information that the speaker believe to be true or to comment on situations. Oftentimes,
these are used when he expects that the information is correct, but wants to check that it is
definitely true. The tag asks about or confirms the information in the statement portion of
the sentence structure.

Examples:

1. She is beautiful, isn’t she? ( Positive main part, negative tag,

Main part Question tag Same verb used in both parts)

2. You are not coming tomorrow, are you? ( Negative main part, positive tag)

If the main part of the sentence is positive, the question tag is negative, and if the
main part of the sentence is negative, the question tag is positive as in the examples above.

The question tag uses the same verb as the main part of the sentence. If the main
clause includes an auxiliary verb (a form of “be” or “have”), the question tag uses this auxiliary
verb.

Example: You will come tomorrow, won’t you?

The example above uses the auxiliary verb will; this auxiliary verb “will”, not the main
verb “come” is used in the tag question. “Won’t” is the contracted form (shortened form)
of will not.

If the main part of the sentence does not have an auxiliary verb, the question tag uses
a “do” form.
 Examples:

1. Your teacher supplies you the reading materials, doesn’t she?

2. Your teacher supplied you the reading materials, didn’t she?

The above examples do not have auxiliary verb, it is understood that their auxiliary
verb is “do” in the present tense (example 1) and “did” in the past tense (example 2). Their
auxiliary verbs are elliptical.

If there is a modal verb in the main part of the sentence, the question tag uses the
same modal verb.

Example: You should see your doctor, shouldn’t you?

To refer to the noun in the subject position in the statement, always use subject
pronouns in the tag, not object or relative ones. Be careful to use the same verb tense in the
question tag as is used in the statement portion.

Examples: Joanna loves to eat fruits, doesn’t she?

Jenny and Jano love each other, don’t they?

Here are some examples of common errors:

Erroneous Correct Reason for the error

It is already raining, is it? It is already raining, isn’t it? Both verbs are positive.

Jano loves Jenny, doesn’t Jano loves Jenny, does he? Gender. “She” is used
she? instead of “he”.

She is beautiful, doesn’t she? She is beautiful, isn’t she? Inconsistency of verb used.
“Is” in the main part while
“doesn’t” in the tag question

You look worried, don’t you? You look worried, aren’t “Look” is used as a linking
you? verb equal to “are”. So
“don’t” is wrong.
 Request and Commands

Requests are statements asking people politely to do something for us; commands
are statements ordering someone to do something. . Sometimes, we make requests and
at other times, we sound more like giving an order rather than a request. Sometimes, we
want to request but what we are expressing is not a request but we are commanding
people unconsciously. Why? It is because of the use of words, not using words when they
are needed, the tone of the voice and the way we talk. We should be careful in expressing
what we want to tell people, whether we are commanding or requesting.

Look at the table below. Notice how the commands in the first column become
requests with the use of the words such as please, can you, could you, will you, would you
mind.

Command Request
Go inside. Please go inside.
Or
Go inside!
Run! Please run!
Help me carry this table. Can you help me carry this table?
Give this to the Jana. Could you give this to Jana? Or
Could you please give this to Jana?
Look at me. Will you look at me?
Close the door! Would you mind closing the door?

So if you are making requests, be sure to use these polite words that are used in
the second column.

Elliptical Sentence

Ellipsis means leaving something out. Elliptical sentence is a shorter form of sentence
which some words have been omitted, but it retains the same meaning. It is used so that
we can avoid unnecessary repeated words.

It is noticeable that elliptical sentences are used quite common in some contexts as:
[1] In normal conversation
A: Where are you going?
B: To school. (= I am going to school.)

A: Ready? (= Are you ready?)

B: Yes, I am. (= Yes, I am ready.)

[2] In comparison
Phalla is taller than Phearom.
(=Phalla is taller than Phearom is tall.)

The ads attracted younger than older people.

(= The ads attracted younger than it attracted older people.)

[3] In sentences joined by coordinating conjunctions

I have washed and ironed my clothes.
(= I have washed my clothes, and I have ironed my clothes.)

Bora likes football, Phalla volleyball, and Sopheak basketball.

(= Bora likes football, Phalla likes volleyball, and Sopheak likes basketball.)
Kolab has five dollars, and Sopheak three.
(= Kolab has five dollars, and Sopheak has three dollars.)

[4] In some dependent clauses

If you clean the house today, i will tomorrow.
(= If you clean the house today, i will clean the house tomorrow.)

I will go to the party if you will.

(= I will go to the party if you will go to the party.)

[5] In reduced clauses

The song sung by PreapSovath was so popular.
(= The song which was sung by PreapSovath was so popular.)

The man selling the shoes is my friend.

(= The man who is selling the shoes is my friend.)

The police has found the car stolen yesterday.

(= The police has found the car which was stolen yesterday.)

When studying, he tried hard.

(= When he was studying, he tried hard.)

I visited the Bayon Temple after coming back from Battambang.

(= I visited the Bayon Temple after I came back from Battambang.)
 Though a bit nervous, she presented the products to the doctor very well.
(= Though she was a bit nervous, she presented the products to the doctor very well.)

[6] When used with "SO, TOO, EITHER, NEITHER"

My sister is tall, and so do my brothers.
(= My sister is tall, and my brothers are tall, too.)

A: I was very sleepy last night.

B: So am I.
(= A: I was very sleepy last night.
B: I am hungry, too.)

My mom likes mangoes and my brother does too.

My mom likes mangoes, and my brother likes mangoes, too.)

He didn't say anything, and I didn't either.

He didn't say anything, and I didn't say anything, too.)

Her father likes to travel, and she does either.

Her father likes to travel, and she likes to travel, too.)

He didn't study hard, and neither did I.

He didn't study hard, and I didn't study hard, too.)

She doesn't review the lessons, and neither her friend.

She doesn't review the lessons, and her friend didn't review the lessons, too.

PRACTICE TEST

Let’s try this

1. Write two sentences to each of the sentence patterns. Be sure to label the parts.
a. Subject + Verb
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
____________
b. Subject + Verb+ Direct Object (S-V-DO)
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
____________

c. Subject-Verb-Indirect Object-Direct Object (S-V-IO-DO)

_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
____________

d. Subject + Linking Verb + Complement

_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
____________
e. Subject + Verb + Object + Objective Complement
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
____________

f. Subject + Linking Verb + Predicate Nominative (S-LV-PN)

_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
____________

g. Subject + Linking Verb + Predicate Adjective

_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
____________

h. Subject + Transitive Verb + Direct Object

_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
____________

i. Question Patterns
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
____________

j. Inverted Sentence Patterns

 _________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
____________

k. Tag Questions
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
____________

2. Write a telephone conversation using elliptical sentences. Use the callout provided
below for your answer.
 YOUR REFLECTION

What do you think is the importance of studying the different sentence patterns? Do you
think it is important for us to know the different sentence patterns before writing paragraphs?
Share your thoughts now!

REFERENCE BOX

McMurrey, David (2017). Basic Patterns and Elements of the Sentence. Prismnet.
Retrieved from https://www.prismnet.com/~hcexres/textbook/twsent.html

(2020). Grammar & Sentence Structure. Study.com. Retrieved from

https://study.com/academy/course/grammar-sentence-structure-lesson-
plans.html

(n.d). Imperative Sentence. ThoughtCo. Retrieved from

https://www.thoughtco.com/imperative-sentence-grammar-169115